TWO plays will be held at the Crowne Plaza's Bahrain Conference Centre as part of the Eid Al Fitr celebrations, which mark the end of Ramadan.
Flu of the Hawameer (The Influential) is a Bahraini comedy that talks about local and regional issues, one of which is swine flu.
The play sheds light on the fear that came with the spread of swine flu virus around the world.
"It made everyone think that they had the bug themselves," said producer Mohammed Al Elaiwy.
"One of the scenes captures this well, as one man complains to a doctor of pain in his leg, saying he is sure he got the bug"
Hawameer, the plural of Hammour fish in Arabic, is used to mean that Hammour eats the small fish, signifying how some influential people "eat" the rights of others in the society.
"Low income families are struggling to own a house, are sinking in debt and can't find jobs and this play discusses these issues," said Mr Al Elaiwy.
Actors are Suad Ali, Shayma'a Sabt, Salim Sultan and Ali Bahar is the singer.
The play also features renowned actors Kuwaiti Mona Shadad and Saudi celebrities Nahar Al Dhowaihy and Rania Al Baz.
The show will start at 8.30pm on the first and sixth day of Eid, while two other shows will be held at 6.15pm and 9.45pm on the second, third, fourth and fifth days of Eid.
Tickets are BD3, BD5, BD7, BD10 and BD15.
Another play for children, entitled Smart Lulu, will be held at the centre.
It revolves around a girl named 'Lulu' who leaves home alone after her grandfather dies.
He visits her in her dream to tell her he has saved something in a box for her.
"When she awakes, her tries to find that box," said Mr Elaiwy.
The play was earlier staged in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Dubai.
"It was such a hit that we decided to stage it again," said Mr Elaiwy.
The show will start at 6.30pm on the first and sixth day of Eid, while another will take place at 4.30pm on the second, third, fourth and fifth days of Eid.
Tickets are BD2 and BD3.
Flu of the Hawameer was written by Omani Ghanim Al Omri and Al Elaiwy and Smart Lulu by Kuwaiti scriptwriter Saad Al Dahsh.
Both plays will be directed by Bahraini Ess'haq Abdulla.
Mr Al Elaiwy, who is also the owner of Bahrain Media Production, has been producing plays for Eid Al Fitr and Eid Al Adha celebrations for nearly two decades.
"My production company has been there for 17 years and since then, we have been producing plays for adults and children," he said.
Mr Al Elaiwy said he expected the plays to attract thousands of fans, mostly from neighbouring countries.
"These plays are so popular in this festival season," he said.
"People like to attend such plays with their families."
Mr Al Elaiwy said Bahrain should support such plays, which he labels as a positive tourist attraction for families.
"These plays bring us visitors from outside of Bahrain, they will occupy hotels and visit malls during this time," he said.
"This is clean tourism, which the country's leaders have been calling for."
Mr Al Elaiwy said every year he struggled to pay for advertisement boards to promote his plays.
"We have to pay around BD25,000 for the hall and the equipment, excluding advertisement and rent," he said.
"The government, especially the Culture and Information Ministry, should support us."
basma@gdn.com.bh
