The third ‘Great British Festival’ will highlight Shakespeare’s works with three major events in this year’s celebration in Doha until March 19, marking the legendary playwright’s 400th death anniversary.
“I am sure that at the end of these two weeks, people in Qatar will be saying and tweeting, just like they are in the UK, that Shakespeare lives,” the British ambassador Ajay Sharma said on Sunday at the opening of the two-week annual festival at Katara – the Cultural Village.
The ceremony was attended by Katara’s Marketing and International Affairs director Darwish Ahmed al-Shaibani, British Council Qatar (BCQ) director Frank Fitzpatrick, and a number of guests and representatives from festival sponsors.
Organised by the British embassy in Doha, in partnership with BCQ, the event will showcase all of Shakespeare’s plays in 97 minutes on March 11 to be performed by the Reduced Shakespeare Company.
Much Ado About Nothing, one of Shakespeare’s best film adaptations starring Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson and Keanu Reeves, will be screened at Katara on March 15.
To conclude the festival, the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra will play a selection of famous music inspired by Shakespeare including Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet, and Richard Strauss’ Macbeth at the Qatar National Convention Centre on March 19.
The celebration also features numerous activities to promote British culture, education, tourism and business. These include British spring fêtes such as traditional games, craft stall, bouncy castle, and bake sale, among others.
“Even though we have this shared history which goes back 200 years, even though Qatar has invested over £35bn in the UK, even though more than 60,000 Qataris visit the UK every year, there is I think a real opportunity to share more about what the UK can offer,” Sharma noted.
Qatari and British schools’ football teams will compete in the Hadaf football tournament for the Ambassador’s Cup on March 12 at the Aspire Dome. Entry is free.
Residents, especially students and their parents, will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from more than 30 popular UK universities, colleges and English language training centres at the “Study in the UK Exhibition” on March 13 and 14 at La Cigale Hotel. Entry is free.
The Doha Baroqe Ensemble and Back Coral Society will perform Thomas Arne’s “Alfred: an English Opera” at Georgetown University Qatar in Education City on March 15.
In partnership with Unesco, a number of British researchers from University College London in Qatar will be sharing recent archaeological investigations about the origins of Qatar and its historic towns at a discussion titled “Café Scientific: The Origins of Qatar and its Historic Towns.” It will take place at the Museum of Islamic Art on March 17.
“This festival is not about introducing people to the UK, it is about deepening the knowledge and understanding the people have here in Qatar about what Britain can do and it is about celebrating the relationship between the UK and Qatar,” Sharma said in his speech. “Not only the friendship but also about encouraging future co-operation in other areas.”
He added that the event also provides a platform for both countries to forge new partnerships in commerce, tourism, culture, education and science.
To highlight Shakespeare’s contribution to the arts, the envoy also announced that one festival attendee will have the chance to win two Qatar Airways return flights to Birmingham with accommodation to enjoy a ‘Shakespeare Experience.’
Organisers also partnered with some of the hotels in Doha to offer British dishes, including afternoon teas, British brunches, roast dinners and more.