George Shehadeh

A Lebanese poet and playwright, born in 1905 in Alexandria to a well-known Lebanese Orthodox family living in Egypt. Shehadeh studied law in Beirut. He held positions in the French administration in Lebanon, and until the seventies of the last century he was the artistic advisor to the French cultural mission. He also served as Secretary General of the Higher School of Arts, and played a role in forming the University Center for Theater Studies. George Shehadeh wrote poetry in French and wrote plays in French as well. His first play was entitled (Mr. Boubal) and it was shown in Paris. After that, his works continued, and he wrote (The Evening of Proverbs) and (The Story of Vasco), which are the most important among his plays. Then came the play (The Brisbane Immigrant), and finally the play (Violet). All of the plays that Shehadeh produced were in French and were performed in French in European and Beirut theatres. But most of his theatrical works were translated into Arabic and presented in Arabic, and the poet (Adonis) was the one who translated Shehadeh the most. George Shehadeh died in Paris on December 17, 1988 and was buried there.