HM the King was welcomed on arrival by Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa and other senior officials.
After playing the national anthem, HM the King greeted HRH Prince Al Waleed bin Talal and Arab Ministers of Culture and officials representing several organizations and authorities. He also discussed existing friendly relations between Bahrain and their countries. HM officially inaugurated the National Theater and signed the VIP register.
He then entered the Theater’s main building and listened to a presentation on the architecture design of the theater which was inspired from One thousand and one nights.
HM the King expressed admiration of the new cultural landmark which its establishment comes in support to Bahrain’s cultural and theatrical movement in line with choosing Bahrain as capital of Arab culture 2012.
He also expressed pride in the theater’s role in contributing it the progress of Bahraini society, highlighting Bahrain’s numerous national theater works and activities on social, cultural and educational issues and praising Bahraini creative artists and their contribution in the Kingdom’s progress in the fields of arts, theater and culture.
HM the King affirmed that Bahrain has always been known as hub for science, knowledge and culture and has been a bridge for cooperation and communication with the various civilizations and cultures.
He also stressed the national responsibility of intellectuals in establishing cultural and theatrical works that reinforce national unity and highlight Bahraini values of goodness, cooperation and love.
HM said the tremendous efforts in establishing the new national landmark which is considered an addition to Bahrain’s urban developmental and cultural achievements, wishing the people behind it further success in serving Bahrain.
He expressed thanks and appreciation to the Minister of Culture and the Ministry affiliates for their efforts.
The Minister of Culture expressed thanks and appreciation to HM the King for his constant support. She added that the theater is a project for intellectual, artistic and cultural works, saying that it will attract theatrical innovators to exchange cultural expertise and views.
Shaikh Mai praised the efforts of the architect team of the Ministries of Culture and Work in addition to international experts in establishing the project.
It is noted that Bahrain’s national theater is inspired from “Thousand and One Nights”, with a capacity of 11.869 square meters and can host up to 1001 seats,, in addition to another hall accommodates 100 people that have been allocated for training, covering events and hosting various workshops.
For other facilities, the national theater contains car parking for 290 cars, in addition to the current car parking of Bahrain National Museum. There will be afforestation and decoration work for the frontage Museum’s lake.
Huda Smitshuizn Abu Fares has designed the theater’s logo which is based on engaging the art of letters designing with reflection, which is inspired by the design of the project located in the north of National Museum’s Lake that reflects the idea of the theater as being a reflection of people’s thought and cultural heritage.
On the Urban design, a number of specialized bodies were assigned to the task of creating the project, where the urban design, which was carried out by the French company Architecture Studio and which won this year’s gold medal of the world competition organized by the International Academy of Architecture, while W S Atkins and Partners Overseas undertook to oversee the project. A specialized Cypriot company undertook the contracting and construction work. The total cost of this project is estimated at BD19 million.