The “Riad Sultan” space, which was part of “Dar El Makhzen”, whose construction dates back to the 17th century, represents an innovative theatrical experience in Morocco, aiming to make theater accessible to young people and residents of the old medina of Tangier.
Located in the alley leading to Mechouar Square and Bab Al Bahr, near the Kasbah Museum of Mediterranean Cultures and the Kasbah Museum, a contemporary art space, and not far from the exhibition space of the memory of Ibn Battouta in Borj En-Naâm, “Riad Sultan” is one of the most popular places in the Kasbah Palace (or Dar El Makhzen), which has been transformed into a cultural hotspot, thanks to the rehabilitation and development projects of the medina of Tangier.
“Riad Sultan” is in fact the first community theater in Morocco, which works, through a rich and diverse cultural program, to create a new generation of young people who love theater and believe in its importance as an art that promotes culture and creativity.
This cultural and artistic space plays a key role in bringing culture closer to the local population and young people, in the face of the absence of audiences from theatres, and today constitutes an important solution to overcome this problem and make theatre accessible to all sections of society.
This pilot theatrical and cultural building, which also hosts seminars, meetings and other cultural events, offers the public the opportunity to enjoy a creative and cultural practice, and constitutes a training space for young people in the field of theatre.
In a statement to M24, the 24-hour news channel of MAP, the director of the space, Zoubeir Ben Bouchta, stressed that the ultimate goal of the “Riad Sultan” community theater is to encourage troupes from all Moroccan cities to adopt and develop this idea, in order to set up a network of community theaters that operate independently on financial, administrative and procedural levels in all regions of the Kingdom.
This cultural space, which underwent development and equipment work lasting around three years, includes a performance hall equipped with mobile stands that can accommodate 130 people and equipped with the latest equipment, and a theatre library, which is a media library specialising in the performing arts (theatre, dance, shows, etc.), as well as a recording studio, creative workshops, administrative offices and a cultural café overlooking a magnificent Andalusian garden.
The creation of this cultural and artistic space is part of the program for the renovation and development of cultural and artistic infrastructure in Tangier, implemented under the supervision of the Wilaya of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region and the Agency for the Promotion and Development of the North (APDN), in collaboration with other partners, including the Bab Bhar CinéMasrah Association (manager and leader of the project).
This space is named after the Andalusian and historic garden “Riad Sultan”, which is intended to be a true historical jewel of Tangier’s material heritage.
This pilot project, the first of its kind in Morocco, undoubtedly contributes to arousing public interest in theatre, thanks to a rich and diversified programme and daily and weekly workshops, and to raising awareness among young people of the importance of cultural practices.
2024-08-22 05:26:43