Celebrated film and television actors and popular theatre artists from across the Arab world have called for a strong theatre movement in the region, stressing on the importance of identifying and nurturing young and upcoming talent right from the school stage. Taking part in Sharjah Media Centre's Ramadan Majlis debate last night (Wednesday) at Al Majaz Amphitheatre, dedicated to Emerging Talents Dialogue: Nurturing Existing Talents to Build the Future of Theatre, popular Arab actors and theatre personalities expressed grave concern over the lack of young talent in the region. Celebrated film and television actors and popular theatre artists from across the Arab world have called for a strong theatre movement in the region, stressing on the importance of identifying and nurturing young and upcoming talent right from the school stage. Taking part in Sharjah Media Centre's Ramadan Majlis debate last night (Wednesday) at Al Majaz Amphitheatre, dedicated to Emerging Talents Dialogue: Nurturing Existing Talents to Build the Future of Theatre, popular Arab actors and theatre personalities expressed grave concern over the lack of young talent in the region.
The third session of Ramadan Majlis saw a galaxy of popular Arab actors and theatre figures in attendance, including veteran Egyptian actor Hassan Hosny, known for his memorable roles in Egyptian cinema and television, Jassim Al Nabhan, popular Kuwaiti actor and former chairman of the Popular Theatre Troupe, Ghanim Al Sulaiti, Qatari actor and Adviser to Qatar's Ministry of Culture and Sports, HE Ahmed Al Jasmi, popular Emirati actor and Chairman of Sharjah National Theatre and Ibrahim Salem, Emirati actor and Senior Director at the UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, who moderated the discussion.
Joining the debate, Hassan Hosny lamented the state of affairs in the world of theatre, saying today's youth are hardly interested in an art like theatre. Recalling that the Arab world had a robust theatre culture in 1960s and 50s, he regretted the fact that today even when young people study acting, they do not have theatre in mind as a career. For theatre does not pay well nor does it offer adequate recognition. In Europe and elsewhere, it is a different matter altogether with theatre still offering great recognition and reward, he said, pointing out that although the Arab theatre is more than 100 years old, it is still looking for recognition and fighting for survival. He called for greater public and government support to theatre movement in the region, emphasising on the need to concentrate on school theatre and inculcate a love of theatre in youth from an early age.
He paid rich tributes to His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, for his generous and constant support and patronage to arts and artists including theatre, saying if it were up to him, he would gather all theatre artists from around the world in Sharjah.
HE Ahmed Al Jasmi, Emirati actor and Chairman of the Sharjah National Theatre, shared his concern over the missing young talent in the region. However, he said Sharjah and the UAE have been actively encouraging young talent in theatre. I am proud to say that we have a very rich talent pool in the country with a number of theatre companies operating in the country. We see promising young talent in these theatre groups. We have at least 10 theatre festivals in the country, he said referring to the strong school theatre culture in Sharjah and the UAE. He said Sharjah boasts strong cultural institutions that actively encourage young talent in theatre.
Ghanim Al Sulaiti, Qatari actor and theatre personality, agreed with him, describing Sharjah as the capital of Arab theatre and saying Sharjah and the UAE support all arts and artists. Al Sulaiti said that Qatar is nurturing a different kind of theatre movement with a definite purpose and objective. He praised the UAE, saying we are all familiar with the history of theatre in the UAE talking about the successful theatre in Sharjah and Al Ain.
Addressing himself to Arab youth, the Qatari theatre figure and official said: I would like to tell our youth that if you are interested in a career in theatre, you must first know your objective and career goal. For theatre is serving humanity. It is all about conveying people's concerns and issues. Many of us have talents and ambitions but without any concern for people's issues. We should study theatre and acting taking into consideration popular culture and their day-to-day issues.
Jassim Al Nabhan, popular Kuwaiti actor, called for nurturing young talent and from an early age, saying university theatre must be preceded by school theatre. He said there was a time when school theatre used to run contests to pick the best talent. The Gulf theatre was young then but it still articulated people's concerns and issues, he said. Urging public and private partnership in supporting theatre in the region, Al Nabhan said if companies that spend 5% of their earnings on advertising devoted even a fraction of it towards encouraging theatre and nurturing talent, it would do wonders to revive this distinct art in the region.
Referring to the example of the West, he said theatre still thrives in Europe and America because everyone knows the importance of supporting arts. There must be independent entities in our part of the world to support theatre and other arts, he emphasised.
Ibrahim Salem, Emirati actor and Senior Director at the UAE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development, moderated the discussion, opening it with an overview of theatre movement in the region and challenges facing it.
The Ramadan Majlis is one of the most innovative initiatives by Sharjah Media Centre to raise and discuss a wide spectrum of i
