School Theater in Saudi Arabia

School Theater in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is an activity performed on school stages in the Kingdom, blending education and entertainment. The early development of Saudi theater began within the realm of public educational institutions.

The origins of school theater in the Kingdom can be traced back to 1929 when Ahliya School in Unayzah City organized an end-of-year event featuring both meaningful and humorous plays. Among these was "Bayn al-Jahel wal Mota'alem" ("Between the Ignorant and the Educated"), a play that emphasized the value of knowledge over ignorance through a debate-like narrative. In 1935, the school hosted a notable event attended by the Founding King Abdulaziz Bin Abdulrahman Al Saud. The event featured several performances, including "Kisra wal-Wafd al-‘Arabi" ("Khosrow and the Arab Delegation"), "al-A‘maa" ("The Blind"), and a comedy play titled "Ash-Shahi wal-Darsin" ("Tea and Learners").

Subsequently, numerous schools across the Kingdom's provinces began presenting theatrical performances during end-of-year ceremonies. Notable early contributors included al-Najah School in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah and al-Falah School in Jeddah, one of the oldest educational institutions in the Kingdom, which introduced school theater in 1936.

Additionally, school theater was present at Taiba Secondary School in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, established in 1943, and Dar al-Aytam School also in al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. In Riyadh, Anjal Institute and Ahliya School were prominent in this regard, while in Taif, Dar al-Tawhid contributed significantly to the expansion of theatrical activities, which later spread to schools nationwide.

School theater in Saudi schools became an official activity in 1954 when it was endorsed by the Ministry of Knowledge (currently the Ministry of Education), represented by the Department of Physical and Social Education, which later became the General Directorate of School Activities, establishing the Theater Activity Department was transformed in 1984 into the Cultural Activity Department. Through this department, school theater flourished in schools and summer centers, with a dedicated budget allocated by the ministry to these activities. The ministry also focused on participating in Arab forums and festivals, setting development plans for the theater.

In 2005, the Ministry of Education established a standing committee to develop school theater. This committee consists of a supervisor from the ministry and a group of supervisors from the education departments. The committee's responsibilities included creating plans and budgets, conducting specialized studies, producing publications, and organizing playwriting and theater production competitions. The aim was to encourage students to engage in playwriting and theatrical performances while providing training workshops and courses for those overseeing theatrical activities.

To further promote school theater on both the national and international levels, the Ministry of Education organized a series of festivals and events showcasing theatrical performances, such as the Children’s Festival, and the Youth Festival, as well as theatrical events in educational departments, the Theater Troupes Festival, and the annual school theater festival held in various provinces across the Kingdom.

Launched on January 11, 2023, the School Theater Initiative is one of the initiatives of the Theater and Performing Arts Commission at the Ministry of Culture. The initiative aims to develop and empower a supportive ecosystem for national talents in the theater sector by enhancing and developing the theater skills of male and female teachers in the Kingdom, enabling them to supervise theatrical activities and train male and female students through accredited global training programs delivered by experts in theater and performing arts. This initiative is a strategic partnership with the Ministry of Education and is supported by Monash University in Australia. The initiative also aims to nurture generations interested in theater and revitalize the theater sector by developing skills in acting, drama, design, and directing to enrich the theatrical content.

Furthermore, the initiative aims to train over 25,000 male and female teachers in theatrical arts in public schools, ensuring the inclusion of essential elements for efficient outcomes when building theatrical capacities for theater arts instructors and designers. It also seeks to foster the necessary support for teaching theater arts in schools through the collaboration of public, private, and community sectors, ensuring that theatrical arts are accessible to all male and female students.