ADEN: The first performance of William Shakespeare’s play ‘Hamlet’ in many years in Yemen has resurrected hopes of a cultural revival.
“Hamlet”, a tragedy of the days of the civil war, rings out in Arabic at a stage in Aden and theater-goers seem to be “hungry” for these kinds of plays.
Heba al-Bakri expressed her joy over the play who was watching one of a sold-out play run of ten shows. She said that the people in Yemen always remained distressed and exhausted and they need this kind of entertainment.
How old Hamlet is?
The savage, murder, bloodshed, power struggles, revenge, and moral dilemmas told in the famous tragedy Hamlet by the English playwright were written more than 400 years ago, but the play still holds power on stage in Yemen.
Yemen, the poorest state on the Arabian peninsula, has been in the grip of war since 2014.
It has been left in ruins, hundreds of thousands of Yeminis have died, and many more have been faced with the danger of famine.
The founder of the Khaleej Aden Theatre Troupe director Amr Gamal feared there might have been only limited interest, but now he is planning a second round of shows after people showed a huge interest.
The 3-hour performance has gripped the audience. Gamal said that people do not leave the room before the play ends.
Gamal also directed the feature film Ten Days Before the Wedding, a love story that Yemen nominated as its official submission to the 2018 Oscars.
Yemen, renowned for its great cultural heritage, has a history of performing Shakespeare in Arabic dating back over a century.
