Yesterday at the Doha International Book Fair, a seminar entitled Qatari Drama: Reality and Challenges was held in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Thani, Minister of Culture, and a host of intellectuals and innovators. The audience included many artists who are working hard to develop local drama by proposing new ideas and suggestions. The participants exchanged their views regarding the causes for success as well as the most pertinent challenges that can be addressed through the promotion of creativity in the dramatic arts. Hamad Al-Rumayhi and Falih Fayiz were among the artists who attended the seminar, while Saad Bourachid, faculty member at Qatar Community College, was the moderator.
His Excellency the Minister of Culture addressed the audience saying, “I am here to listen to artists in public.” He added, “After listening to you, I am asking you to be part of the solution, not the problem.” His Excellency invited the participants to meeting after the book fair to further discuss some of the proposals that were made during the discussions. At the closing of the seminar, His Excellency honored distinguished artists Saad Bourachid, Falih Fayiz, and Hamad Al-Rumayhi.
The seminar started out with Hamad Al-Rumayhi giving a short history of Qatari drama. He explained how in the eighties, and for the first time, Gulf social commentary emerged in the form of the Qatari TV series “Fayiz Al-Touch,” which achieved resounding success in Qatar, the Gulf Region, and the Arab World. He proposed that in order for Qatari drama to achieve similar successes, it is necessary to develop a strategy that meets current developments. Saad Bourachid emphasized that the successes of Qatari drama cannot be undermined. He mentioned the theater program at Qatar Community College whose graduates have degrees in direction, theater management, theater facilities administration, and theater décor. He described the program as the academic arm of the Qatari cultural movement. He concluded his remarks by expressing his optimism regarding the future of innovation in Qatari theater.
Falih Fayiz talked about the need to address the difficulties and challenges that can hinder the development of Qatari theater. He pointed out that theater needs to deal with diverse topics and delve into all aspects of the human experience and the different issues of the Arab World. He added that, “We used to talk about humanity because it is the foundation of all our issues. Indeed, Qatari theater left its mark locally and internationally, but it is still capable of offering more in the future.”