Jasim Al-Qams: "The 1980s... The Knockout Blow"... A Return to the Beginnings and a World of Memories

After years of success and a lasting presence in the public’s memory, director Jassim Al-Qams is returning with a new production of “The 80s,” titled “The 80s... The Knockout Blow.” The show will run on the stage of the National Theatre from October 12 to 16. This new iteration preserves the spirit of the original while presenting it with a renewed vision. It is part of a production collaboration between “Sin” Artistic Production and “Al-Jabriya Free” Artistic Production, coinciding with the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center’s celebration of the 10th anniversary of its opening.

In a press statement, Al-Qams revealed that “the audience has been demanding a revival of the show for years. When the idea of reviving it emerged to mark the 10th anniversary of the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Cultural Center’s opening—given that ‘The 80s’ was one of the most prominent landmarks of that decade, having staged numerous performances in Kuwait and the Gulf attended by thousands, including the late His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the former Emir of Kuwait, and His Highness Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Crown Prince at the time—it presented an opportunity to revive the show and fulfill the wishes of those who attended the original run as well as those who missed it. It is also a chance to revisit the experience with the audience, but through a fresh lens.”

Regarding the challenge of this production, he said: “We want the older audience to recognize what they loved in previous shows, and we want the new audience to find elements that bring them closer to the era and its distinct character.” He added that “the new production introduces about 50% new content in terms of songs and segments, but it is built on the same journey we created in our previous shows. The audience will live a day in the 1980s in front of the television, exploring the various facets of life during that decade.”

Al-Qams explained: “‘The 80s’ has a personal impact on me; it was my launchpad in the arts. Therefore, returning to it carries many emotions and memories. I did not want to merely repeat the experience, but to renew it for today’s audience in terms of visuals, music, pacing, and visual details.”

On the title “The Knockout Blow,” Al-Qams clarified that it signifies the final stop in the show’s journey on the stage of the National Theatre. He said: “I feel that ‘The 80s’ has traveled a long road with its audience, and this will be its final stop on the stage of the National Theatre, where it all began. Therefore, we wanted the ending to be beautiful and worthy of everything the show has delivered—a return that celebrates the experience and the audience that loved it.”

Al-Qams noted that the production is a collaboration with video director and creative artist Ahmed Bonham, who has delighted audiences with his attention to detail and his ability to create a state of expression that embodies each song, whether in “The 80s” or in the shows “Quraish” and “Miami Show.” He said: “The 1980s are a complete world: music, images, programs, fashion, and daily details that we hope the audience will experience during the show.”

He continued: “There are those who lived through the 1980s and carry personal memories of it, and there is a younger generation that did not live through it but has come to know it through what they have heard and seen. We want these two groups to meet within the show: a generation reclaiming its memory, and a generation discovering a bright and pioneering era in Kuwait’s artistic and cultural landscape.”

Regarding Maestro Dr. Khaled Nouri’s first-time participation in “The Eighties,” leading the live orchestra accompanying the performance, Al-Qams states: “Music is not merely a backdrop for the audience; it is an essential part of the narrative. Dr. Khaled Nouri’s first-time involvement represents a significant addition to the experience, particularly given the presence of a live orchestra. We aim to present the music of that era with the spirit the audience knows, but through a new perspective.”

Al-Qams expressed his hope that “the audience will embark on a journey into the 1980s, complete with its music, memories, and details.” He added, “For me, this production is a return to the beginnings as much as it is the end of a journey. If the audience leaves feeling as though they have relived a part of those years, that is the true gain.”