Oman theatre needs more audience

Omani Actors’ Festival, a 45-minute mono-drama, has been showcasing promising talents. The event is being held at Gulf College Theatre.

Each day there are two plays staged in the evenings. Each actor has the whole stage to portray the character they want to.

It is a challenge for the performers because they have lights and props to support them. The directors and writers have already done their part.

“All the plays that have been staged so far were good. We are coming across a strong young generation of actors. You are either a good actor or you stay at home,” said Aliyah al Balushi, who is preparing to present her play, ‘A Lonely Woman’ on Monday.

The theatre groups need a good audience, says the artist.

Aliyah and her team have been rehearsing nonstop for the festival.

For her, one actor who plays the script is written by the well-established poet and writer of the Sultanate of Oman, Abdulrazak al Rubaiee and the director is Khalifa al Harrasi.

“I have performed this play before at a different festival and I cried a lot. The script is strong. The play is about a lonely woman and her conversation with her husband, who has been killed. She continues to talk, laugh and cry. I have been living the character, and it is tough,” reflected Aliyah.

The pandemic had brought theatre activities to a standstill, but theatre enthusiasts still managed to conduct workshops on Zoom. But online is not for everyone.

Aliyah pointed out, “When you are on stage, there is magic the minute you set your foot on it. With a live audience, you can feel the emotions of the audience and even their heartbeat. The message in theatre is direct to the audience.

Unfortunately, there are not enough audience. The people who come are the ones who have a keen interest in theatre and culture. We must focus on the young school students to develop this taste for theatre. It has to be inculcated at a young age. We hope one day it will be a subject in school, and when students go on field trips, they are taken to theatres so the young generation will take it up,” suggested Aliyah. Theatre can reflect at the same time convey messages on history, scientific, social and cultural subjects.