DHAHRAN: The fourth Ithra Short Play Contest brought a different kind of energy to the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture this month.
Each participating play was performed for five days, culminating in an awards ceremony.
And while the final curtain has fallen on the event for this year, Paul Bearne, director of theater and cinema at Ithra — as the center is known — spoke to Arab News about its significance.
“The 2024 Short Play Contest continues to showcase the elevated skill of its participants,” he said.
“This year, we witnessed on stage the unity and harmony between the actors and creative teams. This unique collaboration between the ensemble enhances the production to a new level that we haven’t seen in past competitions.”
The big winners in 2024 included “Al-Qaqam” (“The Bottle”) and “This Might be a Long Story.” There were also prizes in categories such as best theatrical lighting design, best theatrical costumes, best theatrical director, and best actor and actress.
Bearne said the event was a resounding success, with sell-out performances each evening. The high demand for tickets was testament to the competition’s growing popularity and audience appetite for the medium, he added.
Arabic language plays are having their moment in the spotlight, and Bearne — and his team — are seizing the momentum.
“Ithra continues to provide platforms for the theater community to showcase their passion for the industry,” he told Arab News. “There are countless untold local stories that deserve to be brought to the stage, the contest provides this opportunity. One of the ways we aim to enrich Arabic content is through the art of storytelling.”
There was hands-on training from industry professionals for the emerging talent who took part, with the stories of nine playwrights being brought to life on stage in polished productions.
There have been changes since the contest’s inception in 2021, but it maintains its upward trajectory.
“The contest continues to grow, not only in its reach but also in the quality of the talent that graces the stage,” said Bearne.
“Over the past four years, we have witnessed the participants consistently build upon the foundation they established at the start of their journey. It is truly remarkable to observe the growth of our participants from the first day of rehearsal to the opening night performance.”
The focus, he added, remained on local engagement and empowering homegrown talent to show what they can do.
“Through our main stage theater program, we endeavor to present the very best in local, regional, and international productions. Furthermore, we aim to foster connections between our international productions and local talent. This is often achieved through masterclasses, workshops, or one-on-one engagement sessions, offering opportunities not available in other regions worldwide,” Bearne said.
Audiences — and potential participants — can rest assured the contest will return next year. The team at Ithra is already working on the 2025 event, offering more training and opportunities and engaging with leading domestic and international organizations to expand its reach.
And while this year’s winning plays will not be appearing on stage again any time soon, there is talk of reviving at least one to bring it to a wider audience.
Bearne said: “Based on the recommendation of our esteemed jury members, led by Sami Al-Jamaan, we are considering including one of the productions in our 2025 theater season. Additionally, we are in discussions with regional theater festivals who attended the contest to explore future presentations of some of the plays. Lots of exciting opportunities are in the pipeline.”
