“ZENOBIA,” a play written and arranged by the legendary Lebanese composer Mansour Rahbani, has begun performances in Dubai amid public enthusiasm and great expectations. Last month — also in Dubai — Verdi’s opera “Aida” (which had its premiere in Egypt in 1871) was a great success with audiences totaling more than 5,000. And this is not even to mention touring musicals such as “Mama Mia” and “Chicago” that have visited the Gulf. Cultural interests there have been increasing over the past few years and events have included art exhibitions, auctions, film festivals and a race to build museums (although with imported art). The movement is gaining momentum and it has already transformed the cultural map of the Gulf.

The audiences and visitors to these events come from all over the Gulf — and that of course includes Saudi Arabia. This is where we need to stop for a minute and reflect on the fact that those Saudis who are interested in such things have been going for decades to neighboring countries in order to get their cultural fixes. Book fairs in Cairo and Beirut normally attract a large number of Saudis who are interested in finding out about the latest in the world of the printed word. Most of them buy piles of books, and if they are successful in bringing them past the airport censors, they enjoy reading them, passing them around and discussing them with other interested people. For those who are unable to travel and who are interested in the worlds of literature, art, drama, painting and film, there is little chance they can stay up-to-date if they remain in the Kingdom. Even today, the main sources for anything to do with these cultural areas are still beyond the country’s borders, certainly not within them.

Now most other Gulf countries are bringing in intellectual stimulation, for their own citizens and for anyone else who cares to have a look and a think. The feedback from this says more than words ever could about how much people enjoy these cultural events.

Saudi Arabia, unfortunately, seems to be the only country in the region that suffers from a severe lack of that kind of culture. It is as if we were waging war against all forms of culture and entertainment. And so far, the casualties have been limited to those who have dared to defy the unpublished — but clearly well understood — rule of “No culture please we’re Saudi.” Examples of what I am talking about abound. Just look at what happened in Riyadh a few months ago. A play dealing with fanaticism was being performed when a group armed with sticks broke into the hall and attacked the audience and the cast of the play. The police had to be called to restore order and the video clip is still posted on YouTube. Just watching the clip makes one realize the viciousness of the struggle and how far we have to evolve as a society before watching a play becomes an accepted way to spend part of an evening.

We are still debating over screening films in public and when we actually manage to do so — as happened in Jeddah a few months ago — we still have to wade through all the regulations and paperwork. They inevitably turn what was meant to be an exciting event into a dull pastime with films that are not very entertaining. And of course, the most important point that has to be addressed at all times and must be guaranteed absolutely: WOMEN AND MEN WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO MIX. If this is not emphasized and highlighted, the event will attract unwanted attention and will most likely end up being cancelled.

Maybe the people in Jeddah last summer ago were lucky since the films were open for families, but that may have been a fluke. We can’t count on it happening in other cities. Along these very lines, there is a film festival going on at present in Riyadh; it has been running for a month and still has a month to go, but it is for men only. Also the films are all Saudi ones and while many of them are good, we have yet to become known for our movie-making abilities and skills.

So while the rest of the world, including our GCC brothers, sisters and neighbors, is moving forward, we are still waiting for the day when can have a book fair without censors or self-appointed morality police causing a stir and a commotion, or a film festival that actually has films for a change and allows the whole family or a group of friends to enjoy some time together.