Saudi director, scriptwriter, actress and theater coach Lana Kamel Komsany took part in a Theater and Performing Arts Commission virtual conference in late July as part of plans to highlight Saudi talent, and reshape and strengthen the field.
Komsany discussed employing local talent and culture to produce high-quality contemporary theater that will represent Saudi Arabia internationally.
“We have an incredible mix of creatives, academics and experienced individuals. With proper collaboration and guidance, creative content can see the light,” she told Arab News. Komsany said that our local identity “is who we are and how we make art.”
“It’s a rich and complex identity, and deserves to be represented on stage locally and internationally,” she added.
Komsany completed her bachelor’s degree in theater from Northeastern University, Boston, in 2000, and has acted in and directed plays in Cairo such as “Al-Rahaya.”
She acted in and was part of the “Bussy” (“look“) initiative to shed light on women’s life stories.
Komsany supervised the theater department at the Visual Arts Club in Jeddah and directed plays enabling children to create actual productions.
Komsany played a major role in talent training at the Saudi Aramco program for the enrichment of knowledge at the “1001 Inventions” exhibition in Jeddah and Riyadh.
Her involvement in the 2019 Jeddah season with “Ozwa Street” boosted her theatrical career.
She later opened a private studio called I Stage, and created “I am Woman” as her first theatrical production as part of the activities of Dar Al-Hanan alumni on International Women’s Day.
Lana Kamel Komsany, Saudi director, scriptwriter, actress and theater coach
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Lana Kamel Komsany, Saudi director, scriptwriter, actress and theater coach
- Komsany completed her bachelor’s degree in theater from Northeastern University, Boston, in 2000, and has acted in and directed plays in Cairo such as “Al-Rahaya”
Lucia festival lights up Swedish Embassy in Riyadh
RIYADH: A celebration of light and traditional choir singing illuminated the Swedish Embassy in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter on Wednesday evening for the country’s Lucia festival.
Based on ancient pre-Christian traditions intertwined with the story of Saint Lucy, who is depicted wearing a crown of candles, the festival is cherished for bringing some respite from the dark Scandinavian winter.
The Riyadh embassy hosted a number of dignitaries and members of the Swedish community in Saudi Arabia, with catering provided by Ikea.
Swedish Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Petra Menander spoke to Arab News about the significance of the festival.
“It's a very, very old tradition that leads back to our peasant times when we needed to fight the darkness with light,” she said.
“And so we actually adopted an old tradition from Italy where Lucia comes with light in her hair and that made us all feel very, very comfortable.
“And it’s something that we actually celebrate just as much as the other holidays, like Christmas or so on. It’s inescapable, at all schools, everywhere.”
Holding the festival in Riyadh was particularly special as it not only brought a glimpse of Swedish culture to Saudi Arabia, but also helped Swedish nationals living in the Kingdom reconnect with their homeland.
“I think it’s a very nice way to bring Swedish culture overseas, but it’s also a nice way of getting the Swedish community together,” said Menander.
“We just have many people who come from mixed backgrounds and they’re very happy that they can introduce their children to this tradition even if they’re living very far away from Sweden. So, it’s a very warm feeling for me.”
