Arab Theatre Institute and Riyadh Education join forces

November 18, 2025 / 5:49 PM

Sharjah 24: A delegation led by Ismail Abdullah, Secretary-General of the Arab Theatre Institute, including Ghanem Ghanem and Nasser Al Ali, visited Riyadh. They met with Dr Mohammed bin Saud Al Muqbil, Director-General of the Arab Bureau of Education for the Gulf States, along with Dr Abdullah Al Sahma and Hamad Al Asiri.

Discussions on Memorandum of Understanding

The two sides discussed activating and enhancing their existing Memorandum of Understanding, focusing on training, qualification, and competitions. They aim to strengthen the role of school theatre in character-building and cultural identity, promoting pride in heritage and traditions.

Promoting school theatre and cultural identity

Both parties plan to collaborate with GCC Ministries of Education and Culture to support theatre clubs as talent incubators. They will also develop incentive programs to sustain and grow these initiatives.

Arts festival and programme updates

The Arab Bureau and the Arab Theatre Institute have organised an arts festival featuring theatrical competitions. This event will see updates to its regulations to improve outcomes.

Launching the Arab School Theatre Festival

The Secretary-General announced the upcoming Arab School Theatre Festival, set to debut in 2026. It will serve as a platform for Arab school theatre across all countries, highlighting cultural diversity and youth talent.

Future outlook

Ismail Abdullah expressed optimism about the future of Arab school theatre, emphasising ongoing strategic development. He highlighted the importance of school theatre as a foundation for the broader Arab theatre movement, with a strategic plan extending to 2035.