Syrian culture undersecretary revealed Sunday that the Damascus Theatre Festival will return next march once executing companies hand over the project to the ministry.
Ali al Qayyim told Kuwaiti News Agency (KUNA) that the festival, at the new opera house, will host a play based on an arabic text with an international flavor. “This is an attempt to help Arab and other ideologies interact and bring out the Arab theatre from its current slumber,” he explained.
The opera house consists of three theatres that can accommodate around 2, 585 spectators. The undersecretary remarked that the festival returns better than ever with all the technical props and settings. The objectives of the festival were also re-examined so that it returns as an international event that could enrich Arab life and promote Arab thought.
As to the Arab public's desertion of theatres and operas, al Qayyim said that was due to change in lifestyle, fascination with television, and a pace of life that no longer leaves time for evenings at the theatre.
Al Qayyim stressed the new national theatre, called "Dar al Assad for Culture and Arts" would help furnish a new renaissance in drama and culture in general.
The opera house stretches over an area of 45,000 square meters. It includes 10,000 square meters of greenery, parking lots and comes in two main buildings. The first building is the national theatre house and the other hosts the high institute for theatre and music studies. Both are equipped with the best props and settings – Albawaba.com
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