Manama : The third Bahrain Theatre Festival launched yesterday evening at the Cultural Hall.
Yousif Mohammed Al Binkhalil, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Information, Huda Sayed Abdulghaffar Al Alawi, Director of Culture at the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA), were present, including several officials, theatre enthusiasts, and specialists from Bahrain and GCC countries.
Abdullah Malik, President of the Union of Theatre Associations, highlighted the importance of the festival’s continuity, noting that this third edition honours prominent theatre figures, including the late artist Saad Al Jazzaf, in recognition of his career and contributions.
Malik emphasised the collective efforts needed from the public, theatre professionals, and officials to support theatre in Bahrain, underscoring Bahrain’s history in the performing arts and how theatre reflects societal culture and progress.
He commended the support of Dr. Ramzan Bin Abdulla Al Noaimi, Minister of Information, Shaikh Rashid bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, and Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, President of BACA, for their support of the theatre movement in Bahrain and its ongoing development.
Actor Mohammed Al Saffar also spoke on the role of art as a medium that reflects diverse life experiences.
He noted the importance of collaboration between theatre groups, governmental bodies, and audiences, and the role of artistic criticism in enhancing productions and sustaining creativity in the field.
Al Saffar commended the support from the Ministry of Information and the National Council for Arts, which contribute to creating an encouraging environment for creativity and innovation in theatre.
The family of the late Saad Al Jazzaf was honoured, represented by artist Mohammed Al Jazzaf. Additional honours were extended to supporting entities, including the Ministry of Information, the National Council for Arts, the Rashid Al Khalifa (RAK) Art Foundation, and BACA.
Five backstage theatre personalities were also recognised which include Khalil Al Mutawa, Mahmood Al Saffar, Hamad Al Dosari, Jalal Obeid, and Ali Bader, for their efforts in advancing theatrical productions.
The festival also honoured the judging panel, chaired by Dr. Zahra Mansoor, with members Taher Mohsen, Hussain Al Halibi, Nidhal Al Atawi, and Jamal Al Ghailan.
Official awards presented by the RAK Art Foundation included the Best Theatrical Performance Award, Best Direction Award, Best Local Script Award, Best Scenography Award, Best Musical Composition and Sound Effects Award, and Best Actor and Actress in Leading and Supporting Roles Award.
The festival’s programme includes theatrical performances of White Reading, The Foundation, The Difficult Client, Yasmine, and Osama’s Ghosts, along with an intellectual seminar titled Aspects of Theatre Criticism in the Kingdom of Bahrain, a workshop on sustainability of theatre projects, and several practical seminars.
The festival organisers also introduced awards for Best Media Effort and Best Production Management.
