Dasma Theater reopens and hosts the premiere of 'A Life Story'
A cultural event was held at Dasma Theater to mark its reopening and screen a documentary about artist Haya Al-Fahd, attended by officials from the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters.
Translated by Qiyas from النهار — Original source
In the presence of Dr. Mohammed Al-Jassar, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, an exceptional cultural and artistic celebration, blending feelings of loyalty with pride, was held at the Dasma Theater. The event marked the announcement of the documentary film “A Life Story,” produced by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, in honor of the late, legendary Gulf screen icon, the late Haya Al-Fahad. This occasion coincided with the reopening of the historic Dasma Theater following the completion of comprehensive development and maintenance works across all its facilities, inaugurating a new phase of theatrical and cultural contribution.
The celebration, presented by journalist Iman Najm, was attended by a gathering of artists, media personalities, and pioneers of the artistic movement in Kuwait and the Arab Gulf, including Assistant Secretary-General Muassad Al-Zamil, alongside representatives of the late artist’s family. The event served as a gesture of loyalty, embodying the stature of “Umm Susan” as a model of artistic commitment and noble mission.
The documentary “A Life Story” highlighted the prominent human and artistic milestones in Haya Al-Fahad’s life, through vivid and moving testimonies from her earliest companions. The film goes beyond merely documenting the late artist’s personal journey; it weaves the story of the emergence and evolution of the artistic and theatrical movement in Kuwait and the region, forming a visual document that chronicles cultural transformations and showcases the role of dramatic and theatrical works in shaping collective consciousness and reinforcing authentic values.
During the event, Dr. Mohammed Khaled Al-Jassar, Secretary-General of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, emphasized that honoring national figures is a cultural and moral duty. He stated, “When we recall the icons of Kuwaiti art and Gulf authenticity, we evoke names carved into our hearts, leaving an indelible legacy. We gather today with feelings of love and appreciation before the journey of the late Haya Al-Fahad, the lady of Kuwaiti art. She was not merely an artistic figure who graced screens and stages, but a model of commitment and a sincere voice expressing societal concerns and the message of refined art.”
He added, “To keep her fragrant legacy as a present inspiration for future generations, we gather today to witness the screening of the documentary ‘A Life Story,’ a fifty-minute work of loyalty and appreciation. This film does not merely highlight the human and artistic milestones of ‘Umm Susan’; rather, through her rich experience and her contemporaneity with founding pioneers, it weaves the story of the emergence and development of Kuwaiti and Gulf art. It is a documentary achievement completed under the full supervision of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters, conceived and supervised by Assistant Secretary-General Muassad Al-Zamil, directed by Dr. Ali Hassan, prepared by Mr. Badr Al-Jazzaf, and featuring moving participation from a select group of her earliest companions and pioneers of the artistic movement.”
For his part, Mr. Muassad Al-Zamil, Assistant Secretary-General for Financial and Administrative Affairs and the event’s general supervisor, praised the efforts made to serve the cultural and theatrical movement. He noted, “‘Umm Susan,’ may God have mercy on her, is a pillar among the pillars of Kuwait and the Gulf in art. No matter what we offer to pioneering artists, we cannot fully repay their debt. This celebration is a gesture of loyalty and love from us and her colleagues present, aiming to witness what her companions said about this woman during her lifetime, and to affirm the continuity of her creative impact on future generations.”
The event also marked the official reopening of the Dasma Theatre, equipped with modern technical and artistic facilities, as part of the National Council’s new strategy, which relies on public-private partnerships to rehabilitate and develop the infrastructure of cultural venues. Al Salam First Group, chaired by the esteemed artist Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Musallam, successfully won the first investment tender for the theatre’s development. The project involved upgrading sound, lighting, and projection technologies to international standards, while preserving the theatre’s historical significance, as it hosted the beginnings of Kuwaiti theatre and witnessed its reconstruction phases following liberation. The event concluded with a screening of a documentary film directed by Dr. Hassan Ali, which elicited strong engagement and emotion from the audience. Attendees unanimously agreed that honoring pioneers and developing theatrical venues are two complementary steps toward consolidating Kuwait’s cultural leadership and keeping the memory of authentic art alive in the hearts of successive generations.
