The Projections of Memory in the Theater of AbdulRahman Al Mannai

Abstract

This paper investigates the theme of memory in the theatre of AbdulRahman AlMannai, a prominent Qatari playwright and director. In addition, AlMannai was a founding member of the theatre movement in Qatar in the 1960s. The paper aims to study how AlMannai’s plays reflect contemporary political, social, and economic changes through the lens of memory, focusing on the historical context before and during the discovery of oil in Qatar. Relying on textual analysis as the primary methodology, this paper examines three key plays: [yā lyl yā lyl] (oh night oh night), [zinzānat albaḥr] (the Sea dungeon) and [rasā͗l aba aḥmad elḥuwaily] (The letters of Aba Ahmed Alhuwaili). The analysis focuses on AlMannai’s integration of elements such as historical manuscripts, folklore music, and poetry to enrich his narratives and engage the audience's collective memory. Finally, this paper emphasizes the significance of Al-Mannai's theatre as a vital reflection of Qatar's socio-cultural changes, providing insights into the ongoing impact of collective and historical memory on contemporary realities.