Sharjah Ruler launches Desert Theatre Festival

His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, witnessed the commencement of the 8th edition of the Desert Theatre Festival on Friday.

The event, taking place in Al Khohaif area of Sharjah, will run until December 17th and was attended by Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah.

His Highness was warmly received by Sheikh Salem Bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Head of the Ruler's Office, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Humaid Al Qasimi, Head of the Statistics and Community Development Department, Sheikh Majid Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Head of the Suburbs Affairs Department, along with several senior officials and artists.

Upon arriving at the festival site, which serves as an open theatrical space celebrating Arabian desert environments, traditions, and authentic and creative heritage through the aesthetics of theatrical art and performance, His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah witnessed his own theatrical work, "The Robe Dyed in Blood," depicting a part of the life of the Arab poet Bashir Bin 'Awana in three acts. This work highlighted his courage, pride, emotions, eloquence, and clarity of speech, starting from the dramatic moment when he sought to marry his cousin Fatima.

His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah witnessed his own theatrical work, "The Robe Dyed in Blood." WAM

This remarkable theatrical piece embodies the bravery and courage of the Arab individual, their dedication and devotion to what they love, their longing for victory and triumph, and the flow of their sincere feelings that know no impossibility and do not settle for anything less than victory. Since poetry is the Arabs' treasure trove, it has preserved in its verses many tales of heroism, pride, and the nature of life in urban and desert settings, much like how the sky holds its stars.

One of the stories preserved through timeless poetic verses is the story of the poet Bashir Bin 'Awana, who depicted in his poetry his courage, chivalry, and dedication in the pursuit of marrying his beloved, his cousin Fatima Bint Amr.

The performance presented by the Sharjah National Theatre Group, directed by Mohammed Al Ameri, featured a cast of local and Arab actors, along with dozens of performers, illusionists, lighting and sound technicians.

The show included performances, storytelling, poetry recitation, displays, horse participation, beauty, and various forms of Arab art, embodying the authentic Arab cultural heritage.

A cultural performance under way at the festival. WAM

The festival will continue until the 17th of December.

The second day will feature the Tunisian play "Palace of Dust" presented by the group "Fann Ad-Dafateen". On the third day, the Kingdom of Jordan will participate with the play "Al-Deera" by the Raff Performance Arts Group. The Egyptian performance titled "Al-Zeina" will be presented on the fourth day by Studio 77. The final day will showcase the Mauritanian play "Al-Hakeem" by the Eihaa Performing Arts Group. Each theatrical performance will be followed by a critical discussion that analyses its content, perspectives, and style.

The accompanying cultural programme of the festival includes intellectual discussions on the 14th and 15th of December. This edition is themed "Desert Theatre: Experience and Awareness" aiming to shed light on the impact of the festival's experience on the Arab theatrical scene from both practical and theoretical perspectives.

Recently, the Sharjah Department of Culture (SDC) has unveiled its annual programme for festivals and ongoing forums, set to commence in September 2024 and run through August 2025.

Artists line up for the audience. WAM

More than forty events and conferences arranged locally, regionally, and globally are part of the ambitious strategy, which aims to further establish Sharjah as a leader in a wide range of artistic, intellectual, and cultural activities.

The Chairman of the Sharjah Department of Culture, Abdullah Bin Mohammed Al Owais, stressed the significance of these cultural events and forums throughout the Arab world.

In December, there will be an array of exciting events lined up. It all kicks off with the highly anticipated 15th Sharjah Prize for Artistic Criticism, followed closely by the 8th Sharjah Desert Theatre Festival. In the upcoming month, there will be various events to celebrate the Arabic language. These include the World Arabic Language Day at the House of Poetry in Sharjah, the 9th Kairouan Arab Poetry Festival in Tunisia, and the 12th Sharjah Scout Theatre Festival, which will mark the end of December's activities.

WAM