Mudairis, head of Education in the Eastern Province, has said that theater can have a positive role in addressing topical issues and that he would like to see more plays performed at schools for all ages. Al-Mudairis said that school theater had the potential to be an “active channel of education”. “It can help address a lot of daily issues that affect people in society,” he said. “We have a lot of gifted pupils who can send out a constructive message from the stage.” The education chief made the remarks while meeting with the Al-Marad acting troupe who recently performed a play on the Ministry of Education's stage at the Janadriya Heritage Festival. “The play had a positive effect on audiences and attendances were high,” Al-Mudairis said. “The Education Administration in the Eastern Province is resolved to offer all forms of help and incentives to promote school theater in the region and uncover pupils talented enough to compete locally and internationally.” Al-Mudairis also held a meeting recently with senior regional educators and theater directors at the Education Administration to look at ways of introducing the theater to wider audiences through schools, with plays to address topical issues “at all school age-groups”. “We want to create an environment conducive to theater for the promising talents we have in the Eastern Province,” he said. Theater director Mu'taz Al-Abdullah of the Al-Marad troupe said their performances had tackled a range of topics, from the importance of education and learning and the dangers of lying and cheating, to the advantages of teamwork. “Our light comedy performances were well received by both young and old, as well as by representatives from the Ministry of Education,” he said.
