Abu Dhabi, January 20: “Zayed and the Dream”, the theatrical play produced by the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH), will start showing its performances outside the UAE with a Beirut debut on 5 February 2010 at the ‘Forum de Beyrouth’ Auditorium. While an official show will take place on 12 February.
The play, produced under the auspices of General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahayn, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, was first shown in Abu Dhabi to celebrate UAE’s National Day in December 2008.
In this occasion the authority and Caracalla Theatre will hold a press conference in Beirut at Caracalla Theatre in Ivoire Center on Monday 1 February 2010 at 12 noon.
The play presents highlights of the life and times of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest his soul) founder of UAE federation, in a creative and artistic way. The emphasis in the storyline is to present the region’s heritage and traditions in order to demonstrate two important aspects of the play: the creative and the historical. The heritage of the time and place is utilized in the play to recall, artistically, the values of the society through art.
“This impressive play is going on show soon in Beirut, and it is the first of many theatrical performances planned by ADACH in many cities worldwide,” said Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazrouei, Director General of ADACH.
“We are proud to present this remarkable theatrical play as a sign of appreciation to the founding father of our nation and the builder of its modern renaissance, the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan (may God rest his soul). We are pleased to show it worldwide so others can appreciate the achievement of Sheikh Zayed and his contribution to his country, his people, the Arab and Muslim nations and to humanity in general,” he added.
The play is made of many scenes telling the story of a leader who carved his name in time. He faced many challenges, but his dream was bigger and became life itself. His patience, courage, rightfulness, belief, goodness, wisdom and honor were all combined to overcome obstacles, to conquer the impossible for the sake of resurgence and building of his nation, and to unite his people and to lead them to prosperity.
The narrator in the play is the voice of history. He tells about the attainments of the ‘Leader-Dream’ as a witness taken by surprise by Sheikh Zayed’s ability to change enmity to brotherhood through wisdom, simplicity and transparency. He created a proud nation in the desert with a distinct position between nations. It is an achievement of a mythical scale which came from a dream that was born in the times of the forefathers to be achieved by Sheikh Zayed.
The story continues to tell the tale of a nation and a man building, with the love of enlightenment and knowledge as motivating forces. The story concludes through the continuation of his achievements over time as his successors follow the dream and take it to new horizons.
“Zayed and the Dream” is a play that serves as a snapshot in time to mark the achievements of great men who carved their names in time and changed life.
The creative play, the work of Caracalla Dance Theatre, acted like milestones in history, when crucial transformations happened by the efforts of the ‘Wise of Arabs’ and the ‘Hero of the Union’. He was the guardian of the past and maker of the future, and a link between memory and vision who united a state that surpassed many others.
Caracalla Dance Theatre, in impressive and imaginary acts, told this story though a play that will leave its marks on the Arab theatre memory. They have succeeded in presenting Sheikh Zayed (may God rest his soul) as a man who knew his destiny, and a man who will stay in hearts and minds of Arabs, like a living myth.
—Agencies