Public funds to rebuild theatre hit by car bomb

The theatre destroyed in a terror attack here last March will be rebuilt through a fundraising campaign. The target amount for the reconstruction is pegged at about 8 million Qatari riyals.

The new theatre will be dedicated to Jon Adams, a Briton killed in the blast. The initiative, dubbed The Jon Adams Doha Players Fund, was announced yesterday by the teachers of Qatar Academy and members of the Doha Players at a press conference.

Adams was an instructor at the senior school's English department, Qatar Academy, as well as an active member of the Doha Players. He was the only victim of the March 19 car bomb that ripped apart the theatre, injuring 13 people.

The Doha Players, a Doha-based theatre group, was performing Shakespeare's TTwelfth Night when a suicide bomber rammed his car loaded with explosives into the theatre's building where around 100 people were watching the play.

Putting the act together

The Doha Players and the Qatar Academy students will stage a series of plays and other fund raising events throughout the academic year to help meet the target. "Our students seek to build a lasting memorial to their beloved teacher and trusted mentor," said Hana Kanan, the Qatar Academy director.

The activities will include a talent show and a play in Arabic. The students will also collaborate with the Doha Players for the production of Cinderella, scheduled to go on stage in December at Doha National Theatre.

The fundraisers yesterday said the new theatre will come up at the site of the old building. The fundraisers have already received some donations from local organisations. The Commercial Bank of Qatar donated 50,000 riyals and students of Education City 25,000 riyals.

The Doha Players have been performing amateur theatre in Qatar since 1954. For years, productions were presented in schools and private villas until 1979 when the theatre got its official venue.