| Early Beginnings of the Play in Sharjah |
Al-Qassimi Publications issued a drama manuscript entitled «Beginnings of a Play» to coincide with the Sharjah Theater Days event launched on Wednesday evening, 17 March 2010. The publication is a collection of passages taken from «Narrating the Self», the most recent work authored by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qassimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, which documents three decades of political, cultural and social activity in UAE in general, and Sharjah in particular.
The publishing house selected="true" four extracts for this publication. The first is entitled «Treasure Chest of the World» which is a presentation of the era of Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr Al Qassimi, Ruler of Sharjah at that time. The Treasure Chest of the World arrived in Sharjah on the hands of an Iraqi in the late forties/ early fifties of the last century; the box contained tales and stories of Antar, Abu Zaid Al Hilali and others.
The second extract takes readers back to the very beginning of theater, specifically academic year 1952-1953 at the Qasimiyah School in Sharjah. His Highness, the Ruler of Sharjah, speaks of one of the school's students: Ali bin Mohammed Abu Rahima who had always urged his classmates to enjoy drama, improvisation and observation, He went on to create the school's first play entitled «The Woodcutter and the Sultan's Daughter».
The third extract covers written texts and deals with Palestinian poet Mahmoud Ghoneim and his famous play «Disguised Virility». The play was produced at the Qasimiyah School in the academic year 1957-1958 during the cultural festival that year. The presentation was entitled «Jaber Atharat Al Kiram». The play was attended by a large audience from the people of Sharjah and UAE Sheikhs; tickets were sold to raise funds from the community society to build additional classrooms for Al Qasimiyah School.
Finally, the fourth extract takes the reader to the scene of larger theaters, drama clubs, and the big drama movement witnessed in the sixties in Sharjah, Dubai and Abu Dhabi. His Highness Dr. Sheikh Sultan Al Qassimi revives the memory of the new production The Agents of Zion (1963), which was written and directed by him. His Highness also played to key roles on the play, and during which he used the opportunity of scenes between the Zionists and the British to express UAE youth support for Palestine. This incident led to the play to be taken off stage and the closure of the drama club due to severe and excessive pressure on Sheikh Sultan Bin Saqr Al Qassimi - Ruler of Sharjah at that time.
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