Egyptian artist Elham Shahin sparked considerable debate on social media after announcing her readiness to return to the stage with the play "The Virtuous Whore," written by French author Jean-Paul Sartre. In exclusive remarks to "Sky News Arabia," Shahin addressed the controversy surrounding the play's title, stating: "The play is a part of world literature by Jean-Paul Sartre and was presented in the 1960s, where the great actress Samira Ayoub performed the role. We are reviving the golden age of theatre. The fact that Samira Ayoub is directing the work and nominated me for the role is something new and different."
She continued: "The play has been presented before, so why is there such a significant uproar about it? The audience is different now; we must change perceptions and confront that. This is my response to the mockery from some social media users. I hope the play will please the audience, as what matters to me is to present respectable art. Regarding the name, it is derived from the Arabic language, and there is nothing shameful about it."
Shahin revealed during her attendance at the Sharm El-Sheikh Youth Theatre Festival that she decided to take on the challenge with "The Virtuous Whore," directed by Samira Ayoub, who previously starred in the same play in the 1960s.
