Dubai: Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on Monday attended the tenth edition of the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre organised by Dubai Culture.
The 10-day festival was attended by performing arts specialists, artists and drama enthusiasts from the Emirates and across the region.
During the closing ceremony, Shaikh Mansour honoured Mohammad Ahmad Al Murr as ‘Personality of the Year’ for his outstanding contributions to UAE theatre and in recognition of his successful work in promoting the country’s cultural and artistic scene.
Shaikh Mansour also honoured the committee of the festival’s tenth edition, headed by Qatari actor and theatre personality Ganem Al Sulaiti, and joined by artists Ahlam Hassan and Al Raheed Ahmad, and gave special recognition to Yasser Al Gergawi, based on the committee’s recommendation.
Shaikh Mansour also honoured the winners of the 10th edition of the festival, including Tajelyat by Sharjah National Theatre Group which was awarded Best Play, Best Director, Best First and Second Supporting Actor, Best First and Second Supporting Actress, Best Decoration, Best Light Effects, Best Sound and Effects, Best Arabic Language Play, Best Dressing Award and Best Make up Award.
Artist Abir Al Jasmi won the Best Secondary Artist Award for her role in the play, A Heart with Vision (Qalb Yara). Ebrahim Al Kahoumi took the Special Committee Award for his role in The Lost Night (Al Leel Nesa Nafsa).
Saeed Al Nabouda, acting director-general of Dubai Culture, said, “We are grateful to His Highness Shaikh Mansour Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum for honouring the closing ceremony with his presence and for his continuous support and encouragement for the UAE’s theatrical talent. We are delighted with the dedication displayed by the theatre groups and high quality of the plays they presented at this year’s Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre. Across all of the talent that participated at this year’s festival, whether recognised by an award or simply demonstrating excellence in their own specialities, everyone participating demonstrated a capability to flourish in a theatre career. We are also proud to choose Mohammad Al Murr as the ‘Personality of the Year’ for this year’s festival in recognition of his role in developing the theatre sector in the UAE.”
Fatima Al Jallaf, head of Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre, senior specialist Cultural and Arts Support of Dubai Culture said, “The festival event shone a spotlight on the vast pool of talent in locally based theatre groups, including directors, writers, young actors, stage technicians, designers of costumes and accessories, technicians, lighting specialists and make-up artists.”
The festival’s agenda included many theatrical workshops and activities, the most significant of which was the open youth forum, and a number of short plays in different languages produced for the Short Plays Festival.
A total of ten theatre groups participated in the festival — Sharjah National Theatre, Fujairah Theatre, Al Ahli Dubai Theatre, Dibba Theatre for Culture, Arts and Drama, Dubai Folklore Theatre, Abu Dhabi Theatre, Al Ain Theatre Group, Ras Al Khaimah Theatre Group, Zayed Sons Theatre, Modern Theatre (Sharjah), and the Dibba Al Hosn Theatre for Culture and Arts.
For the first time ever, 10 shows were performed as part of the this year’s festival, including Ascending Rain, or Matar Tasaodi, A Heart with Vision, Qalb Yara; The Highest of Love, Fe Aaly Al Hob; The Lost Night, Al Leel Nesa Nafsa, The Wind of Junk, Reyah Al Khorda; Thirst Al Thamaa, Lear the King of Sculptors, Ler Malek Al Nahaten, A Sun Manifestations, Tajelyat, Push the Button, Shaghel Al Zir and You were supposed to be there, Kan Men Al Mafrood An Takoon Honak.
