Riyadh Theatre Festival: Salam Barracks and Al-Saram performances steal the show
The Riyadh Theatre Festival continued its third edition, cementing its position as a leading cultural platform reflecting the burgeoning artistic movement in Saudi Arabia. The sixth day of the festival witnessed a vibrant artistic atmosphere, where innovative directorial visions converged with profound theatrical texts, offering the audience a rich feast of art and beauty. This was all under the auspices of the Theatre and Performing Arts Commission, which strives to empower local talent and enhance the presence of Saudi theatre.
Developing an actor's tools: The art of improvisation
Today's events kicked off with educational and training activities aimed at honing the skills of theater professionals. A specialized workshop titled "The Art of Theatrical Improvisation," led by trainer Khaled Omar, was held. The workshop focused on the importance of improvisation as an essential tool for actors, enabling them to deal flexibly with unexpected situations on stage, enhancing their quick wit, and improving their ability to interact dynamically with the audience and the script—a fundamental pillar in developing the character of a professional actor.
“Peace Barracks”: When safety turns into terror
As part of the competitive performances, the DB House troupe presented the play "Peace Barracks," written and directed by Abdulilah Al-Saykhan. The play delved into the depths of the human psyche, exploring the transformation of the concept of "home" from a haven of tranquility into a cold and desolate military barracks. The work successfully exposed the stark contradictions between the dream of peace and the reality of conflict, offering a vivid and powerful visual portrayal.
In his critical reading of the performance, theater critic Ahmed Al-Maliki pointed to the director’s skill in employing scenography to serve the high symbolism of the text, stressing that the work was able to embody the psychological conflict between the lost tranquility and the existential anxiety imposed by the atmosphere of wars, which made the audience live in a state of anticipation and complete immersion with the events.
“Al-Saram”: The identity conflict between palm trees and oil
On the other hand, with a deep sense of heritage, the "Close-Up Shot" troupe presented the play "Al-Saram" by author Abdulaziz Al-Smaeel and director Sultan Al-Nuh. This performance evoked memories of a pivotal era in the history of the Eastern Province, specifically in the Al-Ahsa Oasis, depicting the major social and economic transformations that accompanied the discovery of oil.
The play cleverly explored the migration of farmers from their palm groves and the deeply ingrained rituals of date harvesting to work in oil companies in search of a new future. Critic Yahya Al-Alkami explained in his commentary that the play successfully balanced historical documentation with artistic expression, highlighting how this cultural shift impacted the social fabric and local identity, without neglecting the aesthetic aspect of evoking the spirit of the place.
The importance of the festival in the cultural scene
This diversity of performances underscores the success of the Riyadh Theatre Festival in achieving its strategic goals, aligned with the Kingdom's Vision 2030, by fostering a creative environment that embraces cultural and intellectual diversity. The significance of this edition extends beyond the performances themselves, encompassing critical discussions and training workshops that contribute to raising artistic awareness and cultivating a generation of theatre practitioners conscious of their society's issues and capable of competing regionally and internationally.
