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Young performers from across QF’s schools showcase their creative talents by reviving a performing arts tradition
The creativity and artistic talent of students from Qatar Foundation schools who are bringing back a performing arts tradition after a 10-year hiatus is to be showcased to Qatar’s community this week.
SHOWTIME! – a Broadway-style musical – has been in the making for 14 months, with production continuing even amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And now a documentary telling the story of how it was made is about to receive its virtual premiere, as students and staff from schools under Qatar Foundation’s (QF) Pre-University Education perform a string of favorites from classic shows, including Mary Poppins and Matilda, against the backdrop of locations around Education City.
At QF, we believe that learning flows both within and beyond the classroom
The documentary – highlighting the journey and purpose of SHOWTIME! and featuring some of its musical numbers – will be screened at www.qf.org.qa/showtime-premiere at 6.30pm on Wednesday, April 7, and will be available on QF’s YouTube channel afterwards. Meanwhile, the QF Schools Productions team is already looking at how to build on the success of this musical with further initiatives that will focus on showcasing the performing arts in the Arabic language.
SHOWTIME! is a musical which sees students from QF schools perform classic numbers from famous shows at iconic locations within Education City.
“At QF, we believe that learning flows both within and beyond the classroom, and that giving young learners the opportunity to explore their creativity nurtures skills and mindsets that benefit them both academically and personally,” said Buthaina Ali Al Nuaimi, President of Pre-University Education, QF.
“By reviving the rich tradition of a performing arts program at QF which dates back two decades, our students have spread their wings and broadened their minds by learning about self-expression, concentration, and teamwork, growing in confidence, and showing the resilience required to reach a goal as the production of SHOWTIME! was adapted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The end result is a simply stunning show that illustrates the breadth of creative talent and imagination that exists among the children in our Qatar Foundation schools
“The experience they have shared in will bring value to them for years to come, and the end result is a simply stunning show that illustrates the breadth of creative talent and imagination that exists among the children in our Qatar Foundation schools. I hope that the community of Qatar will enjoy the SHOWTIME! documentary, and that all those who made this production possible – especially our wonderful young performers – are as proud of it as we are of them.”
The QF students were steered through the SHOWTIME! process by the creative team of Steve and Jane Griffiths, who led the development of similar performances at Qatar Academy Doha between 2000 and 2010, and West End choreographer Christopher Piper, as well as QF member Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra.
A documentary telling the story of how SHOWTIME! was produced will be screened this week.
Rehearsals began in January 2020, with plans for a theatre performance later that year being altered when COVID-19 struck. Production of SHOWTIME! has since continued in adherence with public health guidelines, with five professional musical videos being filmed at some of the most iconic locations within QF, including the Ceremonial Court and Qatar National Library.
The SHOWTIME! documentary premiere is free to view on Wednesday. The full production is intended to be performed to an audience at a later date, as public health guidelines allow.
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