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Theatre was introduced to Qatar in the mid-20th century. Most plays are hosted at the Qatar National Theater and the Qatar National Convention Centre.
The first official theatre troupe in the country was created in 1972 as the "Qatari Theatrical Troupe". It went on to produce its first play the same year. [1] The next year, a second troupe was founded as the Al Sadd Theatrical Troupe. [2] By 1986, the first company had been founded with the intent of aiding troupes and actors in producing plays. [1] Two further troupes were also created during this period: the Lights Theatrical Troupe and Folk Theatrical Troupe. In 1994, the four troupes were amalgamated into two troupes which were named the Qatari Theatrical Troupe and the Doha Theatrical Troupe. [2]
The oldest English-speaking amateur theatre club in Qatar is The Doha Players. [3] The club was formed in 1954, and created its own venue in 1978, thereby becoming the only amateur theatre club in the country have its own theatre venue at that time. [4]
Theatrical performances are held at various venues. The Qatar National Convention Centre accommodates a 2,300-seat theatre. [5] Qatar National Theater, which is owned by the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage, [6] came into operation in 1982 and has a seating capacity of 490. [7] There is an indoor theatre with seating for 430 people located in the Katara Cultural Village. [8] In Souq Waqif, there is a 980-capacity indoor theatre known as Al Rayyan Theatre. [9]
Since the advent of the theatre movement in Qatar, there has been opposition towards non-traditional themes featured in plays. One factor which precipitated disapproval is the prevalence of modern plays which contradict deeply-rooted Islamic values. Another reason, which mainly accounted for opposition in theatre's inaugural years, was the ideological gap between the country's more conservative elderly population and the more liberal youth population which was caused by Qatar's rapid economic development during the mid-20th century. [10] Abdulrahman Al-Mannai wrote the first-ever play to address the conflict of values caused by the generational gap, entitled Ommul Zain. [11]
Themes related to polygamy, marriage, family issues and corruption of children are typically considered taboo. A primary reason for this is because such themes involve the questioning and scrutiny of traditionally-held values. [12] One such example is the 1985 play Ibtisam in the Dock written by Saleh Al-Mannai and Adil Saqar. The story concerns a young girl who, after entering in a secret relationship, professes to her father her disillusionment for past traditions and the suitor her family has arranged for her to marry. [13] Another play, Girls Market by Abdullah Ahmed and Asim Tawfiq, also provides social commentary on arranged marriages. It likens the act of offering women to paying suitors to trading goods on the market, hence associating arranged marriage with materialism. [14]
When a quartet comprising Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed all ties with and imposed a blockade of Qatar on 5 June 2017, a rise in politically-themed plays was observed. One of the most well-known is that of Ghanem Al Sulaiti, entitled What's happening?, which satirizes the political dispute between Qatar and its neighbors, going as far as to directly criticize the blockading countries. [15]
"Night, Oh, Night" (published under its Arabic name, Layl, O, Layl) is regarded as a significant contribution to Qatari theater, often considered the masterpiece of its playwright, Abdulrahman Al-Mannai. Despite its minor linguistic flaws, the play's dialogue and verbal dynamism stand out. Thematically, the work explores historical contexts with dramatic implications, particularly focusing on the conflict between good and evil, framed within the dynamics of power and oppression. Abu Fallah, the authoritative ship owner (noukadha), symbolizes injustice and dominance, controlling the destinies of those in his village by restricting travel and economic opportunities, exploiting their labor for personal gain. [16]
The play's dialogue reflects the villagers' resignation to Abu Fallah's tyranny, highlighting their sense of helplessness and economic dependence. This is reinforced by Abu Fallah's forceful abduction of Farha, the waterman's daughter. This action represents the confiscation of freedom and is met with silent acquiescence from the community. The character of Abu Saood, a reforming preacher, challenges Abu Fallah's authority, advocating for resistance against oppression. Another character, Mubarak, has an unprofessed love interest in Farha, and also represents a challenge to Abu Fallah's criminal behavior. [17]
A summary trial orchestrated by Abu Fallah further reveals the villagers' complicity in perpetuating injustice, prompting introspection on the themes of independence and freedom of choice. The play culminates in the burning of Abu Fallah's ships, symbolizing the destruction of instruments of oppression and the triumph of justice over tyranny. Al-Mannai's choice to write the play in both Qatari Arabic and classical Arabic underscores its significance within Qatari theater, reflecting a broader cultural resonance. [18]
Qatar observes several public holidays. The two weekend days are Friday and Saturday, similarly to other Islamic countries. Annual public holidays include:
The music of Qatar is based on sea folk poetry, song and dance. The historical importance of pearl fishing have deeply resonated within the region's artistic expression, manifesting in melodies, tunes, and dances that reflect the enduring bond between humanity and the sea. Traditional dances in Doha are performed on Friday afternoons; one such dance is the Ardah, a stylized martial dance performed by two rows of dancers who are accompanied by an array of percussion instruments, including al-ras, mirwas and cymbals with small drums. Other folk instruments include the oud and rebaba, both string instruments, as well as the ney and sirttai, which are types of flutes.
Al Wakrah is the capital city of the Al Wakrah Municipality in Qatar. Al Wakrah's eastern edge touches the shores of the Persian Gulf and Qatar's capital Doha is situated to the city's immediate north. Governed by Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, it was originally a small fishing and pearling village. Over the years, it evolved into a small city with a population of more than 80,000 and is currently considered the second most populous city in Qatar.
Qatar is a Muslim-majority country with Islam as the state religion. Salafi version of Islam is the state sponsored brand of Sunni Islam in the country, making Qatar one of the two Salafi states in the Muslim world, along with Saudi Arabia.
The culture of Qatar is strongly influenced by traditional Bedouin culture, with less acute influence deriving from India, East Africa, and elsewhere in the Persian Gulf. The peninsula's harsh climate has historically shaped the lifestyle of its inhabitants, driving a reliance on the sea for sustenance and fostering a distinct emphasis on maritime activities within local culture. Arts and literature themes are often related to sea-based activities. Qatari folklore and music best enshrine the state's marine tradition, with pearling trips serving as the main inspiration for music and traditional Qatari myths like Mai and Ghilân being centered around the sea.
Doha is the capital city and main financial hub of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf coast in the east of the country, north of Al Wakrah and south of Al Khor, it is home to most of the country's population. It is also Qatar's fastest growing city, with over 80% of the nation's population living in Doha or its surrounding suburbs, known collectively as the Doha Metropolitan Area.
Qatar National Day is a national commemoration of Qatar's unification in 1878. It is celebrated annually on 18 December. The holiday was established by a 21 June 2007 decree of the then Crown Prince and Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. It is also known as Founder's Day.
Qatar Museums is a Qatari government entity that oversees the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, MIA Park, QM Gallery at the Katara Cultural Village, ALRIWAQ DOHA Exhibition Space, the Al Zubarah World Heritage Site Visitor Centre, and archaeological projects throughout Qatar, as well as the development of future projects and museums that will highlight its collections across multiple areas of activity including Orientalist art, photography, sports, children's education, and wildlife conservation.
Women's rights in Qatar are restricted by the country's male guardianship law - currently the only remaining country in the Gulf region with such laws - and influenced by the Wahhabi interpretation of Islam. Both women and men were enfranchised in the country at the same time. Labour force participation rates of Qatari women are above the world average and among the highest in the Arab World, which comes mainly as a result of an increasing number of Qatari women who are attaining academic degrees.
Theatre has been performed in Yemen since the early years of the twentieth century. It is, as elsewhere, a public and social genre: performances take place in cultural centers, at universities, at schools and language institutes, in public parks and squares, as well as at more intimate gatherings, such as wedding celebrations. By the count of one scholar of Yemeni theatre, a minimum of five hundred plays of all kinds have been performed in Yemen over the course of the last century, around three hundred and seventy of which are by Yemeni authors; there are also around one hundred published Yemeni play scripts. Some of these plays have taken uniquely Yemeni themes as their subject matter: particular moments or celebrated figures from Yemeni history, like Bilqis, the legendary Queen of Sheba; the 1962 revolution against the Hamid al-Din Imamate in the North; or the 1967 revolution against the British colonial forces in the South. But Yemeni performances have also drawn upon other traditions, including Egyptian drama, like the works of Yusuf Idris, Alfred Farag, and Tawfiq al-Hakim, and on texts by European playwrights such as William Shakespeare, Jean Racine, Bertolt Brecht, and Luigi Pirandello. Performances vary in type from tragedy to improvised comedy, from musical to experimental theatre, from naturalistic plays to theatre of the absurd.
The Qatar Museums (QM) Public Art Department is responsible for overseeing the installation of artwork by renowned artists in the public realm in Qatar, creating an artist residency program for young local artists to help them develop their skills and horizons, organizing exhibitions featuring international artists and developing an online community of creative talent in Qatar and beyond. The QM has an ambitious plan that aims to make Qatar a world class cultural destination, notably in modern and contemporary art.
The mass media in Qatar relays information and data in Qatar by means of television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines and the internet. Qatar has established itself as a leading regional figure in mass media over the past decade. Al Jazeera, a global news network which was established in 1996, has become the foundation of the media sector. The country uses media to brand itself and raise its international profile.
The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Doha, Qatar.
Qatar National Theater is located on the Doha Corniche, near Al Rumaila Garden in Doha, Qatar. The 490-seat theatre opened in 1986 and hosts concerts and plays. In addition to hosting local troupes, it also hosts international and Arab theatrical troupes on occasion.
The modern Qatari art movement emerged in the mid-20th century, as a result of the new-found wealth acquired from oil exports and the subsequent modernization of Qatari society. Because of Islam's non-inclusive stance of depictions of sentient beings in visual arts, paintings historically played an insignificant role in the country's culture. Other visual art forms such as calligraphy, architecture, and textiles were more highly regarded in the Bedouin tradition.
The Ministry of Culture is the ministry responsible for administering Qatar's cultural policies and programs. Its responsibilities include organizing cultural events, promoting cultural cooperation, publishing local literature and raising awareness of Qatar's culture. As of 2016, the ministry also presides over sport and youth club affairs. The current minister is Abdulrahman bin Hamad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani.
Qatari literature traces its origins back to the 19th century. Originally, written poetry was the most common form of expression, but poetry later fell out of favor after Qatar began reaping the profits from oil exports in the mid-20th century and many Qataris abandoned their Bedouin traditions in favor of more urban lifestyles.
Cinema in Qatar is a relatively young industry that evolved as part of the country’s plans to develop different local sectors with the aim of accumulating international recognition and status. Many major steps were taken to implement a long-term plan to develop the infrastructure as well as giving opportunities to local talents to have a platform that establishes their presence within the film industry with the support of the Doha Film Institute, and their various grants, workshops and festivals. The Qatar National Vision 2030 has three major pillars to development: human, social economic and environmental; this vision provides frameworks that enable the development of different elements within Qatar and its society; one of which is the high importance put on developing and cultivating artistic talents to represent and define Qatar on a global scale. Another important element in developing the movie industry is the influence and vision of Sheikha Al Mayassa who founded Doha Film Institution; the establishment of film as a mode of storytelling was imperative because it serves the purpose of granting Qatar a global presence through the talents that are supported and cultivated because of her initiative. The film industry plays a role in amplifying the Qatari national identity alongside the identity of the Arab world as a whole.
Dana Al Fardan is a Qatari composer and songwriter. She is known for being the first female Qatari contemporary composer, singer and songwriter, for being the first Qatari woman to sing in English, and for being the Cultural Ambassador for the Qatari Philharmonic Orchestra. Al Fardan's style is a mixture of classical and contemporary music with strong Arabic influences. Her debut album Paint was released in 2013, with which Dana achieved nationwide recognition.
