[3] The Khaleej Aden Theater Troupe, founded in 2005, has been dedicated to preserving the endangered Adeni dialect and revitalizing the local theatrical scene.
Director Amr Gamal, who leads the troupe, conceived the idea to stage Hamlet in Aden after watching some filmed productions of Shakespeare's plays that were broadcast for free on YouTube by the Globe Theatre during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Khaleej Aden Theater Troupe, under the direction of Amr Gamal, has worked to safeguard the endangered Adeni dialect of Arabic.
The Legislative Council had suffered partial damage during the Battle of Aden in 2015 war, and its restoration became a key component of the Hamlet project.
Khaleej Aden Theater Troupe financed simple restoration efforts using funds from the production's budget, focusing on the interior and surroundings to make the building suitable for the performance.
[8] One of the main goals of staging the play at the venue was to draw attention to the building's historical importance and push for its complete restoration.
The play's success and widespread media coverage brought the issue to the forefront, leading UNESCO to take on the building's full restoration.
Among the cast were older, experienced actors whose opportunities had been limited due to political restrictions imposed between 1994 and 2011, which severely impacted the cultural scene in Aden.
Nour Zaker, playing Ophelia, told the Agence France-Presse that being an actress "was difficult because ... society does not easily accept these things".
Staging productions in Aden is costly due to the lack of infrastructure, leading to high rental prices for essentials like lighting, sound systems, venues, security, and cleaning staff.
Le Monde highlights director Amr Gamal's pivotal role in revitalizing the arts in southern Yemen,[21] emphasizing the play's symbolic impact as both an artistic and cultural milestone amid conflict.
Al Jazeera and The Times commended the production's ambition and boldness,[22] while L'Express celebrated its success in reconnecting Yemenis with their rich cultural heritage, showing art's enduring power in the face of adversity.