Tonight: A “Like” on the Stage of the Kuwait Autism Center

Mufreh Al-Shammari

The family-oriented, purposeful play “Like” offers an educational theatrical experience that tackles one of the most prominent issues in family life today: children’s relationship with screens and social media, and the impact these have on behavior, upbringing, and daily relationships. The performance takes place tonight as part of the 18th Summer Cultural Festival, staged at the Kuwait Autism Center theater in the West Mishref area.

The play draws on the reality experienced by many family members, as smartphones and social media have become integral to daily life, presenting parents and children with new challenges that did not exist in the same way before. From this premise, “Like” seeks to open a space for discussion on how to strike a balance between benefiting from technology and avoiding the cycle of excessive use and digital addiction.

The work is based on a story and poems by Othman Al-Shatti, with writing and screenplay by Reem Marzouk, and direction by Yousef Al-Baghlai. It is produced by Media Force. The cast includes Abdullah Al-Turkmani, Ali Shishtari, Mohammed Al-Shaayji, Ahmed Yousef, Saadawi, and Hadeel Al-Fahad.

Rather than treating the digital world as a problem in itself, the play focuses on how it is used and the consequences that may arise when screens shift from being tools for entertainment and communication to spaces that consume children’s time and affect their relationships with their families and surroundings.

The issue of upbringing lies at the heart of the narrative, particularly given the clash between traditional parenting methods and the new reality imposed by smartphones and smart devices. Parents find themselves facing renewed questions about the boundaries of their children’s technology use, how to monitor the content they are exposed to, when intervention is necessary, and how to build relationships based on dialogue rather than mere prohibition.

The play also addresses cyberbullying as one of the potential outcomes in digital environments, and the repercussions it can have on a child’s behavior and self-confidence. By presenting this issue to a family audience, “Like” aims to transform the theater into a space for awareness and discussion, rather than delivering an educational message in a direct or detached manner.

The choice of a family theater format suits the nature of the subject, as it allows the work to reach both children and parents simultaneously, ensuring the message is not directed at just one side of the family. Children learn about the dangers of excessive screen use and cyberbullying, while parents find space to reflect on their parenting approaches amid rapidly evolving digital changes.

The play gains additional significance from its connection to the audience’s daily reality. Technology is no longer a distant topic but is present in study, entertainment, communication, and relationship-building. Therefore, discussing its effects through a theatrical work can open a broader dialogue within the home regarding the time children spend in front of screens, the type of content they consume, and how to use technology in a more balanced way.

The title “Like” carries a connotation directly linked to social media culture, where the “like” button has become part of modern communication language and a virtual measure of interaction and acceptance. Through this title, the work connects with the world of children and adolescents in their everyday language, before guiding them to a deeper space concerning what happens behind the screen and the potential impact of the desire for digital interaction and acceptance.