The Festival of the Emirates Theatre Festival 2018 was launched in Abu Dhabi yesterday morning, under the slogan "In the Footsteps of Zayed" The festival was attended by HE Hussain bin Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education and Noura Bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, and HE Jameela Bint Salem Mesbeh Al Muhairi Minister of State for General Education Affairs. The festival's presentation tells the story of the UAE's construction by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may God rest his soul.
Events
The festival, sponsored by HE Hussain Al Hammadi, will feature 1751 students from 119 schools from all over the emirates, and the events will continue until May 13.
The festival aims to unleash the talents of students in the field of creative theatrical representation. The students present a variety of theatrical performances that tell immortal stories in the process of building the UAE by the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Journey
"Shakespeare wrote plays in the sixteenth century, and they’re still alive nowadays the world's theatre," said HE Jameela Bint Salem Mesbeh al-Muhairi in her opening speech. "We travelled into the world of Macbeth, King Lear. Shakespeare made us laugh, cry and surprised. Although it is written in the sixteenth century, but his plays remain today, the masterpieces of immortals, still play theatricals around the world, and because the imagination starts here, from the stage, we start today with you in a new journey of light and sound and movement to open together Emirates School Theatre Festival 2018 under the slogan "In the Footsteps of Zayed".
"There is no doubt that the responsibility of preparing leaders and stars in the world of theatre and art falls upon us, therefore we have to help them establish their own sense of responsibility, the falls hand to hand with the responsibility that is inspired with the aspirations of our wise leadership of our leader His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the wise vision of His Highness and his brothers Rulers of the Emirates.
Breather
HE Jameela Bint Salem stressed that the theatre doesn’t only offer a fun time and knowledge for the students, but it is a respirator for them, especially for those suffering from anxiety or psychological stress because of their school work. Therefore, creating a positive atmosphere for the students, will eventually effect the theatre positively.
HE Jameela bint Salem also thanked the schools that participated in the initiative under the name of “the beginning of the story,” which is one of the most important theatre initiatives, for it promoted the dissemination of theatre culture and children's talents. These activities were aimed to the kindergarten stage, in where each school participates in a musical play with educational goals for parents and society.
She also thanked all institutions and government departments, and that helped make this happen, for their support and sponsorship of this cultural ceremony. She also wished luck to the jury in selecting the best theatre performances distinctive.
Integrated system
Dr. Amna Al-Dahak Al-Shamsi said in a statement to journalists: The new edition of the Emirates Theatre Festival is being organized this year at the state level, Noting that the Ministry of Education has developed an integrated system to come out of theatrical work at the national level, and explained that the festival was opened with a presentation by the School of secondary education for girls, she also reminded that many plays will be presented until the last day of the festival days on May 13th.
Dr. Amna stated that the festival aims to raise the level of theatre activity, and to enhance national identity and spread educational values along with increasing the experience of schools in the theatrical activity, through entering the atmosphere of theatrical festivals, as well increasing friction between schools and exchange of experiences and increase knowledge among them, in addition to instilling values of ethics and traditions of Arab and Islamic and spread the national spirit of the UAE community in the hearts of students.
07/05/2018