BEIRUT — A country with 18 religious sects and a history of sectarian conflict, Lebanon often seems on the brink of violence. Since the uprising in Syria began more than two years ago, that tension has escalated, especially between Sunni and Shia.

Lebanese playwright and director Yehia Jaber is trying to defuse the tension through theater. In a one-man play, he highlights the history of Tarik al Jadidah, a low-income and predominantly Sunni neighborhood in Beirut that often is seen as a barometer of Sunni sentiment. The play, Beirut Tarik al jadadih, is one of the many ways Lebanese are dealing with the tension in the country through art.

Actor Ziad Itani is portraying the women in Tarik al Jadidah and the scrutiny they face when it comes to marriage. Societal norms dictate that women must choose the right man, from the right family, and of course, the right sect. [Link]