Life of UAE theatre artist Abdullah Al Ostath captured in new book

Novelist Mariam Mohi Aldeen Malla documents his theatrical accomplishments as well as his personal life.

The life of veteran Emirati-Kuwaiti theatre artist Abdullah Al Ostath has been captured in a new book by UAE-based writer Mariam Mohi Aldeen Malla. Hatheh Hayati, which translates to 'This is my life', is the second book Mariam has written about the UAE, the first being Age of Endurance, a historical novel on Abu Dhabi.
Hailing from Damascus, Syria, Mariam has resided in the UAE for nearly 38 years. She opened up on her literary journey, saying, "I am a novelist and journalist, with a focus on the history and heritage of Gulf countries. I'm also a poet and a bedouin and modern television drama writer. My first published work in 2001 under the title Motherhood and Alienation spoke of my experiences of being a mother in a land away from home. In 2002, White Night was published, followed by Fig Tree in 2003, and The Time of Patience in 2005 which was translated into English in 2013.
"My first published poems were in a collection titled Shrapnel Window in 2010. 2011's Fire Gardens was about events taking place at the time of the political union between Egypt and Syria. In 2017, I wrote Ousha and Grandpa Matar which is a children's story about falconry. In 2018, Letters To A Palestinian Sailor was published, in 2019, The Sad Snow - a biography of my late father, and now, Hatheh Hayati."
We caught up with Mariam to find out more about her latest book.
What inspired you to write Hatheh Hayati?
It was actually a request made by theatre artist Abdullah Al Ostath. He got me stories from old newspapers that celebrated his artistic accomplishments, so that I could document them; I suggested that it was better to include his life in its entirety including his theatrical and radio work along with his personal life (in the book). And so, the journey began of documenting his life from the age of three to the present.
How long did it take you to write this book and did you have to do a lot of research?
It took two years, I did my research on locations where he was brought up. However, majority of the input came from my intermittent sessions with the artist where I would ask about his life and he would tell me about himself, his childhood, his family and relatives. He would also tell me about all his works, and show me the archive of articles and old photos. Even with all that information, I still had to use a lot of my imagination to bring it all together.
Looking back on your research, what are your thoughts on the growth of theatre in the UAE?
Abdullah happens to be the founder of Layla Theatre, the first theatre for children in the UAE. He also founded the Children's Forest in the eighties and made great efforts for its establishment and continuation until now. Children's theatre continues to receive great attention in the UAE, as does theatre for adults and is celebrated in festivals and events with local content.
How important is Abdullah Al Ostath's contribution to theatre in the UAE?
A lot of credit goes to him as he held the position of head of state theatres in the National Media Council in 1984. He also established Ras Al Khaimah National Theatre two years later. He returned to Kuwait and completed his studies there at the Higher Institute for Theatrical Arts as an actor and director and gave many performances. Additionally, he participated in dubbing voices for children's cartoons. He then returned to settle in his homeland and is one of the first academic graduates in the UAE; he has provided the country with many years of art and creativity.
Where can one purchase your book and is it available in languages other than Arabic as well?
The book is available in all major libraries. It is now being translated into English. This will be the fourth book I present to the Zayed Higher Organization, the Printing House for the Blind, for translation into Braille.