| Part of a series on the |
| Culture of Qatar |
|---|
 |
| History |
| People |
| Languages |
| folklore |
| Cuisine |
| Religion |
| Music and performing arts |
| Sport |
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]
Set in the Persian Gulf region before the advent of oil, Al-Bushiya (Arabic : البوشيه) is a play based on Qatari folklore and explores sea life and pearl diving. [19] The story revolves around an emotional relationship between Jawaher, portrayed by Fatima Al-Shorouki, and Ghanem, played by Faisal Rashid. Their love faces opposition due to Jawaher's profession as a dancer and Ghanem's weak personality, which is dominated by his father, Hamoud bin Ghanem, portrayed by Nasser Al-Moumen. The play unfolds with Jawaher's defiant character challenging societal norms. The Qatar Theater Troupe first presented Al-Bushiya at the 2012 Doha Theater Festival, organized by Qatar National Theatre. This production attempted to replicate the troupe's previous success with the play Majarih, which won the Best Work award at the 2010 Doha Theatre Festival and is of a similar theme. [20] The play's name, Al-Bushiya, refers to the bushiya , a face veil used by Arabic women, but in this context, is used to liken the male protagonist's fear of confrontation as hiding under a veil. [21]
Nasser Abdel Reda, with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Arts, and Heritage, directed the play. The play was written by Emirati writer Ismail Abdullah and featured a diverse cast of Qatari performers including Nasser Al-Moumen, Faisal Rashid, Fatima Al-Shorouki, Fatima Shaddad, and Omar Abu Saqr, with 26 participants overall. The production team includes assistant directors Khaled Khamis and Abdel Aziz Al-Yahri, with Ali Al-Hammadi and Salah Darwish handling production, and Hamad Abdel Reda overseeing the project. [20]
Al-Bushiya dominated the awards at the 2012 Doha Theater Festival, with Nasser Abdul Redha winning the Best Director Award, Emirati playwright Ismail Abdullah winning the Best Script Award, Nasser Al-Momen winning the Best Actor in a Leading Role Award, Fatima Al-Shorouki winning the Best Actress in a Leading Role Award, Faisal Rashid winning the Best Actor in a Second Role Award. Nasser Abdul Redha also won the Best Lighting Award in addition to an Appreciation Award for musician Fatima Shaddad. [22]
Fatima Shaddad, who plays the grandmother Umm al-Khair, introduces a novel element by performing Al-Nahham, a traditional sea music form typically sung by men during fishing trips. Her participation marked the first time a woman has performed this art on stage in the Gulf, with choreography and music designed by Mohamed Al-Sayegh. [20] She was crowned with the Best Second Role award for this performance during the play's second major reprisal at the 2012 Gulf Theater Festival. [22]
The Qatar Theater Troupe presented Al-Bushiya at the 2012 Gulf Theater Festival in Salalah, Oman, in a series of six performances. [23] It was also chosen to represent the country's delegation at the 2013 Arab Theater Festival held in Doha. [22] The play has also been reenacted in other Persian Gulf countries such as the UAE, where the Ras Al Khaimah Troupe presented the play during the 2017 Sharjah Theatre Days festival, [24] and in Kuwait, where it was performed by the Arabian Gulf Theatre Troupe during the Kuwait Theater Festival and Samifi Cultural Festival, and at regional events such as the Gulf Theater Festival. [21]
Operettas, a light form of theatre focusing more on written dialogue and musical incorporation, have been a popular feature of cultural festivals with theatrical performances. In 2006, in the fifth edition of the Doha Cultural Festival hosted by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage, an operetta about the historic myth of May and Gilan was performed. At the next edition, an operetta entitled Earth and Air was showcased. [25]
May and Gilan is a Qatari legend, or hikâya. In Qatari folklore, the tale of May and Ghilân has been celebrated as a foundational narrative, often recounted through oral tradition. Ghilân, a prominent figure in Qatar's maritime history, is revered as the progenitor of pearl fishing, the historical mainstay of Qatar's inhabitants. In Khor Al Muhanadah (now Al Khor), Ghilân, a wealthy boat owner, dominates the pearl fishing industry until May, a daring woman with superior boats and crew, challenges him. When May's rowers outpace Ghilân's vessels, he devises a clever plan inspired by a grasshopper's wings to create the sail. This innovation allows Ghilân's boats to surpass May's, restoring his supremacy. [26]
Qatari playwright Abdulrahman Al Mannai made a theatrical adaptation of the legend in 2006 at the fifth edition of the Doha Cultural Festival hosted by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Heritage. [27] The play took place at Qatar National Theatre. An operetta featuring traditional sea music and dances, over 120 performers took part in the play, including a Swiss children's dance troupe. Matar Ali and Fouad Al-Hariri composed and arranged the musical notes of the operetta, while Faisal Al-Tamimi directed the acting performances. [28]
Due to the success of Al-Mannai's operetta at the 2006 Doha Cultural Festival, the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Heritage reprised a performance at the 6th Doha Cultural Festival in 2007. The operetta, "Earth and Sea", written and directed by Saad Bourshid, premiered at the festival's opening. This work highlights the two cultural pillars of Qatar: the desert and the sea. The plot centers on a country boy who falls in love with a captain's daughter and seeks to marry her. However, the woman's cousin opposes the match and tries to thwart it by telling the suitor that, given her status, the dowry must be substantial. He suggests that the young man retrieve a large pearl from the sea, believing it an impossible task for a farmer unfamiliar with the ocean. The determined young man accepts the challenge, braves the sea's dangers, and successfully retrieves the pearl, proving his worth and resilience. [29]
The operetta A Folktale in Love of the Nation was performed in December 2021 at Katara Cultural Village, corresponding with the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup hosted in Qatar. Artist Shuail Al-Kuwari scripted and directed the operetta, and poet Hessa Al-Awadi wrote the music. The 25-minute operetta included a puppet theater and scenes inspired by folk songs. Three musical performances were featured in the operetta. [30]
The first segment encourages girls to play the traditional "rattlesnake" game. The second segment is a conversation between a grandfather and his grandchildren, in which he signifies the importance of playing traditional games over electronic ones, and concludes with a folk song entitled Taq Taq Taqiyya, named after a popular folk game. The third segment emphasizes the importance of sports for children. The performance would conclude with the song Ya Marhaba, written by poet Hussein Al-Bakri and composed by Walid Aba Al-Qassem, in which the guests from the Arab countries taking part in the tournament are welcomed. [30]
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.
The Consultative Assembly is the legislative body of the State of Qatar, with 45 members. Following the 2021 Qatari general election, it has 30 elected and 15 appointed members. The body can only question the prime minister, who is appointed by the Emir of Qatar, on his policies if two-thirds of the members agree, which is unlikely given that one-third of the members are appointed by the Emir.
Abdulla Bin Zaid Al Mahmoud Islamic Cultural Center is a cultural organization in Doha, the capital of Qatar. It is located close to Doha Corniche and is a prominent landmark in the city.
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 following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Qatar:
Al Khor is a coastal city in northeast Qatar, located 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of the capital Doha. Considered one of Qatar's largest cities, it is the capital city of the municipality of Al Khor and Al Thakhira. Dating back to the 18th century, it is one of Qatar's oldest settlements. The name of the city, meaning creek in Arabic, emerged because the original settlement was built on a creek. Until the mid-1900s, it was known as Khor Al Shaqiq.
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 May 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Qatari folklore largely revolves around sea-based activities and the accolades of renowned folk heroes. Like elsewhere on the Arabian Peninsula, folktales – known in Qatar as hazzawi – play an important role in Qatar's culture. Some of Qatar's folktales have a distinctive local character while others have been imparted by nomadic tribes wandering between the present-day Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Local folk stories were seldom documented, instead being passed down orally from generation to generation. After Qatar began profiting from oil exploration, the tradition of passing down these stories gradually ceased. Government ministries such as the Ministry of Culture and Sports and local universities have made efforts to preserve and transcribe local legends in publications.
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.
Hessa or Hissa Al-Awadi is a Qatari poet and short story writer.
May and Gilan is a legend, or hikâya, originating from Qatar. In Qatari folklore, the tale of May and Ghilân has been celebrated as a foundational narrative, often recounted through oral tradition. Ghilân, a prominent figure in Qatar's maritime history, is revered as the progenitor of pearl fishing, the historical mainstay of Qatar's inhabitants.
