7 Shows Bring Back the Magic of the 80s to the Stage

Yasser Al-Ayila

The success achieved by the show “The Eighties: The Decisive Blow” on the stage of the National Theatre at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre was not a matter of chance, but rather the result of the integration of multiple artistic elements, foremost among them the musical ensemble that formed the backbone of the production. Led by Maestro Dr. Khaled Nouri, the ensemble delivered a professional performance that combined academic precision with a contemporary Eastern spirit.

With high musical proficiency, Nouri succeeded in directing the musicians, keeping pace with the singers’ performances, and responding to their instantaneous interactions, thereby granting the show a musical fluidity that contributed to enhancing the harmony among its various elements and evoking the artistic and media atmosphere linked to the memory of Kuwaiti and Gulf audiences.

In an interview with “Al-Anbaa,” Nouri spoke about the behind-the-scenes work and preparation stages, revealing that seven performances were presented and emphasizing that the new version differed from its predecessor in terms of content, songs, and video clips. The production involved a team of 61 people, including musicians, singers, and choir members.

He clarified that the initial preparations, which included developing ideas and shaping concepts, took about two months. He noted that the show is an extension of the “Eighties” series that began in 2017, and that this current version was staged to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre.

Nouri added that the team was keen to offer a renewed experience that recaptures the features of that era, while introducing fundamental changes to the content, whether at the level of songs or videos, aiming for an artistic format that seeks to blend nostalgia for the past with the enjoyment of live theatrical performance.

Regarding the mechanism for selecting songs and segments, Nouri explained that the work resulted from joint coordination between his team and the production entities. He stated that the concept revolves around reviving the content broadcast by Kuwait Television during the 1980s, from the beginning of transmissions until their end at midnight.

He pointed out that this vision required distributing segments to reflect the uniqueness of different broadcasting periods, ranging from songs to dialogues, advertisements, and other materials that formed part of viewers’ memories. He emphasized that executing this vision was not limited to the musical ensemble but required significant efforts from the show’s director, Jassem Al-Qamis, and his team, as well as all backstage staff.

With regard to the participating vocalists, Nouri praised the singers’ talents and presence, affirming that their success stemmed from the proper utilization of each voice in the right context, which positively reflected on their performance and audience interaction. He added that approximately 90% of the participants hold academic degrees in music, which contributed to elevating the artistic standard of the show.

Regarding his future projects, Nouri revealed his involvement in several concerts and festivals in the coming period, in collaboration with the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters and the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Centre, as part of his continued musical presence at artistic and cultural events.