Mariam Yassine Al-Hammadi, Director of the Culture and Arts Administration at the Ministry of Culture emphasized that the Ministry is highly invested in developing skills and fostering talents through the cultural workshops organized by its specialized centers. “These efforts aim to support the culture sector as well as those who work in it or have an interest in it,” said Al-Hammadi. She made these comments at a workshop organized by the Ministry of Culture’s Theater Affairs Center entitled “Acting Basic Exercises.” Al-Hammadi explained, “The Theater Affairs Center is one of the Ministry of Culture’s specialized centers. It serves as a destination for theater enthusiasts, where they receive training through workshops that focus on various aspects of theater activities. The center aims to educate, cultivate, and foster male and female theater talents by providing them with solid foundations in order to invigorate the Qatari theater movement.” Al-Hammadi added that the center is currently offering an acting workshop. She explained that this workshop is quite important, not only because acting requires constant training and practice, but also because it enriches the theater movement, especially as it struggles against many challenges, such as the COVD-19 crisis which has negatively impacted theater production. The theater movement needs new generations of talents that can empower the cultural environment and positively impact society.
Abdul Rahim Al-Siddiqqi, Director of the Theater Affairs Center, explained that the workshop started on December 19 and is scheduled to continue for a month on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at the Qatar National Theater. He added that 25 students, including 16 Qatari nationals, have registered. The workshop is managed by Ms. Rawan Hallawi, who holds an M.A. in theater and actors training from the Lebanese University. Al-Siddiqqi further commented that the workshop offers detailed explanations of the theoretical foundations of acting as well as practical exercises on movement, voice, and delivery. He pointed out that the workshop aims to help the participants develop their skills so that they can eventually become professional actors. This workshop is an example of the Ministry of Culture’s efforts to support talents and college students and to give them the opportunity to participate in the University Theater Festival (Our Youths on Stage) which is scheduled to start in March. The workshop participants include students from Qatar University, Lusail University, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Community College of Qatar, College of the North Atlantic – Qatar, and Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.