Aden - (AFP) - With the phrase "to be or not to be", Prince Hamlet of Denmark addresses himself in the dialect of the people of Aden in southern Yemen, in a rare theatrical performance that revives the hopes of many for the return of cultural life to the country.

Between moral dilemmas and the bitter struggle for power, the tragic play by British writer William Shakespeare resonated widely with Yemenis living in a country torn apart by a fierce war eight years ago.

In partnership with the British Council, the ten performances of the play have achieved remarkable success in the southern city, and all tickets are sold out.

The play is presented by the local "Khaleej Aden" troupe, which was founded in 2005, and is directed by Yemeni film director Amr Gamal.

Jamal had directed the movie "Ten Days Before the Wedding", which is one of the few Yemeni cinematic works in recent years.

"Most of the reactions are beautiful and promising," Jamal told AFP. He believed that "people are happy to work and do not leave the hall until the end of the play, despite it being long," as it lasts three full hours.

Jamal pointed out that the bet was "on limited success because it is a play inspired by international literature, and this type of work usually has a limited audience and is not widely admired by the general public."

The play was presented in the dialect of the people of Aden, and an actor stood on the stage wearing traditional Yemeni dress.

The play was shown in the Legislative Council building in Aden, which dates back to the days of British colonialism.

In the 1930s, Great Britain declared Aden a "Crown Colony".

The effects of British colonialism are still present in the city, including the "Little Big Ben", which is no longer working.

Assistant director Marwan Mafraq describes the play as "an old dream, and we were able to achieve it after many years."

"It was not just a play by Shakespeare, but a restoration of a historical landmark," Mafraq said after a performance in Aden last week.


The assistant director considers that the space for the artistic work is "very narrow. The reason for this is the general situation of the country and the lack of productive resources in the cultural and artistic field."

The war weighed heavily on all aspects of life in Yemen, including the cultural and artistic aspects.

A conflict has been taking place in Yemen between a government supported since 2015 by a Saudi-led military coalition, and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who control large areas in the north and west of the country, as well as the capital, Sanaa, since the start of their offensive in 2014.

The threat of starvation threatens millions of Yemenis, while thousands, including many residents of areas under Houthi control, need urgent medical treatment that is not available in the country whose infrastructure has been destroyed. About 80 percent of Yemen's 30 million people depend on aid to survive.
The team was trained through the "Zoom" video communication technology for two years by specialists from the famous Shakespeare's Globe Theater in London and the Volcano Theater in Wales.
The British Council affirmed its commitment to "empowering and building the capacities of young Yemenis to express themselves creatively," noting that "the Yemeni version of Hamlet embodies this commitment."
The Yemeni actor Omar Mojled plays several roles, including the role of "Guildenstern", Hamlet's friend. He says that the preparations took two years.
"The script was modified from Shakespeare into Arabic and then into the Adenic dialect," he added.
"We always hope, as artists, that cultural, theatrical and cinematic works will be available at a great level that will contribute to highlighting Yemeni culture," says Mujlad.
Nour Zakir embodies the character of Ophelia, explaining, "The play is not easy at all." Zakir admits that practicing acting is difficult in a conservative society.
She continues, "I faced many difficulties as a girl in Aden (...) my family did not object to the issue, but it was difficult because I could not reconcile my studies with acting, and society does not accept this thing."
The play is a rare opportunity for the residents to entertain themselves after the war burdened them.
Heba Al-Bakri came to see the theatrical performance, saying, "We are a people who are eager for these things and we hope to always repeat them. Our people always feel distressed and tired and they need to entertain themselves," noting, "We hope that many things will open and return to theaters again and again."
Fadi Abdel-Malik, a university student, wishes to "pay more attention to art and music, as it cultivates love and peace in Yemen."