The stage will be empty and the spotlights will be off this Eid Al Fitr, as all theatre productions planned for the holiday have been postponed in response to the ongoing conflict.
Theatre troupes in Bahrain prepare all year to showcase new plays, musicals and dramas for families to enjoy as part of Eid festivities – but this year will be different.
Only one scheduled show had been unveiled before the conflict began, and it has since been postponed indefinitely, while other theatre companies did not get the chance to announce their productions.
Popular troupe Mafia Sekrab was to stage Ya Ani Ya Ant (Arabic: Either Me or You), with four performances planned from the first day of Eid, one of which had already been sold out.
The play is a spin-off of the popular 2017 play Ya Ani Ya Batta, which follows the antics of a sassy Bahraini woman named Khatoon, played in drag by actor Hasan Mohamed, and her Egyptian sister-in-law Batta.
The iconic Ya Ani Ya Batta (Arabic: Either me or Batta) had several sequels including Ya Ani Ya Batta 2 (2019) and Khatoon fir Werta (2024) (Arabic: Khatoon is in Trouble).
Ya Ani Ya Ant was to be the fourth instalment in the series, written by Bahraini playwright Hasan Al Eskafi, who also wrote the famous Mafia Sekrab trilogy, from which the group’s name is derived.
“Due to the current situation, Eid Al Fitr theatre performances have been postponed,” read a statement on Mafia Sekrab’s social media page.
“The new show dates will be announced as soon as it becomes possible.”
People who have already purchased tickets may choose to claim a refund or retain their tickets for the postponed date. Ya Ani Ya Ant features an ensemble cast, who will reprise their roles.
They include Hasan Mohamed as the heroine Khatoon, Heba Qotb as Batta, Jaafar Al Saari as Uncle Hasan, Khalil Al Mutawa as Hameed, Albassam Ali, Abdulla Ateeq and Husain Al Jamri.
For more information visit @mafia.sekrab
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