Amr Gamal

In January 2023, the Khaleej Aden troupe staged a Yemeni adaptation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, translated into the Adeni dialect, on a specially constructed stage at Aden's Legislative Council, formerly St. Maria's Church. The troupe self-funded the restoration of the church, which had been partially damaged during the 2015 war. Supported by the British Council, the production collaborated with Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London and Volcano Theatre in Wales, offering a year and a half of online training. The premiere gained significant media attention, including coverage by The Sunday Times in March 2023.

On the Edge explores the social and political tensions in modern-day Aden, premiering in August 2019 at the 1000 Nights venue. This marked the first Khaleej Aden troupe production outside the historic Hurricane Theater. The play consists of seven satirical scenes, each addressing a social issue amid the unrest in Yemen, and features eight original folklore songs. Performed 23 times intermittently due to armed confrontations in Aden, the audience would return during ceasefires between warring parties, making the performances a unique reflection of the city's turmoil.

Made in the Neighbourhood is an interactive play from the oppressed theater genre, where the audience shapes the events to explore solutions to the social issues presented. Performed in twenty secondary schools in Aden between 2016 and 2017, it coincided with security campaigns aimed at combating extremist terrorist groups that spread after the 2015 war. The Khaleej Aden troupe took the risk of performing in schools to raise awareness about the dangers of terrorist recruitment, the story follows Osama, a high school student neglected by his family and bullied at school. His worsening depression leads him to be recruited by a terrorist organization seeking to exploit his vulnerability for revenge against society.

This production centers on the internal conflict within a Yemeni elite family—politicians, journalists, and activists—during the Arab Spring. As family members split into 'anti-regime' rebels and regime loyalists, tensions mount. The play’s dramatic climax occurs when the family becomes trapped in a newly renovated bathroom, missing key appointments. The situation exposes their fragility and deteriorating relationships. The play premiered in October 2014 at the historic Hurricane Cinema in Aden, plans for performances in Sana’a and Taiz were halted due to the outbreak of war, which also destroyed the stage set in Aden, ending its run.

Match Stick explores the life of Amal at three stages, highlighting the violence she endures from figures like her father, mother, and elderly husband. The play bravely addresses sensitive, often avoided issues in Yemeni society, such as child rape, forced marriages to settle Qat debts, and abuse within marriages. Premiering in 2011 at the former Tawahi Cinema.

Performed between 2010 and 2012 at the historic Hurricane Cinema and Palestine Theater in Aden, this production by the Khaleej Aden Troupe became their most commercially successful play. Using an episodic structure, each of the 11 scenes tackled societal issues such as domestic violence, child labor, and corruption, with each vignette culminating in a symbolic red card raised by the performers to signal that these harmful practices must end, leaving a lasting impact on audiences.

An adaptation of the German musical Line No. 1, this production was a significant milestone in Yemeni theater, garnering widespread acclaim from both critics and audiences. Premiering in Sana’a in October 2009 and achieving massive success in Aden, it was later performed in Berlin in June 2010, marking the first-ever Yemeni play staged in Europe. The story follows Amal, a victim of tourist marriage, as she journeys from her village in northern Yemen to Aden in search of her estranged husband, encountering locals who represent the diverse fabric of Yemeni society.

An adaptation of George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, this production explores a love story while examining society’s deep-seated prejudices toward individuals from lower social classes, regardless of their personal achievements or success. Through the lens of a transformative relationship, the play critiques class-based judgments and highlights the challenges of overcoming societal expectations.  In 2008, the Khaleej Aden troupe performed the production 12 times at two iconic venues in Aden: the historic Hurricane Cinema and the Palestine Theater, making it a pivotal part of their theatrical journey.

In their debut production, performed more than 35 times between 2005 and 2008 in Aden and Sana’a, the Khaleej Aden troupe explored the societal shift in early 2000s Yemen, when computers and the internet began entering homes and the older generation viewed them with suspicion. The play was staged at iconic venues like Aden's historic Hurricane Cinema, Palestine Theater, BP Club, and Sana’a's Cultural Center. The story follows a father trying to control his children’s exposure to technology, sparking a comedic protest within the family.

"Qalat Aden" is a television talk show dedicated to preserving and sharing the oral history of Aden through interviews with influential figures who have shaped the city’s social, cultural, and political landscape. Spanning pivotal decades from the 1940s to the early 1990s, the show explores a wide array of topics, from the struggle for independence and the role of women in national movements, to the evolution of the city’s institutions and the rich diversity that defines Aden’s unique identity.

While "Qalat Aden" touches on key moments such as the decline of its once-thriving port and the changing role of the municipality after the 1994 civil war, it goes beyond these events. The program offers a platform for personal stories and reflections on Aden's religious, ethnic, and cultural life, capturing the voices and experiences of those who witnessed these transformations firsthand. By preserving this oral history, the show provides a nuanced perspective on Aden's past and its lasting significance.

Aden the Art takes viewers on a captivating journey through the rich art scene of Aden, featuring exclusive interviews with veteran artists from the city. This TV series delves into the artistic history of Aden, exploring its evolution from the 1950s to the present day. Through insightful conversations and archival footage, the show highlights the cultural milestones and creative movements that have shaped Aden's vibrant art community over the decades.

This murder mystery series, based on Agatha Christie's novel Crooked House, was produced by Al-Saeedah TV and broadcast during the 2016 Ramadan season. The plot is adapted to Yemeni society, centering on the poisoning of the head of a wealthy Yemeni family. All the villa’s residents are suspects, and the police seal the villa until the investigation concludes. As tensions rise, deep-rooted family conflicts are exposed, showing that even close relatives harbor long-standing differences brought to light by the crime.

One Last Chance is a drama series filmed entirely in Aden, tackling one of Yemen's most contentious issues through the story of an average Adeni family. The series was the first to address the impact of the 1994 summer war on the southern Yemeni population, focusing on the plight of thousands of factory workers laid off after the conflict. Spanning three decades without resolution or compensation, this issue is sensitively portrayed. The General Secretariat of the National Dialogue Conference honored the production for its objective handling of this significant human rights matter.

This theatrical series marked the revival of television theater, which had been a popular genre in Aden during the 1950s and 1960s before its production was discontinued. The series, consisting of 30 short episodes, follows fictional neighbors in a local Aden avenue and examines the social changes following Yemen’s 2011 youth revolution. Produced by Al-Saeedah TV and broadcast during the 2012 Ramadan season, it brought back the beloved format of TV theater to a new generation of viewers.