Dh1 million theatre initiative launched by UAE Ministry of Culture and Youth

The creative programme aims to nurture and empower artists, as well as grow the sector across the country

Actors perform in an operetta in Dubai titled 'The Prophet of Mercy' to commemorate Prophet Mohammed's birthday. Ruel Pableo / The National

A new initiative by the UAE's Ministry of Culture and Youth will provide financial grants to theatre professionals amounting to nearly Dh1 million.

Create Theatre aims to offer support for young people and professionals working in the sector so they can produce quality content and maximise their public reach.

Comprising of four types of grants, Create Theatre will provide financial and logistical backing for theatre-related activities, with the aim to encourage and attract more talent to join the creative sector.

The four grants are for Capacity Building and Upskilling, Theatre Performances Local Tour, Theatre Performances International Festival Participation and Operation Support.

Interested creatives and theatre troupes need to fill out an online form pertaining to the grant that best suits their needs.

"Theatre is a very powerful tool that gives voice to people," Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, tells The National.

"It also has a powerful role in bringing people together and establish social cohesion. Theatre is a unifying medium which discusses relatable issues and topics that stem from everyday life. In fact, it is one of the most impactful and powerful forms of media."

The UAE has a rich legacy in on-stage storytelling and performance. Theatre has been popular in the region since the 1950s.

Today, Emirati plays continue to speak to younger generations exploring important issues in society, building the cultural values of the UAE and aspiring a new generation of performers and audiences.

"We’d like to see theatre as a self-sustaining industry," says Al Kaabi.

“A holistic ecosystem that generates employment and revenue and contributes to the growth of the country not just socially and artistically but also economically.”

More information on the four grants and the criteria for application is available at www.mcy.gov.ae

'The Prophet of Mercy' performance in Dubai - in pictures

The Cultural and Scientific Association in Dubai hosted an operetta titled 'The Prophet of Mercy' to commemorate Prophet Mohammed's birthday. All photos: Ruel Pableo for The National

The show was presented by Safi Mounzer, who synchronised his performance to an audio recording of narrator Wael Habbal, the Arabic voice of Google Maps.

The performance incorporated seven odes expressing love for the Prophet Mohammed, alongside spiritual dances and visual effects.

Waseem Faris, composer and director of the operetta, described the Al Mawlid festivities as one of the most important art forms in the UAE.

The event was organised by the Cultural and Scientific Association in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Youth and the Dubai International Holy Quran Award.

Wael Habbal, the Arabic voice of Google Maps, narrated the operetta.

The event featured a range of performances, including poetry, chanting and dancing.

Dancers pay tribute to the Prophet Mohammed on the occasion of his birthday.

The script was written by poet Ahmad Ali Mashael, who holds a PhD in the Arabic Language from the University of Sharjah.

The operetta explored Islamic values in the context of the Prophet Mohammed's life and the impact they have had on society ever since.