Theatre Season for Adults opens next week

The Ministry of Culture on Wednesday launched the Theatre Season for Adults, which will start on October 2 and wrap up on October 22. The event, which will witness the participation of six local directors, is part of the ministry's efforts to promote theatre in Jordan by holding an array of activities targeting different segments of society. During a press conference yesterday, the culture ministry’s acting secretary general, Mamoun Talhouni, said the event seeks to revive drama in the Kingdom and encourage more Jordanians to go to the theatre. Abdulkareem Jarrah, the ministry’s theatre and art department director, emphasised the importance of this genre since it includes different kinds of art forms such as poetry, painting, singing and dancing. "Theatre has a great impact on the community and we are working hard to feature high-quality plays," Jarrah noted. He told The Jordan Times that performances will not only be held in the capital, but across the country to encourage people to attend and spread theatre culture among Jordanians. In Amman, all performances will be staged at the Royal Cultural Centre. Zaid Qudah, one of the directors who has taken part in the event five times, said he will showcase a social play that tackles human relationships. "I believe that solid bonds between people create an effective and developed society," he told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday. Noting that local plays attract small audiences every year, Qudah blamed a lack of promotion, especially in media outlets, for deserted theatres. He expressed hope that local plays will be archived so that Jordan Television can screen them in the future to spread the popularity of theatre.