Al Sawari Theatre… Because Nations Have a Spirit and a Body - Manama – Fawzia Rashid – Akhbar Al Khaleej – 8 August 2026
Just as human beings have a body and a soul, nations too have a body and a soul. The body of a nation is represented by its geography, environment, skies, land, and sea, as well as its institutions, ministries, and administrations—in other words, everything that constitutes the state in terms of its official structures and infrastructure. But what about the soul? The soul of nations is found in their history, civilization, heritage, cultures, and arts; in thought, literature, poetry, music, theatre, and in the people who work across all these fields—in everything that expresses their essence, identity, character, and distinctive identity as nations.
Therefore, when a nation celebrates the achievements of its intellectuals, thinkers, and artists, it is, in essence, celebrating itself, its authentic essence, and its distinctive soul. Some people grow within the nation and assume positions of responsibility representing the state and its institutions. Others, however, make the nation itself greater through their contributions—often quietly and through their own efforts. These are the representatives of the nation's soul through art, culture, and thought. This introduction is necessary as we celebrate the creative achievement accomplished by Al Sawari Theatre at the recent Jerash Monodrama Festival, where its production The So-Called Coincidence won four awards: Best Overall Production, the Special Jury Award won by actor Kamel Al Busaidi, Best Director awarded to director Ibrahim Al Mansi, and Best Scenography awarded to artist Abdullah Al Bakri.
As for Yousif Al Hamdan, his relationship with the awards is another story altogether. At the same festival, he won the Best Playwriting Award for his play Mr. Stage. In my view, he deserved to win the same award once again for his play The So-Called Coincidence, which received the four awards mentioned above. Dr. Yousif Al Hamdan loves theatre and the arts in general with the same passion with which he loves life. Since I came to know him more deeply in the 1980s, he has remained committed to the path of theatrical passion through writing, criticism, playwriting, and nurturing actors and artists. Alongside the artists and practitioners of Al Sawari Theatre, he has helped transform the company into a shining landmark in Bahraini theatre. Whenever Al Sawari Theatre takes the stage, it brings with it distinguished theatrical achievements, awards, and proof of creative excellence in local, Gulf, Arab, and even international environments charged with competition. This gives its work in playwriting, acting, and directing a distinctive character and a special artistic flavor, infused with the spirit of artistic challenge that characterizes the Bahraini artist, who works with tremendous dedication despite difficult circumstances. From Gulf theatre to Bahrain's participation in Arab countries and festivals—including the Cairo International Theatre Festival—and to Yousif Al Hamdan's participation in Zurich representing theatre criticism in international forums, as well as his receiving an honorary diploma in St. Petersburg, Russia, for his play Complete Silence, along with the Ensemble Performance Award, Al Hamdan and Al Sawari Theatre have continued their theatrical journey of competition since the 1990s.
At the recent Jerash Festival, they once again received widespread acclaim, with The So-Called Coincidence being regarded as one of the most prominent productions of this year's festival. It also earned the admiration and praise of both the jury and the audience. Thus, the Kingdom of Bahrain appeared in its most radiant artistic form, showcasing its cultural and theatrical achievements and revealing the Bahraini spirit—with its deep civilizational heritage, pioneering cultural presence, and artistic expression. This is a spirit that deserves our collective recognition, appreciation, celebration, and support. Art and culture in Bahrain are not merely representatives of the Bahraini spirit; they are an essential expression of Bahraini identity itself. What is achieved through them and within them confirms that they are among the most important pillars in shaping Bahrain's image throughout the world. Modern buildings, institutions, and facilities exist in every country. What distinguishes one country from another is its uniqueness, character, cultural, intellectual, and artistic presence, its historical and civilizational continuity, and its human and ethical values embodied in its heritage and culture. For this reason, every cultural and artistic achievement deserves recognition and appreciation from the relevant authorities in order to support the continuity of such accomplishments.
Al Sawari Theatre had the honor of dedicating the five awards it received at the Jerash Festival to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who understands well the value of art and culture in consolidating Bahrain's civilizational image and strengthening its soft power at both the regional and international levels. And because Al Sawari Theatre has demonstrated its presence locally, across the Gulf, throughout the Arab world, and even internationally, it deserves to have a permanent headquarters where it can continue its artistic work, rather than being confined to the small apartment where its activities, productions, and initial training sessions currently take place. The civilizational image of Bahrain, derived from its intellectuals, artists, and writers, is the expression of the spirit of this land—a spirit that transcends the boundaries of time and eras, grounded in its national memory and historical and contemporary identity, with that unique, almost magical blend for which Bahrain is known. There is nothing more important than introducing that Bahraini spirit to the world through culture and art. This is why continued state support for culture, the arts, creativity, and those working in these fields is so important. They are the stronghold that protects Bahrain's identity, the uniqueness of its history, and the depth of its civilization—and they are the representatives of Bahrain's soul.
