Theatre of Qatar
Qatari theatre can trace its origins to the 1950s, when several social and cultural clubs, scout groups, and other organizations were founded and started hosting their own plays.
Prior to this, Qatari society's only exposure to the art of theatre was through Western and Arab films smuggled in and broadcast in public places during the 1940s.
[5] In 1984, a large-scale theatre competition was hosted by the Culture and Arts Department, and a sum of QAR 60,000 was allocated for each director to hire top talents.
[7] That same year, he wrote the company's first production, Antar and Abla, which was the first Qatari play to run continuously for an entire month as well as the first to be taped and redistributed on VHS.
[20] Abdulrahman Al-Mannai wrote the first-ever play to address the conflict of values caused by the generational gap, entitled Ommul Zain, in 1975.
The story concerns a young girl who, after entering in a secret relationship, professes to her father her disillusionment for past traditions and the suitor her family has arranged for her to marry.
It likens the act of offering women to paying suitors to trading goods on the market, hence associating arranged marriage with materialism.
[25] After a quartet comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed all ties with and imposed a blockade of Qatar on 5 June 2017, a rise in politically-themed plays was observed.
[26] Set in the Persian Gulf region before the advent of oil, Al-Bushiya (Arabic: البوشيه) is a play based on Qatari folklore and explores sea life and pearl diving.
This production attempted to replicate the troupe's previous success with the play Majarih, which won the Best Work award at the 2010 Doha Theatre Festival and is of a similar theme.
The play was written by Emirati writer Ismail Abdullah and featured a diverse cast of Qatari performers including Nasser Al-Moumen, Faisal Rashid, Fatima Al-Shorouki, Fatma Shaddad, and Omar Abu Saqr, with 26 participants overall.
[30] Fatma Shaddad, who plays the grandmother Umm al-Khair, introduces a novel element by performing Al-Nahham, a traditional sea music form typically sung by men during fishing trips.
Her participation marked the first time a woman has performed this art on stage in the Gulf, with choreography and music designed by Mohamed Al-Sayegh.
[29] Majarih is a play critiquing themes of class distinction and societal norms through a romantic narrative about a servant who falls in love with the daughter of a nobleman.
Critic Hamdi Al-Jabri highlighted the play's effective portrayal of deep social issues like racial discrimination and classism, likening the protagonist's bravery and struggle to that of the legendary figures Antarah and Abla.
Thematically, the work explores historical contexts with dramatic implications, particularly focusing on the conflict between good and evil, framed within the dynamics of power and oppression.
Abu Fallah, the authoritative ship owner (noukadha), symbolizes injustice and dominance, controlling the destinies of those in his village by restricting travel and economic opportunities, exploiting their labor for personal gain.
[35] A summary trial orchestrated by Abu Fallah further reveals the villagers' complicity in perpetuating injustice, prompting introspection on the themes of independence and freedom of choice.
Ifraidon, portrayed as coming from the "country of light," serves as a mediator to reconcile the rulers, symbolizing the spirit of unity among citizens.
[39] Operettas, a light form of theatre focusing more on written dialogue and musical incorporation, have been a popular feature of cultural festivals with theatrical performances.
Matar Ali and Fouad Al-Hariri composed and arranged the musical notes of the operetta, while Faisal Al-Tamimi directed the acting performances.
The determined young man accepts the challenge, braves the sea's dangers, and successfully retrieves the pearl, proving his worth and resilience.
[44] The operetta A Folktale in Love of the Nation was performed in December 2021 at Katara Cultural Village, corresponding with the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup hosted in Qatar.
The performance would conclude with the song Ya Marhaba, written by poet Hussein Al-Bakri and composed by Walid Aba Al-Qassem, in which the guests from the Arab countries taking part in the tournament are welcomed.
