JEDDAH, 7 December 2006 — Two short courses in a year are not enough to allow Jeddah playwrights and actors to learn about the art and polish their skills, according to organizers of a drama workshop here.
Last week the drama section of the Saudi Society of Arts and Culture ended a 20-day drama workshop. Twenty-five male actors participated in the workshop that was organized and run by Egyptian instructor Faisal Al-Shennawi.
“This year we managed to organize two drama courses open to all actors,” said Abdullah Bahattab, the manager of the drama section at the society.
Bahattab admits that two courses are not enough, especially in the absence of drama studies at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah and of any kind of drama school in the Kingdom. The only drama studies section in Saudi Arabia was at King Saud University in Riyadh but that was closed a few years ago.
According to Bahattab, “Talent is the main element in acting but it is crucial to polish it by fully understanding dramatic techniques. How else can we have skillful actors and directors?”
Simply having a budget is not the answer to all the problems. The main obstacle is having a stage on which to perform. “Each time we have a new show, we have to go through the same hassle over and over,” said Bahattab. The hassle is trying to book a stage either from the government or the private sector.
The Jeddah Drama Group, as well as other drama groups in the Kingdom, is motivated by their passion for the art and has managed to survive despite all odds.
The group is currently working on three plays. The first, called “When Is the Spring Coming?”, is expected to be performed at the Jeddah Literary Club on Dec. 19. The one-act play deals with the problems of artists and writers in Saudi Arabia.
