Mohammed bin Rashid Library, in collaboration with Dubai National Theatre, has organised the workshop 'Your First Steps Towards the Stage' for actor preparation, presented by Emirati artist and director Hamad Al Hammadi, as part of an interactive training experience to familiarise participants with the fundamentals of performance and develop expressive tools rooted in the basics of theatre — running over three weeks.
The first week of the workshop, which continues until 10 July, drew notable interest from citizens and residents eager to explore the world of performing arts and learn about its foundations and stages — from first principles through to staging a theatrical performance — via hands-on practical training on the stage of Mohammed bin Rashid Library in Dubai.
The workshop also hosted, during its first week, a selection of Emirati theatre artists who shared their expertise and professional experience with trainees, enriching the applied dimension and enhancing the training content. These sessions featured the participation of artist Abdullah Saleh Al Rmaythi, artist Mansour Al Faili, and director Aref Al Taweel.
The first phase of the workshop, which launched on 16 June, opened with an introductory session bringing the trainer together with participants, aimed at breaking initial barriers and fostering a spirit of teamwork, alongside a presentation of the programme's objectives and implementation methodology, giving participants a clear understanding of the workshop's trajectory — from its foundational stages through to practical applications.
Movement and physical exercises form a core pillar in preparing the stage actor, contributing to the development of physical awareness, building self-confidence, and discovering individual potential, enabling participants to control movement and performative expression on stage.
Keeping pace with technological developments in the arts sector, the workshop sheds light on the use of modern technologies — including artificial intelligence tools — to support the creative process and enhance elements of theatrical performance, while preserving the authenticity of human expression. Participants are introduced to the mechanisms of building an integrated performance, beginning with the theatrical text, moving through direction and acting, and arriving at the deployment of technology in service of the idea and its presence on stage.
Honing skills
The training programme includes an advanced phase focused on preparing the closing performance, through honing acting skills and training participants to work with the various elements of theatrical production — including lighting, sound effects, set design, and other artistic components. The exercises also focus on discovering and developing individual talents, and helping participants build their own theatrical style.
Emirati artist and director Hamad Al Hammadi affirmed that the workshop aims to prepare the beginner actor through a realistic and transparent methodology that helps them refine their talent and discover the path best suited to their abilities, within a training environment that mirrors the experience of actual theatrical performance and gradually transitions participants from theoretical knowledge to practical application.
He added that the focus is not on achieving a perfect performance, but rather on developing the actor's awareness of their artistic tools and enabling them to deploy body, voice, idea, and text as integrated elements in building a theatrical character.
Al Hammadi noted that the programme also focuses on highlighting participants' strengths and guiding each of them towards the area in which their distinction shines within the elements of theatrical work — whether in writing, acting, directing, or scene management — helping them discover and develop their creative potential and deepen their understanding of the performing arts.
The workshop concludes on 10 July with a theatrical performance prepared by the participants, presented before an audience of enthusiasts and leading figures from the performing, theatrical, and cultural arts, embodying the sum of the skills and knowledge they have acquired throughout the training and practical application period.