BAHRAIN’S cultural sector is set for a major boost with the country’s first national theatre due to open later this year.
Construction of the BD19.1-million ($50.6 million) waterfront facility, near the Diplomatic Area, has been ongoing for nine months and is expected to be completed in November.

Covering an area of 11,869 sq m, the Bahrain National Theatre will be able to accommodate more than 1,000 people and is hoped to lure some of the world’s top performers to the kingdom.

The three-level theatre has been designed by French architectural firm Architecture Studio (AS) and is being supervised by Roueida Ayache and Rene-Henri Arnaud.

The facility will also have an exhibition area.

The project was commissioned by the Culture Ministry as part of celebrations marking Manama being named the Arab Capital of Culture 2012 and is located north of the Bahrain National Museum lake.

As well as putting on opera, drama, modern and classical dance, and symphonic concerts, it will house a flexible theatre for contemporary dance and drama, cinema, lectures, workshops and rehearsals, said theatre director Andrea Porcheddu.

He continued: “The national theatre is a conventional arch theatre which can present opera, drama, modern and classical dance, and symphonic concerts,” he said. Operas such as La Traviata by Verdi or Le Nozze di Figaro by Mozart or Boheme by Puccini will be put together with classical concerts from Egypt, India or Bali.”

“In this context, great attention will be given to Arab and Islamic culture, especially from Bahrain,” Porcheddu added.
An opening of the theatre is scheduled for November 12.