Amman, July 26 (Petra) — The South Theatre at the Jerash Festival
for Culture and Arts will host on Monday the first Arab staging
outside Egypt of the musical “Umm Kulthum… Daibeen Fil Set”, a
production that retraces the life of the legendary Egyptian singer
Umm Kulthum in a musical theatre format blending historical
storytelling with contemporary performance.

Speaking at a press conference organized by the festival on Sunday,
the play’s producer and writer Medhat El Adl praised Jordanian
audiences for their appreciation of artistic heritage and expressed
hope that the production would serve as a bridge connecting younger
generations with the legacy of the iconic singer, known across the
Arab world as the Star of the East.

The press conference, moderated by journalist Ibrahim Al-Sawaeer, was
attended by the play’s director Ahmed Fouad.

El Adl described the production as an ambitious undertaking, saying
Jordan would become the first Arab country to stage the musical after
its debut in Egypt.

He said actresses Asmaa El Gamal and Malak Ahmed portray Umm Kulthum
at different stages of her life, adding that the production
highlights talented young performers while documenting the life of an
artist who overcame numerous challenges before becoming one of the
Arab world’s most celebrated singers.

He noted that the creative team sought to capture Umm Kulthum’s
emotional depth and artistic spirit, adding that presenting the
production in the historic city of Jerash gives it a distinctive
dimension rooted in authenticity and creativity.

Director Ahmed Fouad outlined the technical approach used to adapt
the production to the South Theatre’s open-air setting, saying the
team had employed modern theatrical techniques to deliver an
innovative and engaging performance.

During the event, Asmaa El Gamal and Malak Ahmed performed excerpts
from the musical, which features 15 songs tracing Umm Kulthum’s early
life, artistic passion and rise to fame.

The press conference also featured discussion on the identity of Arab
music, the importance of encouraging younger generations to
appreciate classic Arabic songs amid the growing popularity of
fast-paced contemporary music, the influence of social media, and the
production’s place within today’s performing arts scene.

//Petra// AF