ADACH to initiate educational programme with ZU and UAEU

posted on 04/03/2009: 60 views

The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) announced yesterday the implementation of an educational drama programme with the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and Zayed University (ZU Abu Dhabi campus), to run in parallel with the performances of "Richard III: An Arab Tragedy" in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain later this month.

The educational initiative involves the teaching of Shakespeare's celebrated drama in the university curriculum as well as organising drama workshops and master classes, conducted by director and playwright Suleyman Al Bassam.

In addition, each performance in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain will be followed by live seminars and discussions with the cast and director on stage, which it is hoped will further the audience's involvement with the theatre and enhance their appreciation of it.

Director of Arts and Culture Department at ADACH Abdullah Al Amri said the collaboration highlights the importance of Drama education for young people in raising public awareness of the classical traditions of international theatre, and most importantly in promoting and supporting contemporary Arabic Theatre.

"Theatre should not only be entertainment, but also an educational formative experience, and an aspiration for higher thoughts and analysis of the universal human condition," he said.

Al Bassam expressed his keen interest in holding the workshops and the live discussions: "I believe we have an experience to share and a message to deliver. It is one of our ultimate goals to educate the younger generation about the theatre and share with them our thoughts and knowledge on this important topic. We want to create an international theatre with an Arabic flavour that preserves the originality of our beautiful culture and distinguishes us from others.

"Richard III: An Arab Tragedy", originally commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, will have its UAE debut on the 20th March, at Al Ain's Al Jahili Fort. Another two performances will be held in Abu Dhabi on 29th and 30th March at Dhafrah Theatre in the Cultural Foundation building. Live discussions following each performance will be held on stage with the playwright and director Sulayman Al Bassam, together with the cast. – Emirates News Agency, WAM

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