From Kuwait to the Bard: Hamad Al Jenaie’s Modern Theater Alchemy
He is a theatre director with the rare ability to transform a traditional stage play into a true work of art. But what does it take to bridge the gap between Shakespearean language and today’s Kuwaiti audiences? Ivana Kralova meets Hamad Al Jenaie.
Ivana Kralova
Special to The Times Kuwait
Darkness. Thunder. Smoke. An actor with long, black claws glides through the audience. Cut. The scene transforms: a vibrant tree, a white swing, dancers draped in glowing cloaks representing fairies. The crowd is captivated, soaking in the magical atmosphere of a 400-year-old classic—William Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’—brought to life through the visionary direction of Hamad Al Jenaie.
The 36-year-old Kuwaiti theatre director, actor and producer greets me with a warm smile, a spark of excitement in his eyes and a cup of tea in his hand. Educated in both Kuwait and the United Kingdom, Hamad Al Jenaie is well known for his bold, unique and visionary approach to theatre.
His work has earned him numerous awards and recognitions, including the Adam Darius Award for Excellence in Performance, the Alison Shan Price MBE International Award for Drama, and the prestigious Dame Judi Dench Shakespeare Award.
Among his many achievements is the acclaimed production, Looking for Sheherazade, written by Fawaz Al Adwani, which represented Kuwait at the Edinburgh International Festival. But most importantly Al Jenaie brought the local theatre scene to the level of world-class artistry.
So what first sparked his love for theatre and the timeless classics of Shakespeare?
“In 1997, my aunt, who was an artist herself, took me as a child to Shamiya theatre to see an European touring company’s production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. I had never heard or seen anything like that. I was just a child and I didn’t understand it, but I was mesmerised by the power of the way the story was told,” he recalls.
“It struck me. There was something particular about Shakespeare. And on my birthday, I received a gift from my parents: the complete works of William Shakespeare and that book grabbed my attention completely.”
While sipping his tea, Al Jenaie explains that a key figure in his career was his mentor, Alison Shan Price MBE, who taught him the foundations of theatre and drama. “We did a couple of artistic projects, a few shows, and even went to the Edinburgh International Festival. But then came a turning point; she introduced me to a drama directors showcase.
One day, she called and asked if I would be interested in directing a piece. I said, ‘All right’ and we decided to do that. The video was sent to the Youth Shakespeare Festival, and it was very well received, and I am truly thankful for that.” He smiles while remembering the turning point in his career.
One of his most memorable achievements was becoming the first Kuwaiti to receive the Dame Judi Dench Shakespeare Award, which honored his work in theatre over the past many years, in particular for his unique production of Hamlet in 2019.
“I think at that time, I had reached a stage in my life where I truly knew that I wanted to be a director and how I wanted to see and shape the play. We were like a family working on this production. We started with a very dark tone, and we kept asking ourselves how it could connect with the audience.
That really caught people’s attention, especially because this version of Hamlet was set in a contemporary mental asylum,” he pauses, reflecting. “Kuwait loved its modern version of Shakespeare. It had a great impact and it meant a lot to me, and I am very thankful to Dame Judi Dench and also to the British Embassy for all of it.”
When I ask him how the award impacted him, he answers with modesty in his voice: “It felt like a chance for Kuwait to show that we are capable of staging classical stories and theatre, and also of engaging our actors, future producers, and directors. It was an opportunity to say: we’re here and we’re ready to present this kind of work.”
It is clear that theatre, for him, is more than just a passion. “The theatre is a world full of imaginations; and it is a temple of truth. It is a place where we as actors can truly be ourselves, where we confess through our characters, and sometimes ourselves,” he says.
What sets Al Jenaie apart is his genuine connection with the casts. He says: “We are like a family, we discuss everything together. Rehearsals often begin with open conversations and I encourage actors to set into their roles through dialogue. As a director, you have to make the actors feel as comfortable as possible. We don’t believe in the idea of ‘Oh, I’m better than someone else’. No, no. Every scene matters – even the smallest one – and we always try to make each moment memorable.”
He believes that directing is a balance of skills, intuition, and calm presence. “You have to be very capable,” he says with a smile, “but you should never show it. It should feel effortless; like a performance in itself, the performance of a great leader.”
He sees the role of the director as someone who supports and guides; someone who helps others grow by seeing the big picture and understanding what each moment needs. He also compares directing to organising an event, bringing people, ideas, and design all together into one unified experience, from casting to staging to the emotional rhythm of the scene.
He says: “I enjoy the structure behind how production comes together. I’ve studied psychology as well, to better understand characters and to help actors fully step into their roles.” But there is one essential quality Al Jeniae emphasises: “Patience. The more patient you are, the better result.”
The director, with his mysterious and charismatic allure, is undoubtedly both a strong leader and a dedicated team player. But when I ask him where his ideas for adaptations come from, Al Jenaie pauses for a moment, then smiles and says: “Honestly, many of them come from my dreams. It’s like you read a text, you sit with it, and then in deep sleep something returns. A feeling, a scene, a setting. One night, it came back to me almost like a haunting. I had to get up and write the whole concept down.”
When it comes to discussing his latest production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, his eyes widen with enthusiasm and he says: “It is kind of humanistic, beautiful story – almost like a fairy tale and the audience enjoys that kind of beauty, and also the image of hope that lives within the play. And we are also very blessed with a great audience in Kuwait. I believe we have the theatre in our blood.”
For Al Jenaie, understanding the character is the heart of every rehearsal process. As a theatre maker, he believes that every play has a core—something he can both visualise and deeply understand. He also says that studying the details before rehearsals, looking into the character’s background and psychology, can be the difference between a great performance and outstanding one.
“Every small detail matters. What is the character’s knowledge? What do they represent? What is the message they carry to the audience? That is the kind of understanding we try to reach,” says the director.
What advice would he give to young colleagues aspiring to follow a similar path? He shares words of encouragement: “Keep going, don’t give up, and always hold on to your vision. Dream big and stay focused on your goal and in’sha Allah, you will move forward and what you are working for will become yours.”
Behind every great director is a story of talent, resilience, faith and relentless pursuit of dreams, and Hamad Al Jenaie certainly embodies all of these qualities. He is a director who connects deeply with emotions, challenges his audience, and uses his psychology to bring characters to life in a way that feels honest and human.
He is an artist who asks questions, draws inspiration from his dreams, and gives audiences more than just a play—he offers an experience. An experience that awakes all five senses, stirs emotions, and lingers in the mind after the final scene. He brings Shakespearean classics into today’s world with a sensitivity and relevance, offering not just entertainment but insight, and an unforgettable artistic journey.
Ivana Kralova is a Czech-born, Kuwait-based features writer and London School of Journalism postgraduate. She covers human-interest, arts and lifestyle across Kuwait, with a focus on profiles and behind-the-scenes reporting. Her work highlights the country’s creative community and everyday stories.
Photographs by Nour Al Kafrway.
