The Theatre Cafe hosted Dr Shabeer al Ajmi, supervisor of the National Theatre project, at a seminar titled "The National Theatre... Hopes Coming to Light." The discussion was led by media and theatre professional Ahmed al Kalbani, and attended by various theatre professionals and cultural figures.
Dr Al Ajmi provided an overview about the project, stating: "The National Theatre project is a part of a larger initiative called the Omani Cultural Complex, which will include a National Library, a National Theatre, and a building for the National Records and Archives Authority (NRAA). It will also feature other facilities like children library and a cinema, which is an integral part of the National Theatre project."
This project will be opened on experimental basis in 2027 and officially in 2028.
"The National Theatre will cover 16,000 square metres and include three main facilities. The main theatre will have 1,000 seats and will be equipped with all the amenities necessary for theatre professionals. It will feature a 40-square-metre stage with a 25-metre proscenium, which can be adjusted and controlled. The proscenium is the arch separating the stage from the audience area, and the theatre will include various lighting and modern technologies." Dr Al Ajmi said.
In addition to the main theatre, there will be an "experimental theatre," a smaller hall with 250 to 300 seats. The seats and space can be rearranged according to the director’s needs for experimental performances. It will have fixed with 40 to 50 seats, and the remaining seating can be adjusted.
The third hall will be a cinema with 250 seats, equipped with high-quality screens for film screenings. It can also be used for lighter artistic performances such as melodrama and duodrama. Dr Al Ajmi mentioned that efforts are under way to equip the cinema with a simple stage for this kind of performances.
All the theatres will be fitted with the latest cinema screens and will include around 25 dressing rooms, makeup rooms, artist rooms, training rooms, and facilities for technicians, lighting engineers, and sound engineers. There will also be dedicated rooms for orchestra practice and their instruments.
Additionally, a rehearsal space will be built above the experimental theatre, mirroring the main stage with same size to allow the directors to rehearse and set up the main stage’s decoration, providing actors with a training environment similar to the actual performance stage.
Dr Al Ajmi noted that all facilities will be accessible for people with disabilities also.
The advisory committee is considering establishing a workshop for set design within the theatre, equipped with the latest tools and staffed by set designers, carpenters, painters, and other technical craftsmen.
Regarding future technologies, Dr Al Ajmi affirmed that the National Theatre is ready to integrate future technology. The theatre will collaborate with local companies specialising in AI, VR, and AR to incorporate these technologies. The aim is to use AI to enhance the theatre experience, potentially allowing 1,000 attending in the hall and 4,000 can be served through virtual attendance. The theatre will be built to adopt new technologies as they emerge.
Discussions with local companies have focused on how to leverage these technologies to increase audience reach. One potential solution is using VR to offer virtual seats that replicate the experience of being in the theatre, allowing multiple people to experience the same view.
These possibilities are available but require technical adjustments. Efforts are ongoing to address these challenges with the project’s execution teams.
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