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In response to the initiative by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE  Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, the Cultural Hall hosted, on 9 April 2019, the launch of the 1st edition of Bahrain Theater Festival. The event was organized under the patronage of H.E Shaikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al Khalifa, President of  Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, in the presence of H.E Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, Director-General of Culture & Arts, at the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities.

In her inaugural speech as representative of BACA, H.E Shaikha Hala Bint Mohammad Al-Khalifa expressed her happiness and appreciation for the initiative by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohamed Al Qasimi , lauding His Highness’s generous contributions to arts and culture development. H.E Shaikha Hala also praised the unlimited  support of  the Arab Theater Authority to enrich the theatrical movements in the GCC countries and throughout the Arab world, pointing to the important role played by the Federation of Theater Societies in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and representatives of Bahraini theater societies to achieve bright success in this exceptional  cultural festival.

Commenting on the name and theme of this 1st edition, H.E Shaikha Hala said “ The Late artist, Ebrahim Bahar,  who  has been is absent, but continues to haunt the present, sends us a message, on the occasion of this evening’s opening ceremony,  that the work of art is immortal, regardless of its master”.

During the ceremony,  the Representative of  the Arab Theater Authority honored H.E Shaikha Hala bint Mohammed Al Khalifa for BACA’s efforts and valuable contributions to the flourishing arts, culture and theater fields.

The 1st session of the festival shall have honor to be named after the late artist “Ibrahim Bahar Edition”, in honor of his contributions and his crucial role in the enrichment of the theater-art  movement in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The theater play (A Woman in Darkness ), written by the Late artist and directed by Hussain AbdAli, was played as the first show of this first edition of the festival, organized by Arab Theater Authority Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, in cooperation with the Federation of Theater Societies in the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the participation of 6 local representatives of Bahraini theater societies, presenting to the public daily shows during the period from 10-14 April 2019.

This 1st edition also coincides with the 100th anniversary of Bahrain’s theater movement launch, whereby the 1st theater festival program will include an intellectual lecture, titled “ Panorama of the Bahraini Theater Centenary”, as well as a Scenography workshop. The festival will also invite artists, playwrights from many GCC and Arab countries.

Worth to mention that H.H. Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, has announced an initiative to establish a theatrical festival in every Arab country under the management of the Arab Theatre Authority in order to promote theatrical creativity and performance. Such festivals will significantly contribute to evolving the theatrical movement across all Arab countries. As an implementation of this initiative, 7 national festivals will be organized and three centers for performing arts, Bahrain Theater Festival being part of this initiative.