JEDDAH, 2 June 2006 — “It’s almost as if we were begging.”
Those were not the words of a person in need, a social worker or the member of a charity organization. The speaker was Abdullah Bahattab, manager of the Jeddah Drama Group.
He was referring to the complete ignorance of the governmental and private sections that organize the Jeddah summer festival.
Bahattab and the members of the drama group constantly complain about the lack of public support and recognition.
The prize for best director was won by member of the drama group Othman Falattah for the play “Obsession” last month in Kuwait at the first Gulf Universities Festival.
Bahattab said that two years ago he presented to the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry a summer festival program that suggested plays for both adults and children. “At first they agreed, but then a week before the festival started, they canceled everything without explanation.”
Since the beginning of the Jeddah Summer Festivals, the group has not been able to perform a single play. Whatever presented to Saudi audiences are mostly “commercial play” — which are in fact farces with Egyptian actors.
Amazingly the award-winning drama group lacks what is most basic for drama — a stage. Fortunately, the manager — Bahattab — is Student Activities’ Manager at King Abdul Aziz University so the group is allowed to use the university stage.
Last month, the group presented a children’s play entitled “Serenity Land” but had to use a private stage as the university’s was being repaired.
That turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the audience there was composed of men and women with children.
At the university, this would not have been possible as the stage is on the men’s campus where women are not allowed.
The group is negotiating with the same center in order to use the stage again. It has also been asked to present the play in Al-Jouf region.
Though Jeddah’s summer festival is set to begin, it looks as if once again, there will no participation by the Jeddah Drama Group.
