Ruler of Sharjah Attends Opening of Ninth Sharjah Desert Theatre Festival

Sharjah, The Gulf Observer: His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, attended on Friday the opening ceremony of the ninth edition of the Sharjah Desert Theatre Festival, held in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Deputy Ruler of Sharjah. The festival will continue until December 17.

The opening day featured a theatrical performance written by the Ruler of Sharjah, titled “Al Barraq and Layla Al Afeefa”, which was staged in the Al Kehaif area of Sharjah. The production marked a highlight of the festival, combining theatrical artistry with innovative presentation techniques.

H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan praised the actors’ performances, the strength of the script, the integration of poetic dialogue, and the advanced techniques employed in the production. He noted that the play incorporated elements of conceptual depth, visual spectacle, and cinematic presentation, making it distinctive through the diversity and richness of its components.

The Ruler of Sharjah affirmed that the Sharjah National Theatre had provided full resources and commitment to ensure the production was presented at the festival under the name of the United Arab Emirates. He emphasized that the participation of “Al Barraq and Layla Al Afeefa” aims to compete for the festival’s top award against entries from various Arab countries.

H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan clarified that winning the award would not be a personal achievement for him or solely for Sharjah, but rather an honor for the United Arab Emirates as a whole. He further noted that this work differs from his previous productions, as it is part of a competitive festival framework involving artistic rivalry among participating countries.

The Ruler of Sharjah also commended the efforts of director Mohammed Al Ameri, praising his excellence in delivering a large-scale and complex production, his mastery of performing arts, and the seamless integration of live stage acting with filmed performances, reflecting the high level of quality and sophistication achieved in the play.