The play You’re Invited to a Party was crowned the best overall production at the 24th Kuwait Theater Festival last Thursday.
While I won’t delve into a detailed analysis of the play’s elements, what is clear is that they were seamlessly integrated and exceptional. This comprehensive, outstanding production was directed by Hani al-Hazzaa, and its intricate plot, multi-dimensional characters and excellent character development were crafted by the masterful playwright Fatima Al-Amer.
Today, our lines echo the words of the theatrical script conveyed to the audience through the dialogue between the actors and the experience of their movement and performance.
This play is truly nothing short of a cathartic experience for the audience. It delved into the psychological depths of the viewer as they witnessed many aspects of their own reality acted out with depth and human authenticity. These scenes were presented to us as if they were our own reality, though we did not meet the same tragic end as the protagonist.
This is where the catharsis for the audience lies, and it is the very essence of theater and its message
Theater is, after all, a mirror reflecting society, and this is precisely what the playwright and director achieved in You’re Invited to a Party.
In a relatively short period since Fatima al-Amer first dipped her fingers into the waters of authorship, she has transformed her pen into a lyre, striking its strings with exceptional talent and earning herself numerous awards.
Her very first play showcased the emergence of a remarkable playwright, one whose star was destined to shine brightly in the theatrical firmament.
This debut occurred at the Youth Festival in 2014 with the play Autocracy Street. Her talent has only continued to soar to international heights when she won an award at the Cairo International Experimental Theater Festival in 2021 for her play The Sixth Line.
Over a decade, this young woman has immersed herself in the world of theater, absorbing its art and creating works of exceptional quality for both television and stage. Now her latest play, You’re Invited to a Party, marks a significant milestone in her theatrical journey, showcasing her maturity as a playwright.
Author’s biography
Nermine al-Houti is an associate professor of the Department of Criticism at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Kuwait.
She holds a PhD in Philosophy of Literary Criticism and is a graduate of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts.
Houti is a member of the Association of Writers and the Journalists Association, and is also part of the literary arbitration committees on theater or poetry in Kuwait and other Arab countries.
She has authored numerous newspapers and magazines articles and several books on significant theatrical works examining women’s issues, the latest of which is “The Women in Ismail Abdullah’s Theater”.
She has been chosen as a panelist in various significant cultural events and has participated in multiple seminars across the Arab region.
