Manama – BNA
The festival of HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad, First Deputy President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Athletics Association, Theatre Award launches on Tuesday.
Dedicated to youth theatre and being held for the second time in a row, organized by the Ministry of Youth & Sports Affairs with the slogan #Painting_A_Smile, it is part of the cultural initiatives by His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
The organizing committee is continuing preparations to the launch the cultural festival which will continue till the 27th.
This year's festival is being sponsored by: Tamkeen, Batelco, BANAGAS, Coca Cola, Al Hawaj, GPIC, Majestic Cars, Economic Development Board, Bapco, Palace Enterprises, Gulf University, Nissan, Yousif bin Ahmed Kanoo and Gadooa.
The teams participating in the award are continuing their preparations to present their shows in a representable manner to make the audience happy and engage them in the shows.
Adel confirms readiness for directors’ experience
Ali Adel, Director of the play (Najma Saheel), which will be presented by Al Buhair Youth Center, confirmed his readiness to experience being part of the festival.
Ali Adel said that he as a director must be completely ready for this experience, which began by selecting the actors for the play.
He explained that all the actors in the play had previously participated in plays, either in or outside the Kingdom except for one actress who will be up on the stage for the first time.
As for the rehearsals done with the team, Adel said these were done in public areas till they received approval on their participation in the festival and now they are working daily except on Friday at Isa Town Primary Girls School. He expressed his thanks to the organizing committee for allocating space for him and the team, which had significant impact to help them prepare.
The main goal of participating is to evolve the artistic thought process, study theatre and learn how to convert text into theatre art, he added, stressing on the importance of giving youth the chance to showcase skills and release their potential.
The crew of the play is as follows: Ali Adel, director, Ali Al Sharqawi, poetry, Mahmoud Al Alawi, writrer, Mohammed Bahlool, assistant director and scene visualiser, Abdulrahman Al Ruwaie, décor, Emad Hamdi, music, Abdullah Al Bakri, lighting designer, Ahmed Al Mahoozi, production manager, Hussain Salim, poster photography and Sarah Al Shaiji, makeup.
The actors in the play are as followed: Abu Baker Habib Al Ghazi, Khalid Al Kabisi, Abbas Al Samak, Fouz Al Sharqawi, Rawa Khalid, Hawa’a Al Murbati, Najim Mosa’ed and Mohamed Bahlool.
An opportunity to apply theatre theories
Director Jassim Al Talaq explained that Khalid bin Hamad Theatre Award for National Clubs, Youth Centres and People with Disabilities festival, was an opportunity to apply theatre theories.
Al Talaq is participating in the festival as a director of the play, Difficult Customer, which will be presented by Tubli Club.
Jassim said that the period leading up to the final show is very important as the actors take time; to see their primary role, as well as the director needs to get to know the actors and learn how to deal with him whether he is in character or an element in the play.
"I tried to merge the elements of youth with experience, so both elements will be present in the play," he explained and said he’s hoping that this combination will create a distinctive work of art.
Rehearsals for the play are being held at the headquarters of Tubli club.
Final preparations
The organizing committee has completed almost all preparations for the launch of the festival tomorrow, including the recording of an operetta opening ceremony in Studio (VH) with the participation of many senior Bahriani artists.
It is expected to have a wide attendance. The lighting equipment in the hall is being prepared for the shows that will be presented and the Isa Town Club building is being decorated with flags of Bahrain.