According to the Ministry of Culture and Youth, the recently launched “Create Theatre” project has received 21 submissions from 13 regional theater companies. The awards under the headings “Local Theatre Tours,” “Enhancing Capabilities and Skills,” and “Foreign Theatrical Performances” at the Arab and regional level will benefit the applications.
The ‘Local Theatre Tours’ category covers tours of current shows (no older than two years) organized by public benefit societies or theater groups registered nationwide and includes performances within the UAE. Eleven applications were submitted under this category, and five were funded with AED 240,000.
Samaoun in the Time of the Pharaoh, produced by Dubai Al Ahly Theatre; Kurcum and Bazara, produced by the Kalba Association for Folklore and Theatre; The Creators, produced by Zayed Theater for Talents and Youth; West Play; and The Night of the Spider’s Killing, produced by Dubai National Theatre, were among the winning plays in this category.
For their production, “Brilliant without Colors,” Khorfakkan for Arts, and the Sharjah Society for Folklore and Theatre (Modern Theatre) were awarded a grant.
Five applications each were submitted for the other two categories. However, grants under the “Enhancing Capabilities and Skills” category were not awarded since the applications did not adhere to the requirements, although three theatrical productions received funding in the same category.
Financial grants totaling AED 270,000 were given to entries in the “Foreign Theatrical Performances” category so they could take part in international festivals and Arab and regional events. The Umm Al Quwain National Theatre’s “I See You” production took part in the Carthage Theatre Festival. Two pieces, “Wanted for Rubbish” by the Yas Culture Association for Arts and “The Slave” by the Dibba Association for Culture, Arts, and Theatre, were presented during the Sharm El Sheikh International Festival for Youth Theatre.
The ministry establishes unique standards for choosing the entries. The excellence and viability of the production, its originality, and the director’s vision are considered when granting grants for participation in foreign theatrical performances. Other considerations include the strength of the script, the application’s justification, and the standing of the festival in which the troupe hopes to perform. Grants for the local show tour are given out based on the viability and quality of the artwork, the script’s quality, how interactive and captivating it is, and the tour’s remote location.
The initiative, recently launched by the ministry under the aegis of the “Ibdaa” initiatives, aims to advance the theatrical movement in the nation by providing financial and logistical support, enriching the cultural and creative sectors, elevating the status and importance of theater as one of the pillars of the art sector, and creating a supportive environment to attract more talents and empower them. In turn, this would significantly enhance the country’s economy.
