Oudail el Omari
Oudail el Omari is a multidisciplinary artist working as an actor, theater maker, visual artist and architect. His work carries the echoes of the Arab diaspora and seeks to connect multiple worlds. As an actor and theater maker, he tells urgent stories while engaging with social issues, questioning and challenging them through his work. He experiments with the mediums through which stories can be told, exploring theater, poetry, photography and architecture as vehicles for narrative.
“Panopticon is a theatrical presentation that questions the state of journalism and its influence: who shapes public discourse—the journalist, the people, or the system? This work-in-progress grew from my research into the panopticon structure, as theorized by Michel Foucault. In times where the media is saturated, I become more critical about everything I consume, especially when the media monitors our political systems while shaping opinions and debates.
In the piece I tell the story of a journalist caught in the crossfire between loyalty and career, navigating the tensions of representing their community while serving institutional expectations. It explores the challenges of impartial reporting and the complex interplay of professional duty, personal conviction, activism, and human connection.”
Directed by Paul Knieriem
Script by Lelie Danesh
Decor & Light by Odail Krede
Costume by Bernice Celine
Photo by Ajiri Ogbovoh