Bahrain National Theatre

Opened in 2012 beside the National Museum on the Manama waterfront, the Bahrain National Theatre seats over a thousand and appears to float above a shallow lagoon, wrapped in an aluminium lattice canopy that filters the Gulf light. The auditorium inside is lined with wood in a design meant to recall a dhow's hull, and the programme runs from Arabic drama and classical concerts to touring productions and festival events. Beside it, the National Museum covers Bahrain's history from Dilmun to the pearling era, making the two together the country's cultural quarter.

History

Plans for a new theatre began in 2003, to relieve the ageing Cultural Hall of 670 seats, the Works and Housing Ministry launched the project in December 2007, and after delays it was built from mid-2011 on the site of the Bahrain Heritage Village of the 1980s, moved to Arad on Muharraq in 2009. With 700 people working day and night to finish it for the culture season, the theatre opened on 12 November 2012 at a cost of 50 million dollars (Wikipedia, National Theatre of Bahrain).

What you'll find

• The lattice canopy - the aluminium exterior over the lagoon.
• The wooden auditorium - the dhow-inspired interior.
• The National Museum next door - Dilmun, pearling and traditional life.
• The waterfront setting - the lagoon and Manama skyline.

When to go

The performance season runs mainly through the cooler months from October to April, with the Spring of Culture festival in spring bringing the strongest international programme. Check the schedule ahead - the theatre is not otherwise open for casual visits.

Things to know

There is little to see without a ticket to something; the building can be admired from outside but interior access depends on performances or arranged tours. Programming is heavily Arabic-language, which is the point but worth knowing. Dress smartly for evening performances. Parking around the cultural quarter fills on event nights.

Nearby

The Bahrain National Museum, the Manama corniche and Muharraq across the causeway.

Key facts