The Bahraini theater director, playwright, and actor Abdullah Al-Sadawi passed away yesterday, Saturday, at the age of 80, after a rich artistic career in Bahrain and across the Arabian Gulf countries.
The late Al-Sadawi, the first in the Gulf to venture beyond the Italian box framework in his exploration of theatrical space, presented his art in castles, old houses, as well as in galleries and various other spaces. He was also one of the founders of "Al-Sad" Theater in Qatar and "Al-Sharjah" Theater in the United Arab Emirates.
In 1994, he was awarded the "Best Director" prize at the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre for his play "Al-Kammama" (The Mask). He participated in numerous Arab and international festivals.
In 2003, he was honored by the Gulf National Theater Companies Festival in Abu Dhabi, in recognition of his pioneering efforts in the development of theatrical performance in the Gulf region.
Born in 1944, Al-Sadawi had a passion for theater from an early age, learning it instinctively without any formal academic education or government support. He developed his theatrical skills through extensive reading, work, and training with various theater professionals. His cultural knowledge was acquired through life experience. He authored many theatrical works and studies, as well as writings in cinema and television.
Al-Sadawi reinforced the concept of experimental theater, serving as a mentor for many young Bahraini actors and directors. Some of his notable theatrical works include "Al-Sadeeqan" (The Two Friends), "Al-Jathoom" (The Ghost), "Al-Rihaneen" (The Hostages), "Rijal Al-Bahr" (Men of the Sea), and "Scorrial" with the "Al-Sawari" Theater, which received acclaim at the Cairo International Festival in 1993.
