The Board of Trustees of the Arab Theatre Authority met today, Tuesday, at the Authority’s headquarters in Sharjah, chaired by Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council, Ruler of Sharjah, and Supreme President of the Arab Theatre Authority.

The new board includes a selection of Arab theater professionals: Egyptian director Khaled Galal, Dr. Jabbar Joudi Al-Aboudi (Iraq), Dr. Habib Ghuloom (UAE), Dr. Hassan Rashid (Qatar), Rafiq Ali Ahmed (Lebanon), Dr. Sami Al-Jamman (Saudi Arabia), Dr. Saad Youssef (Sudan), Dr. Saeed Al-Siyabi (Oman), Abdel Fattah Souleih (Mauritania), Dr. Ajaj Salim (Syria), Dr. Ezzedine Bounit (Morocco), Ali Al-Fallah (Libya), Fathi Abdulrahman (Palestine), Mohamed Al-Mansour (Kuwait), Dr. Moez Al-Marrabet (Tunisia), Dr. Mohamed Boukras (Algeria), Hayel Al-Madhabi (Yemen), Hazaa Al-Barari (Jordan), and Youssef Al-Hamdan (Bahrain).

During the meeting, Sheikh Al Qasimi directed the launch of the “Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi Award for Theatrical Excellence for Youth,” an Arab award focusing on young people’s creativity and efforts to develop Arab theater. He also instructed the Authority to focus on school theater in Arab countries, launching national theater festivals in schools, and organizing the Arab School Theater Festival to ensure broad Arab interaction in educational and cultural theatrical activities, which is crucial for cultivating an aware audience about the educational and social role of theater.

He emphasized documenting Arab theatrical memory and supporting researchers in various theater fields by establishing the Arab Center for Documentation, Studies, and Research, aiming to organize and diversify studies and research in Arab theater, document the historical journey of theaters in Arab countries, and expand comparative studies of the Arab theatrical experience in its human context.

He pointed out the importance of developing the theatrical movement across the Arab world, affirming his continuous support in various fields, including academic qualification of new and young generations in all artistic and technical disciplines through Sharjah Academy for Performing Arts, which offers specialized and higher university studies, enhancing the strategy to develop and refine artists’ talents needed by theater and its community. He added that Sharjah continues theatrical activation through its diverse theater festivals and distinguished Sharjah Theater Days performances, with a dedicated additional permanent budget to present plays throughout the year in all emirates to reach audiences everywhere.

The meeting discussed several topics and plans contributing to ambitious proposed projects in theater, aiming for the Authority to actively contribute to developing theaters in Arab countries, improving the skills of workers in various specialties, providing necessary resources, and supporting them through training workshops and theatrical events.

The meeting also reviewed reports on the Authority’s work in school theater, including training teachers and supervisors of theatrical activities and curricula, reflecting great interest and scientific foundation to introduce schoolchildren to theater and encourage their participation in artistic and cultural activities from an early age.

Sheikh Al Qasimi discussed with theater professionals the general state of Arab theater and its people, highlighting the importance of benefiting from shared Arab expertise, providing the best care, and offering theatrical performances that elevate the audience’s taste.