Arabic ‘Sesame Street’ almost ready

It’s finally coming together. The cast of Iftah Ya Simsim, the Arabic version of iconic children’s educational show Sesame Street, have been confirmed, and will soon head into the studio for production. The show, a massive hit in the ’80s in the Middle East, has been revived with old characters as well as some new ones.

Returning from the original show are No’man, a six-year-old Muppet, and Melsoon, a colourful ageless bird known for his curiosity. New characters include Shams, a six-year-old girl, and Gargur, an enthusiastic Muppet who thinks he can do anything. Saudi actor Abdullah Kassem will voice No’man, while Emirati actress Asma Al Shamsi will be the voice of Shams; the characters are the show’s leads.

Two human characters, Rashid and Amal, have also been added to the cast, played by Saudi actor Abdulla Rafaah and Emirati artist Fatma Al Taei respectively.

“This has been a venture that I have been looking forward to ever since I was taken on board Iftah Ya Simsim. I am so enthusiastic to finally start working on such a show that is a far more enriching and amazing experience than I had ever imagined,” said Kassem.

Each character has its unique personality and linguistic style that are consistent to their age, environmental context and cultural background, said the Abu Dhabi-based Bidaya Media, the children’s education content development company that’s behind the show.

The show is sanctioned by the Sesame Workshop, producers of Sesame Street, although no Sesame Street characters, such as Big Bird, have been adapted for Iftah Ya Simsim.

“This is an exciting time as we finally see all our hard work and preparation being executed with the start of the in-studio production, for Iftah Ya Simsim. Our talent represents the potential within the region and the puppeteers are excited to begin work on this venture”, said Cairo Arafat, the managing director of Bidaya Media.

All of Iftah Ya Simsim’s content is based on the educational curriculum and objectives that are regularly reviewed and updated by the Educational Advisory Committee and the representatives of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States (ABEGS).

The show is set to launch later this year across the Middle East.