Muscat – As Oman marks World Theatre Day on March 27, the theatre community in the sultanate is reflecting on its progress while confronting challenges that continue to shape the sector.

Across the sultanate, theatre practitioners describe a movement driven by creative commitment, yet constrained by structural gaps. Key concerns include the need for better-equipped venues, sustainable funding, wider audience engagement and specialised training to support emerging talent.

Jalila bint Saif Al Fahdi, Director of the Theatre and Cinema Department at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, said theatre remains central to Oman’s cultural landscape. “Theatre translates social and human issues into artistic performances that combine text, acting and direction,” she said.

She added that productions often draw on Oman’s history, customs and traditions, strengthening cultural identity while contributing to cultural tourism. Theatre also provides a platform for young people to develop skills in acting, directing, writing and stage technologies.

Efforts to support the sector include local festivals such as the Oman Theatre Festival, regional exchanges and training programmes aimed at developing talent and expanding artistic experience.

Imad bin Mohsen Al Shanfari, Chairman of the Oman Theatre Society, said theatre serves as a voice of society. “It plays a vital role in shaping collective awareness by addressing social, economic and political issues,” he said.

He stressed that sustaining theatre requires more than individual effort. “A comprehensive ecosystem is needed,” he said, pointing to the importance of infrastructure, training and permanent performance spaces. He also highlighted the role of media and digital platforms in reaching wider audiences.

“Once theatre groups evolve from individual initiatives into sustainable cultural institutions, theatre will take its natural place as one of the pillars of the creative economy,” he added.

Omani theatre has gained recognition in recent years, including honours such as the Sultan Qaboos Award for Culture, Arts and Literature, awarded in 2022 to Al Din Theatre for Culture and Arts.

For Osama bin Khamis Al Sulaimi, playwright and director, the rise of young practitioners signals a shift. “Young artists are not entering theatre simply to fill a space on stage, but to ask new questions,” he said. According to Al Sulaimi, young theatre practitioners bring a spirit of intellectual and aesthetic experimentation while remaining connected to their cultural roots. Through scripts that are closely linked to contemporary realities and performances that explore deeper human themes, they are contributing to the renewal of the theatre movement in Oman.

For him, theatre is more than a medium of performance. “It is writing that breathes,” he said, describing the stage as a living space where ideas grow into a shared experience between creator and audience.

Al Salimi is currently preparing a production to represent Oman at an upcoming Gulf theatre festival. “It is an ongoing journey to search for a more authentic theatrical form — one that belongs to Oman while remaining open to the world,” he said.