Sasol, the international integrated energy and chemical company, announced today it will host the Arabic-language environment play ‘Shoo Fi Bil Jazeerah?’ (What is happening on the island?) for the first time in Qatar. The educational environmental children’s play will be performed free of charge during the annual Qatar Petroleum Environment fair taking place 14th – 16th April at the Doha Exhibition Centre.
The play, written and directed by award winning Nazih Youssef, is targeted at children ages 4 to 12. In the spirit of the QP Environment fair, the play carries the message of protecting the environment by familiarizing children with waste recycling and factors that contribute to environmental pollution. Through its narrative, the play shows that protecting the environment is a collective responsibility, regardless of age, gender or nationality.
Marjo Louw, President of Sasol Qatar said, “Sasol is pleased to bring this educational and entertaining play to Doha, in line with Sasol’s corporate commitment to environmental protection. We look forward to participating in the Environment fair and thank His Excellency Minister of Energy and Industry, Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada for his leadership on a topic of shared importance to Qatar and Sasol. Encouraging responsibility for the planet in children from an early age can inspire a lifetime of environmental consciousness. “
The plot of ‘Shoo fi Bil Jazeerah’ centers around an environmental problem on an island, isolated from the rest of the world. Everyone on the island has an idea to address the problem, but nothing seems to work. With the help of an expert, characters in the play solve the problem through recycling and make their home-island beautiful once again. The performance combines music, dance and dialogue to tell the story in a thoroughly entertaining way for children and adults alike.
Performances will take place daily at 09:30am, 12:00pm & 06:00pm on 14th of April, and at 12:00 pm, 04:00 pm & 06:00 pm on the 15th and 16th of April at the Entertainment zone of the fair. Admission to performances is free and seats will be available on first-come, first-served basis.
‘Shoo Fi Bil Jazeerah?’ started out in Lebanon and has been extremely well-received by audiences, going on to tour schools and theatres across the region. Nazih Youssef is an award winning Lebanese actor who has worked in cinema, comedy and drama series, historical theaters and festivals. Among his well-known and celebrated works are: Madame Bambino, Ayly Aa Fard Mayli, Fady and Karin, Asr al Hariem, Maitre Nada.
The play is the latest in a series of actions Sasol is taking in Qatar to focus attention on the local environment and nature. In March, Sasol Qatar signed a memorandum of understanding with environmental NGO Friends of the Environment Center to cooperate on the development of an e-learning smartphone application, Qatar e-Nature, which will highlight the flora, birds and insects of Qatar. The QP Environment Fair 2013 is being held under the patronage of H.E. Minister of Energy and Industry, Dr. Mohammed Bin Saleh Al-Sada at the Doha International Exhibition Centre from April 14 – 16.
First launched in 2004, the fair sees various QP directorates and departments participating in addition to industry stakeholders. The fair will be open to the general public.