Call to introduce theatre in curricula

A symposium on school theatre here yesterday urged the ministries of education in the GCC states to include theatrical studies in school curricula. They also urged the organising of more programmes and activities to promote this art among schoolchildren and young people in the region.

The symposium was held as part of the First GCC School Theatre Festival organised in the emirate by the Ministry of Education and Youth in cooperation with the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information (DCI) between January 21 and 27.

Stage artists, critics, officials, experts and theatre lovers from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE took part in the symposium.

"It is quite essential that a unified subject on theatre be introduced at all school curricula in the GCC countries. Such a subject should be taught at all levels," said the final communiqué issued yesterday.

The communiqué added that specialised and active theatrical units should be set up at the ministries of education all over the GCC states in a bid to promote theatrical studies and encourage schoolchildren and young people to join the theatre in these countries.

"More plays and theatrical research and studies should be released by the ministries of education in the GCC states as part of an integrated plan to promote theatre and encourage people to join it," noted the communiqué.

It added that the present institutes and centres in the GCC should be fully used to train schoolchildren and young people in theatrical techniques and help them acquire new skills and knowledge.

"More workshops and training courses should be organised as part of the theatrical festivals in the region. Experts, stage actors and actresses, schoolchildren and young people should be invited to take part."

The communiqué stressed the importance of hosting Arab and foreign theatrical troupes to take part in future GCC School Theatre sessions.

"Pioneer personalities who played a key role in developing school theatre in the GCC states should be honoured, expertise between theatrical troupes in the GCC states should be exchanged, media coverage of theatrical activities should be enhanced, and annual competitions should be organised as part of a plan to boost the school theatrical movement in the region."

The winning show in each session should be staged in all the GCC states in order to encourage distinction in this art amongst theatrical troupes, it added. The communiqué stressed the need for setting up an organising committee to prepare for future sessions of the Theatre Festival and to organise its activities.

"The festival should held in one of the GCC states every year. It should be provided with all the necessary moral and financial support to make it a big success." The delegates thanked the UAE and Sharjah Government in particular for making this year's festival a big success.

"We thank His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who opened the festival and attended the inaugural performance."