Commenting on Burgan’s latest theater mega-production, Ms. Hessa Hussain Al-Najadah, Senior Manager - Corporate and CSR Communications at Burgan Bank, said: “Kuwait National Day is a celebration and a reminder of who we are collectively as a nation and the values that we, Kuwaitis, stand for. This year, we are excited to be reviving a work of art that has inspired many generations and taught them valuable lessons to live by, in collaboration with Trend Production. In fact, Al-Sindbad Al-Bahri today resembles far more than merely a children’s play; it stands as a symbol of national pride and genuine connection to the homeland no matter how far away we are from home.”

Al-Najadah added “that through this theatre mega-production, Burgan Bank seeks to support and encourage aspiring Kuwaiti talents and shed light on their phenomenal capacity to present any piece of art in an innovative and transformative manner, which resonates with the Bank’s overarching social responsibility program”.

On his part, the show’s director Bader Al Shuaibi said: “We are delighted to be collaborating with Burgan Bank once again following the great success that we achieved with the “Abra Cadabra” show and the inspiring level of crowd engagement that it sparked. The show was adorned throughout with musical and performative acts as well as embedded valuable awareness messages that targeted children and teenagers simply and excitingly. This time, we are back with a bigger production of the “Al-Sindbad Al-Bahari” play, which is guaranteed to strike a nostalgic chord among the older generations of the audience, inviting them to relive the “good old days”, while presenting the Kuwaiti society with a revamped version of this iconic piece of Kuwaiti cultural heritage.”

Best known for its song, “Beladona Helwa” (Our Country is Beautiful), Al-Sindbad Al-Bahri marks the first children’s play to be produced in Kuwait and the GCC, leading the way for numerous theatrical masterpieces that aim to inspire children and guide them toward values and virtue. With the modern remake of this iconic classic, Burgan Bank aims to engage the younger generations with the play as well as allow the older generations to relive one of their most nostalgic memories and hallmarks of the Kuwaiti childhood. Adding to the nostalgic experience, Burgan Bank announced that even the tickets’ prices are reminiscent of the olden days, with different categories that include KD 5, KD 7, KD 10, and KD 20.

In modernizing this classic children’s play, Burgan Bank resorted to the talented director Bader Al Shuaibi in addition to a suite of young and beloved Kuwaiti talents, including Yagoub Abdullah, Talal Sam, Shaikha Al Aslawi, Talal Bassem, Mansour Al Bloushi and Al Ghaliyah. The modern reenactment of “Al-Sindbad Al-Bahri” is set to retain the core features of Sindbad’s adventures across foreign lands and seas, however, adapting the story’s details to resonate with today’s children and teenagers while still being enjoyable to the older generations.

Also considered central to the play is its music, including its most popular song “Beladona Helwa”, which has taken on new life as an anthem on social media and which director Al Shuaibi will be recording and releasing in his own voice. The play will also feature several other musical acts, some of which are adapted from the original play while others are written exclusively for this new edition, such as “Shte’ref ‘An Al-Na’am” (What Do You About Ostriches) and “Bye Bye Ma’ As-Salama” (Goodbye Farewell).

In addition to the engaging 70-minute show, the audience can also enjoy a range of fun activities and on-ground activations, such as face painting, a photo booth, and several giveaways that serve as a unique souvenir and a lifetime reminder of the show.