After seven evenings full of promising performances, challenges and dreams, the Dubai Youth Forum brought the curtain down on its 14th edition last night, as Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) celebrated winners on the Culture and Science stage. The symposium featured six reality-inspired performances presented by the Dubai Al Ahli Theatre, Dubai National Theatre, Yas Society for Culture, Arts and Theater Band, Khor Faqan Theater Band, Ras Al Khaimah National Theater and Tipbah Al Fujairah Theatre.
The award ceremony was attended by Mohammed Ahmed Al Murr, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation and Mansoor Loota, Executive Director General of Dubai Culture, Managing Director of Support Operations Department.
The Performance Innovation Award was won by the theater group “Conference of the Madmen”, Abdullah Al Hammadi won the Best Theater Direction Award for the play “Conference of the Madmen”, and Ismail Salem won the Best Actor Award. Speaking at Ras Al Khaimah National Theater Troupe’s “The Guest of the Warrior of Light”, he told Emirates Today that he had been waiting for this award for 13 years, during which time he had worked diligently and diligently.
Atari Al Suwaidi won the Best Actress award for her performance in the Gorbakken Arts Theater Group’s “Fit for Life”.
Director Ibrahim Al-Kahuni won the award for best scenery for the play “Needle” by Tippa Society for Culture, Arts and Theater Group, while the award for best sound and music effects went to Abdul Aziz Al-Khamis for “Forever”. Eternity.” Actor Khaled Fahad won the Best Performance Award, while the Special Jury Award went to Khalifa Al Nasser, for his performance in “Fit for Life.”
The jury withheld the award for Best Integrated Drama Program due to the lack of integrated elements in the submitted works and the award for Best Drama Script due to several problems with the submitted texts.
An invitation to read and study
A member of the jury, artist Marai Al-Halyan, told “Emirates Al-Youm” about the suspension of the two awards, “This festival is aimed at young people and they are engaged in the development of education and talent, so giving them a prize to people with disabilities will harm the winner, but the award If stopped, it invites the youth to read and study.” So the award is not easy, so winning it is a real victory. A sincere award goes to the deserving without any accolades.
He noted that most theater groups do not focus much on youth, most of the works are given by their individual efforts, and besides the supervisor’s issue affecting the vision, the supervisor should explain the path. For these young people. Al-Halyan noted that young people have a lot to offer, but this makes some people jump out of touch with the aesthetics of theater art, emphasizing that young people are the future generation, and they are the ones who will sustain the theater movement. Country. Encourage them to read, learn about other people’s experiences, and watch shows that give them a lot of knowledge.
Overjoyed
On his part, actor Ismail Salem expressed his happiness at bagging the best actor award, explaining that he had been waiting for the award for 13 years and this year, after exhausting and theatrical effort, the dream came true and presented the show. A beautiful dramatic scene, he tends to present a beautiful painting. This platform is far from academic glamor to impress the jury.
About his new job, Salem noted that the award is a boost going forward and he will look to participate in elite functions as well.
Adari Al Suwadi, who won the Best Actress award for the third year in a row, confirmed that her first award from the show came from the applause and love of the people, citing hard work, perseverance and looking for everything outside. The ordinary makes the artist great.
He pointed out that he devotes his time to the theater and that he participated in two productions during this session of the festival, so after the event he needs to rest and start something new.
For his part, the head of the jury, artist Naji Al-Hay, said before announcing the awards that the festival opens the door of hope for the young generation of playwrights to exercise their creative freedom. Nights of the festival.
He pointed out that theater is a window of freedom for creativity and the panel should be more precise in handling the temperance of the playwright so that the awards go to their rightful place.
Recommendations of referees: Do not exaggerate and reproduce
Commenting on the recommendations made by the jury of the Dubai Youth Theater Festival, the chairperson of the committee, Artist Naji Al-Hai, stressed the need to focus on selecting solid theater texts. Dramatic plot, and the sound construction of characters, and the need for directors to pay attention to the unity of the elements of theatrical presentation, and to select the appropriate text to provide clear movement, reconstructing and reading it, a vision that supports intellectual discourse, and places more emphasis on the actor and content, rather than focusing on natural exaggerations.
Al-Hayy insisted that the group not copy the vocabulary of the visuals, particularly the lights obscured by the unjustified darkness that removed the actor and his expressions, and that the Arabic language should be focused on the performances. The administrations of theater groups provide constant attention and care to the talented young generation and provide them with suitable educational and training environment and adopt it as a conversational language.
Double surprise
The awards night of the 14th session of the Dubai Youth Theater Festival, which opened with Yass’ performance “Convention of Mad People”, was a surprise stoppage of awards for Best Integrated Play and Best Drama Script. Society for Culture, Arts and Theater Group, Dubai Theater Group represented the play “Days of Noise”. National Bank concluded the festival by awarding playwright and director Kamal Mathar the “Theatrical Personality of the Year,” honoring his dedication and artistic career.
Ismail Salem:
To impress the jury, I tried to present a beautiful painting on the stage, far from academic brilliance.
Adhari Al Suwaidi:
The first gift for me was the audience’s applause and love for it during the show.
Marai al-Halyan:
The youth are the future generation and they will maintain the theater movement in the country.
