Saturday 18 / May / 2024
Muscat: The Ministry of Education, represented by the Centre for Vocational Guidance and Student counselling, concluded the activities of the ninth school theatre festival ‘Culture and Empowerment’ on Thursday.
“Wadi Al-Warda” play from Al-Wusta Governorate won the third best theatrical performance award, and the second-best theatrical performance award went to the play “Wadi Al-Hikayat” from North Al-Batinah Governorate, and the play “Baleegh” from Al Dakhiliyah Governorate came first in the theatrical performance.
The seven theatrical performances from the governorates of Muscat, Al Dakhiliyah, North Al Batinah, Al Wusta, South Al Batinah, Dhofar, and South Al Sharqiyah, continued for five days, in the presence of an elite group of theatre artists and specialists from inside and outside the Sultanate of Oman.
The closing ceremony was held under the patronage of Basil bin Ahmed Al-Rawas, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth for Sports, in the presence of Prof. Dr. Abdullah bin Khamis Ambosaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Education, advisers, Directors-General at the Ministry, theatre artists, critics and students.
The ceremony began with the playing of a piece from the Royal Anthem, after which Fahd bin Juma Al Balushi, supervisor of school activities, member and rapporteur of the jury at the festival, delivered the committee’s recommendations, which included adding group playing competitions, Omani folk arts, and student chanting.
The committee also recommended live broadcast of the festival through official channels and radio stations in the Sultanate of Oman to generate interest and deepen the culture of competitions among students; as it is an opportunity to discover their abilities, give them self-confidence, provide them with the necessary experiences to develop their personality, learn from the experiences of others, and to raise the level of culture of the Sultanate of Oman.
Jassim Al Battashi, the theatrical, television and radio artist and member of the jury at the festival, presented the recommendations of the theatre competition committee.
The recommendations emphasised that the texts submitted for the school theatre festival must keep pace and be compatible with the goals and determinants of education, and with regard to cognitive awareness and sensory perception among school students.
The supervisors at the festival must work to improve the performance and develop the emotional sense of an actor and train them to improve their theatrical presentation.
The committee stressed on the importance of holding training seminars to motivate them to compose, and practice artistic techniques of theatrical presentation, and the necessity of nurturing talent and giving them more experience, and attention to other technical aspects of the theatrical show, especially sound effects, and functional décor.
This was followed by a video clip that included snapshots of the festival’s theatrical performances, then the results of the solo play competition and the theatre competitions were announced.
Certificates of proficiency in acting were won by Qutaiba bin Azzan Al-Saadi for his role in the play “Bint Al-Sayyad” from Muscat Governorate, Shatha bint Saad Al-Hakamani for her role in the play “Wadi Al-Warda” from the Al-Wusta Governorate, and Abdullah Al-Owaisi for his role in the play “Al-Falaj” from South Al Batinah Governorate, and Ola bint Ali Al Owaisi for her role in the play “Bint Al Sayyad” from Muscat Governorate, and Elias Al Hamdani for his role in the play “Al Falaj” in South Al Batinah Governorate, and Asayel bint Abdullah Al Salumi for her role in the play “The Fires of Memory” from Dhofar Governorate, and Samir Rajab for her active participation in the play “Fires of Memory” from Dhofar Governorate.
The play “Valley of the Rose” from Al Wusta Governorate won the award for best theatrical make-up, and designer Asma Al-Bariki for the play “Wadi Al-Hikayat” in North Al Batinah Governorate won the award for best theatrical costumes, and play “Bint Al Sayyad” from the Muscat Governorate received the award for best music and sound effects.
Asaad bin Salem Al-Siyabi won the award for the best theatrical lighting for the play “Baleegh” from the Al-Dakhiliyah Governorate, and the award for the best theatrical decoration and scenery went to the play “Baleegh” from the Al-Dakhiliyah Governorate.
The award for best actress in a secondary role went to Mehr bint Mahfouz Al-Hakamani for her outstanding performance in the play “Wadi Al-Warda” from Al Wusta Governorate, and Othman bin Adnan Al-Saeedi won the best actor award in a secondary role for his outstanding performance in the play “Bint Al Sayyad” from Muscat Governorate.
Balqis bint Hussain Al-Subhi won the best actress award for her outstanding performance in the play “Bint Al Sayyad” from Muscat Governorate, and Ali bin Rashid Al-Alawi won the best actor award for his remarkable performance in the play “The Consequence of Greed” from South Al Sharqiyah Governorate.
The Special Jury Award for Distinguished Acting Performance was won by Yousef Al Zaabi for his role in the play “Wadi Al-Hikayat” from North Al Batinah Governorate. The dialogues of the play “Baleegh” by Asaad bin Salem Al Siyabi from Al Dakhiliyah Governorate won the best theatrical script award, and the best theatrical direction award went to director Rashid Al-Bariki from North Al Batinah Governorate for the play “Wadi Al-Hikayat”.
Basil bin Ahmed Al-Rawas, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Sports and Youth, presided over the closing ceremony of the school theatre festival in its ninth edition, said: “We thank the Ministry of Education for its efforts in refining our children in schools and embracing their talents in various theatrical arts. I also extend my thanks to all educational directorates in the governorates and the teachers and supervisors for their tremendous efforts to develop the students’ talents. This festival, in its ninth edition, will shine in the skies of the Sultanate of Oman in all forums and activities at all levels. I congratulate all the winners, and also hope for the continuation of such festivals to sharpen our children’s abilities.”
Saif bin Sulaiman Al-Jalandani, Director-General of the Directorate-General of Education in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, congratulated the students for winning first place in the best integrated theatrical performance in the play Baleegh.
He said: “We congratulate our children for winning first place in this year’s school theatre festival, as this victory came through efforts and integration between talented students, directors and supervisors. There is no doubt that attention to students bears fruits. We thank everyone who contributed and made efforts, including teachers, school administrations, and supervisors. We dedicate this victory to them, and thank the parents for their cooperation and solidarity.”
