‘TRADING' / AL-MUQAYADHA

WRITTEN & DIRECTED- SULAYMAN AL-BASSAM (2003)

‘Trading' is a play about young people in the Gulf. Combining strains from Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet” with echoes of Arab love stories such Qays Wa Layla, it explores the validity of conservative tribal values in a society consumed by rampant mercantilism and fierce Westernisation.

It was conceived as a play for and about young people, commissioned by the National Council for Youth and Sport in Kuwait and performed in Arabic by a team of young Kuwaiti actors.

It was first presented at the Gulf Youth Festival in October 2003 where it won the following prizes:

Awards for ‘Trading' at the Gulf Youth Festival:

Best Performance

• Best Scenography
• 3 Best Actor Awards

Unashamedly set in the modern Gulf and unafraid to expose some of the conflicts and crises facing the young people there, the piece would provoked widespread controversy. Some critics regarded it as 'scanadalous' and accused it of, amongst other things, "laying the country bare", " inciting young people to commit suicide" and " appalling pessimism".

Performed at :

Gulf Youth Theatre Festival, 2003

The Qurain Arts Festival in Kuwait , 2004.

“Trading” English Text (Word Document)

“Trading” Arabic Text (Word Document)