On the destruction and salvaging of scenographic possibilities Reflections from the College of Music and Drama in Khartoum, Sudan

The College of Music and Drama in Sudan’s capital city of Khartoum was one of the early casualties of the recent war, which broke out in April 2023. The College has served as a hub for musicians, theatre makers, designers and students of the performing arts. Employees and students at the College, some now internally displaced in Sudan or living in exile, were shocked to see images of the destroyed premises, and in grief as news arrived of the killing of various performing artists.
One of the worst affected by the military raids was the Department of Theatre Technologies, a unique institute dedicated to performance design and scenography. The contribution reflects on the history of the department, taking stock of how students and faculty participated in the vibrant cultural life of Khartoum, as well as in the popular revolution in 2018-19. It reflects on the attacks on cultural and educational institutions, arguing that in attending to the disappearance and destruction of spaces such as the College in the war, it is important to remember and commemorate the revolutionary moment of 2018, as well as recognise ongoing efforts to continue to make theatre despite war and exile.