“Rehearsal No. 1”: The Beginning of the Theatrical Dream

Mufreh Al-Shammari

For the second consecutive season, the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center continues its commitment to discovering young talents through the “Rehearsal No. 1” program, which goes beyond teaching the basics of theater by opening a genuine window for amateurs to understand the philosophy and production of theatrical performances from their very inception.

The program serves as a creative laboratory that places participants at the heart of the theatrical experience, immersing them in the details of the work across all its stages—from rehearsal and experimentation, through character development and performance crafting, to producing theatrical works that reflect the skills they have acquired. This experience underscores that rehearsal is not merely preparation for a performance, but a journey in which talent matures and artistic consciousness takes shape.

The first track offers a comprehensive training program that combines acting, collective dramatic singing, and kinetic and expressive performance, utilizing modern training methods aimed at refining participants’ artistic abilities and expanding their creative horizons, while providing outstanding participants with the opportunity to engage in the theatrical production market in the future.

The current season is grounded in an artistic vision inspired by the concept of “the airport of life,” wherein actors embark on a human journey that transcends the boundaries of the stage, affirming that artists carry a message and a responsibility toward their society, and that theater is a space for dialogue, reflection, and provoking questions, rather than merely a means of entertainment.

Director Abdullah Abdulrasool oversees the artistic vision of the first track, leading a large group of performers in intensive training on acting skills, collective dramatic singing, and kinetic and expressive performance, within a professional training environment dedicated to amateurs and theatrical talents. This reflects the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center’s dedication to investing in human capital and preparing a new generation equipped with artistic tools and theatrical culture, to serve as an extension of Kuwaiti theater in the future.