Pioneering British Council Gulf Stage Project Creates First Global Online Audience for Arabic Theatre

DUBAI, UAE, January 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- An innovative collaboration spearheaded by the British Council breaks new ground today by bringing Arabic performances to a global audience online and for free with the launch of http://www.digitaltheatre.com/gulfstage

Gulf Stage provides young people who might never have attended a live performance, but regularly use digital media, the opportunity to experience the magic of theatre - taking theatre to them online. It provides Arabic theatre groups the opportunity to present productions before an international audience and to preserve their work, for the first time, for future generations.

The project is a pioneering collaboration between the British Council, the UK's leading cultural relations organisation; Youth Department - Qatar Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage (MOCAH); Cultural Development Centre member of Qatar Foundation; and Digital Theatre. Digital Theatre is a new UK company which specialises in capturing quality performances authentically onscreen.

Digital Theatre worked with the British Council and its local partners to film and digitise theatre productions by companies from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and UAE during the Gulf Co-operation Countries (GCC) Youth Theatre Festival in October 2010. The six productions, which are subtitled into English, are now available for viewing online free of charge though Digital Theatre's website. By using cutting-edge techniques in digital film-making Gulf Stage overcomes geographical barriers and provides strong cultural learning opportunities for theatre producers in both parts of the world.

Brendan Griggs, Head of Drama and Dance at the British Council commented:

'This exciting project highlights how the British Council is responding to the changing landscape of the performing arts. Projects like Gulf Stage illustrate the innovative lead which the UK has taken in the digital arts field. Cultural content generated by Gulf Stage can now be shared, developed and distributed between partners, artists and audiences on different social media platforms, opening up rich cultural conversations on a global level.'

Gulf Stage reflects a rising trend amongst theatre companies and venues to embrace the digital revolution. This is the first time that Digital Theatre - who work with the UK's leading theatre companies - has worked outside of the UK to record theatrical productions.

Robert Delamere and Tom Shaw of Digital Theatre said:

'Gulf Stage was an incredible opportunity for us to bring theatre from different cultures to an international audience via digitaltheatre.com. Being able to showcase the best of British theatre online was the starting principle behind Digital Theatre. Now, working with the British Council on this project is a very exciting addition to our work and a significant step towards making Digital Theatre a truly global website.'

Mr Khalid al Mulla, Head of Youth Department at the Qatar Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage said:

'Gulf Stage captures the emotion and spirit of live contemporary theatre for the first time in the Middle East, in a way that draws the audience into its performances.'

Hafiz Ali Abdulla, Arts Programme Manager at the Cultural Development Centre, Qatar Foundation added:

'The presence of Gulf Stage for the first time in Qatar and the Gulf Co-operation Council are very beneficial and helpful to the youth, as it brings them closer through using the latest technology in the field of arts. Such innovation support and develop the cultural movement.'

Gulf Stage started with a study visit to the UK organised by the British Council for its Qatari partners in May 2010 to meet UK theatre companies. Seventeen aspiring Qatari film and theatre professionals were then trained by Digital Theatre in digital film techniques during a British Council workshop that accompanied the GCC Youth Theatre Festival. Recordings of some of the Gulf Stage productions received a gala screening in Doha last December, during the final month of the prestigious Doha, Arab Capital of Culture programme 2010. They were showcased alongside an existing film of a high profile UK theatre production recorded by Digital Theatre. Further public performances together with workshops are planned to be held in other GCC countries over the coming year.

Gulf Stage has been brought to the Middle East under the British Council's New Work New Audiences global arts programme. This year in the Middle East New Work New Audiences activities cover music, dance, theatre, the visual arts, architecture and literature. For more information visit http://www.britishcouncil.org/me

NOTES TO EDITORS

Arabic Theatre Performances featured on the Digital Theatre website as part of Gulf Stage are:

    - UAE - "The Play", led by Group Leader Dr. Habib Ghaloum
    touches on central and secondary issues regarding the Gulf and the Arab
    World. The main issue dealt with is Arab theatre and in particular youth
    theatre.

    - Bahrain - 'Al Jabra', led by Group Leader, Author and Director
    Mr. Nedal Abdel Aziz Al Atawy addresses Gulf youth issues, not just those
    familiar issues of unemployment and marriage, but deeper and perhaps more
    dangerous ones.

    - Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia - 'Al Sanbook' led by Group Leader
    Mohamed Bin Fahd Al Brak is a play with existential, philosophical and
    cultural perspectives trying to enlighten the mind and find humour within
    historical figures.

    - Oman - 'the Dark Night' led by (Play Director) Abdel ghafour Bin
    Ahmed Al Bloushy. The Dark Night presents the intertwining of historical
    figures who have not met until this moment on stage - in an attempt to
    combine what cannot be combined.

    - Qatar- 'Me...You... The Human' led by Group Leader Nasser Mohamed
    Al Gabry. The play's main concept is the human existence on earth. It
    deals with human conflicts and man's struggle with himself to prove his
    existence and achieve his ambitions.

    - Kuwait - 'The Kindergarten' led by Group Leader Mr. Abdullah
    Abdel Rasoul. A mother gives her all to her son, sacrifices everything
    for his happiness, and doesn't expect anything in return until he
    graduates and faces life to find another mother embracing him, which is
    life.

The British Council is the UK's international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations. We work in over 100 countries worldwide to build engagement and trust for the UK through the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people. We work in the arts, education, English, science, sport and governance and last year we engaged face to face with 18.4 million people and reached 652 million. We are a non-political organisation which operates at arm's length from government. Our total turnover in 2009/10 was GBP705 million, of which our grant-in-aid from the British government was GBP211 million. For every GBP1 of government grant we receive, we earn GBP2.50 from other sources. For more information, please visit: http://www.britishcouncil.org/me

Digital Theatre was Launched in 2009 by Robert Delamere and Tom Shaw with the support of Equity, Musicians Union, and BECTU; Digital Theatre produces downloadable theatre productions filmed in front of live audiences for users to download or view on demand at http://www.digitaltheatre.com. Digital Theatre's current partner theatres are the Almeida Theatre Company, the Bush Theatre, English Touring Theatre, the Gate Theatre, Notting Hill, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre, the Royal Court Theatre, the Royal Exchange Theatre, the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Young Vic.

Ministry of Culture, Arts and Heritage (MOCAH), Qatar was set up by royal decree in July 2008 under Dr. Hamad Bin Abdellaziz Al-kuwari as the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage. It organises cultural events, training and overseas activities. MOCAHcovers departments for: Research and Cultural Studies; Culture and Arts; Public Libraries; Cultural Neighbourhood; Heritage; Youth Centres; and Youth Activities and Events. Last year it sponsored a programme of events under Doha, Arab Capital of Culture 2010.

The Cultural Development Centre, Member of Qatar Foundation

The Cultural Development Centre was established by the Qatar Foundation in 2005. It supports the Qatar Foundation's goal to be the source of social and cultural development in Qatar and the region. It also aims to equip local and regional talent in order to protect and strengthen the cultural, arts and heritage values of Qatar and the region. The CDC concentrates on developing innovative cultural programmes that contribute to Qatar and the Region's development.

SOURCE The British Council