OFFICIAL and grassroots efforts to support stage productions have helped preserve Bahraini heritage and folklore from the brink of disappearance, said a theatre expert.
Describing the theatre as ‘the father of all arts’, theatre critic Dr Abbas Alqassab attributes the survival of many ancient Bahraini tales to plays which kept them alive in the public consciousness.
Published in Folk Culture Bahrain, a quarterly journal specialised in local and regional folklore and history, the literature expert writes in his article about theatre’s role in safeguarding old stories.
“We see the incorporation of heritage in almost every theatrical piece produced in Bahrain, which nearly no playwright, director or theatre group go without including in their works,” he wrote.
“At a point in the past, there was an intense fear that Bahraini heritage would be lost, and that the island’s history, customs and traditions are under threat of fading away.
“Out of this fear developed a national sense of responsibility to tackle this issue, ranging from government efforts to individuals banding together.
“This anxiety that loomed over our society was addressed thanks to theatre. Eventually, the inclusion of heritage became a landmark in Bahraini plays, that set it apart from others.
Dr Alqassab, who heads the Bahrain Library and Information Association, went on to explain the positive impacts of this revival, be it on an individual, societal, political or national level.
According to him, these efforts began more than half a century ago, and has helped transmit the tales to several generations since, giving them the chance to hold on to their national identity.
He stated that folklore, beside theatre, has survived to the present day through many sources, including chroniclers, books, museums, the Press, television, festivals and even the Internet and social media.
The Enki Performing Arts Centre co-founder and theatre director gave the GDN a few examples about influential plays that incorporated folklore into them.
He mentioned a number of plays from the 1980s and 1990s, that were also listed in Dr Alqassab’s article, including Al Baraha, Bint Al Noukhedha, Al Fasht and Khour Al Meddia.
Al Baraha, (The Lot in English), premiered in 1980 and has been described as “Bahrain’s most well-known comedy”. Presented in Awal Theatre, the play comments on issues and negative phenomena in Bahraini society in a humorous way.
A young thespian, who has starred in several plays on the local stage, told the GDN that he believes the inclusion of folklore makes it easier for audiences to connect with the work performed before them.
“Folklore is a very powerful narrative tool,” said 23-year-old Majd Al Aradi, who is a registered actor with Al Sawari Theatre.
“In a lot of ways, I think that reimagining folklore for the stage keeps these parts of our culture alive.”
In 1996, Al Sawari Theatre had produced a play that the author believes was significant.
According to Dr Alqassab, Al Qurban (The Sacrifice) was quite unique as it was an adaptation of an Egyptian tragedy, staged in the unique setting of Arad Fort.
“Important types of heritage include folk literature, mythology, traditional singing and dancing, games and puzzles, which are transmitted either orally or in writing,” he wrote.
“Bahrain’s heritage is quite rich, according to standards set by historians. Unfortunately, much has been lost to time due to the lack of writing, and the prevalence of illiteracy before the modern state was established.
“It is part of a continuity that stretches back thousands of years, which include practices like pearl diving, palm farming, pottery and more.”
Beside this article, Dr Alqassab has written several books related to Bahraini theatre and folklore, including a deep dive into the works of director Ibrahim Bahar.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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