With its knockout blow, “The Eighties” returns to the National Theatre

Mufreh Al-Shammari: The popular show “The Eighties” returns to the stage of the National Theatre at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre between October 12 and 14 next year, with additional performances to be announced soon, in a new version titled “The Eighties: The Knockout Blow.” This coincides with the Centre’s celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of its opening, writing its final chapter, and making this engagement the last stop for one of the most popular and acclaimed shows, which successfully left its unique imprint on the memory of Kuwaiti performances.

The new version comes within the framework of a production partnership between Sin for Artistic Production and Al-Jabriya Al-Hurra for Artistic Production, a step that lays the foundation for a collaboration between the two entities as part of a series of joint projects aimed at delivering distinctive artistic content in the coming period.

The show revisits the world of the 1980s, with all its artistic and musical richness, evoking the glamour of that era and the television programs, works, and music that formed an important part of Kuwaiti memory. It presents an artistic treatment based on live music, blending the spirit of the past with modern performance tools.

This time, “The Knockout Blow” carries a meaning that goes beyond the title. It represents the final opportunity to see “The Eighties” live on the stage of the National Theatre, for those who did not have the chance to attend previous performances, as well as for those who have seen the show before and wish to relive the journey again, but with an enhanced directorial and musical vision.

Director Jassem Al-Qamus will helm this new version with a developed vision, having previously directed earlier iterations of the production. Maestro Dr. Khaled Nouri will lead the large orchestra, adding a special dimension to the show through his expertise and musical sensibility. He will provide the melodies of that era with a musical treatment that preserves their authentic spirit while presenting them in a style that aligns with the nature of the theatrical performance.

“The Eighties” has enjoyed a notable public presence since its launch, attracting nearly 50,000 viewers in Kuwait and several Gulf cities, amid great interaction and admiration. It has become one of the shows etched into the public’s memory, not only for the music and songs it presented, but also for the details it evoked of an entire era experienced by the generation of the 1980s and those who followed.