21 April 2016
Produced by BACA and Screen Written by Aqeel Swar, ‘Tafateef’ theatrical production played at the Cultural Hall
On the Cultural Hall stage and as part of the 11th Spring of Culture, ‘Tafateef’, a theatrical production written by Bahraini writer, Aqeel Siwar, directed by Ahmed Al-Sayegh and produced by BACA, was played on 19 April at 7:30 pm. The play will run until 21 April. BACA invites all theater lovers to join and enjoy.
Speaking on the occasion, H.E Shaikha Hala bint Mohammad Al Khalifa, director of Culture & Arts Directorate said, “I am pleased to attend the opening of this theatrical production, ‘Tafateef’, by BACA and also very happy to witness the coming back to theater by Mr. Aqeel Swar.” H.E added that this art work reflects BACA’s strategy based on supporting the Bahraini artist and talent; the complete work is 100% Bahraini in production and acting. H.E also stressed the importance of this theater play in adding more diversity and richness to the 11th Spring of Culture festival.
Artist and playwright, Mr. Aqeel Swar, for his part, expressed his gratitude and appreciation to Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities, led by H.E Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, for her fruitful and constructive efforts to enhance the cultural scene in Bahrain and her constant support for the talented Bahraini artists.
With regard to the play ‘Tafateef’, Mr. Aqeel Swar said, “It belongs to musical theatre genre, a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken and acting for both children and adults. It explores the Bahraini identity by mixing reality with science fiction, and the dialogues center around the common Bahraini memory, exposed in a comedy show hailing genuine Bahraini values.”
‘Tafateef’ theme revolves around a presumption, an imaginative scenario that Bahrain’s geography is situated between Basra to Oman and that part of this long geographical space drowned under the sea thousands of years ago. Based on this imaginative scenario, a teacher asks one her students to write a school project exploring the virtual Bahrain, the sunken city under the water, its geography and whereabouts.
The actions and events of the play continue to develop as the imaginative hero figures out that her father has drowned somewhere between Muharraq and Bahrain National Museum. The hero makes up an imaginative story of a sailor she met on the seashore, who reminds her of her father and tells her the details of the sunken city under the water, deluding her that he can take her to sunken cities of Greater Bahrain, as well as to the famous Ali Baba’s Cave.
The persistent and consistent hero convinces the teacher and three students to go on an exploration trip under the sea, accompanied by the sailor, and visits Ali Baba’s Cave where they met with inhabitants of the cavern, the ‘Tafateefs’ (grand-children of Ali Baba). Both sides discuss issues about the culture and identity of Greater Bahrain residents under water and smaller Bahrain above sea level.
‘Tafateef’ is produced by Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities to encourage theatrical production aimed at promoting national culture, identity and historical glories of Bahrain and spreading love and solidarity between Bahrainis.
The theatrical masterpiece is the outcome of a selection of gifted Bahraini artists, actors and musicians, décor and make-up specialists, such as Ziyad Ziman, Khalifa Zima, Nourine Al Thawadi and Huda Kazeroni. Actors include Lamia Al Shweish, Khalil Al Mutawa, Adel Shams, Ahmad Al Sada, Ali Salman, Mona Al Rubi, Mohammad Shaheen and Isa Rached.
Aqeel Swar is a journalist-theatrical playwright and an art photographer who has taken part in many Bahrain and GCC theatrical productions, such as ‘Al-Baraha’, ‘Souq Al Magasees’, ‘Bint al-Nukhédha’, ‘Khamis wa Jomaa’ and ‘Rajoul min A’met ness’ .
