Saudi Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan offered his thanks for the “unprecedented” level of support for the theatrical arts the ministry has received, especially from King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
“The theater is the father of arts, and we have great expectations regarding the future of the art of theater in Saudi Arabia,” he said in a speech delivered at the inauguration of the National Theater Initiative at the King Fahd Cultural Center.
“We want Saudi Arabia to be a leader in the field,” the minister stressed.
Prince Badr said the national transformation vision, Saudi Vision 2030, views culture as one of the elements of quality of life, stressing that the ministry “is committed to supporting the theatrical movement and enabling theatrical performers to fulfill their mission.”
The inauguration ceremony of Saudi Arabia's National Theater Initiative saw the opening performance of the play Daraish Al-Nour (Windows of Light).
Written by poet Saleh Zamanan and directed by Fatees Baqna, it features a cast of local actors including Naif Khalaf, Khaled Saqr and Ibrahim Al-Hassawi.
The play explores the Saudi culture, past and present, and includes a number of pop-culture and historical references that older audiences in particular will appreciate.
The music evokes feelings of nostalgia without seeming overly dated, and even the style of directing recalls and pays tribute to the glory days of Saudi theater.
According to the Ministry of Culture, the Saudi National Theater Initiative will work to support the creations of Saudi dramas, enhance their capabilities in the performing arts, and develop Saudi theater directives, using inspiration from the Kingdom's Vision 2030 plan for local heritage and culture.
