Sharjah’s annual Elements of Theatrical Performance workshop opens in Kalba, offering aspiring theatre artists hands-on training in acting, directing and scenography ahead of the Short Plays Festival.
WEBDESK – SHARJAH NEWS
The 13th edition of the Elements of Theatrical Performance Workshop begins on Friday at the Kalba Cultural Center, launching a comprehensive training program aimed at preparing emerging theatre practitioners for the annual Kalba Short Plays Festival.
Organized by Sharjah’s Department of Culture, the workshop combines theoretical instruction with practical training in key theatrical disciplines, including scenography, directing and acting. The initiative forms part of the emirate’s long-running efforts to strengthen theatre education and cultivate new creative talent in Sharjah’s Eastern Region.
The program opens at 5 p.m. with a scenography workshop led by acclaimed Iraqi scenographer Dr Ali Al-Sudani, who will guide participants through a 10-day course covering stage design, lighting, acoustics, theatrical text analysis and visual storytelling.
The sessions are designed to provide participants with both technical knowledge and practical experience, focusing on how movement, color, space and composition contribute to theatrical productions. The workshop will also explore innovative and cost-effective production techniques using available materials.
In addition to hands-on training, participants will attend lectures and presentations examining the history of world theatre, giving aspiring artists broader insight into theatrical traditions and performance practices.
Dr Al-Sudani is widely recognized as one of the Arab world’s leading scenographers. Throughout his career, he has designed more than 55 theatrical productions across the Middle East and internationally, while overseeing lighting design for more than 80 plays. His work has earned awards at major theatre festivals, including Carthage Theatre Days, the Jordan Theatre Festival, and the Baghdad Theatre Festival.
He is also the author of several publications on theatre design, including The Lighting System and the Change of Space in Theatrical Performance (2017) and The Aesthetics of Digital Spectacle in Contemporary Theatre Performances (2022).
The training program will continue over the coming weeks with contributions from leading theatre professionals from across the Arab world. Emirati director Abdulrahman Al Mulla will deliver a lecture on his experience with scenography on Aug. 3, followed by an acting workshop on Aug. 4 led by Egyptian artist Essam El Sayed.
Later in the program, Emirati actor Abdullah Masoud will present a lecture titled My Acting Experience on Aug. 14, while Egyptian director Dr Gamal Yaqout will lead a directing workshop before Emirati director Mohammed Al Ameri concludes the series with his lecture, My Directing Experience, on Aug. 25.
Launched in 2012, the Elements of Theatrical Performance Workshop has become a cornerstone of preparations for the Kalba Short Plays Festival, providing aspiring performers, directors and designers with opportunities to refine their artistic and technical skills under the guidance of experienced theatre practitioners.
Participation in the program remains open to theatre enthusiasts seeking professional training and practical experience, reinforcing Sharjah’s broader commitment to supporting cultural development and nurturing the next generation of performing arts talent.
