Biographies: Saadoun Al Obeidi - Actor

Biographies

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An Iraqi theatrical director, was born in 1933 in Al Amara, Iraq. He studied at the Institute of Fine Arts in Baghdad, then completed his academic studies at the Gild Hall Institute in London in 1962. He is one of the most prominent Iraqi theater directors. He contributed to the formation of the (Al Resala Theater) troupe in 1972, and became its president from that year until the end of the nineties. He worked as head of the theatrical section at the Artists Syndicate. He taught acting and directing at the Institute of Fine Arts. One of the founders of the Higher Institute of Acting in the State of Kuwait, along with the leading Egyptian director and actor Zaki Tulaimat. He worked as the artistic director of the Kuwaiti theater troupe and directed a number of plays for it. He was accredited to the National Acting Troupe as a theatrical director in its programmes. Among his plays are Razak Effendi, Ibn Majid and The Chrysanthemum Flower. He was assigned to work in the Basra acting troupe, and he directed several plays, including The Witness and the Martyr and the Experience, Hob Ala Al Tharthar. He founded the first nucleus of children's theater in Iraq with the artist Qasim Muhammad and the late children's author Ezzi Al Wahhab, and he was one of the pioneers of theatrical composition for children's theater. He wrote a number of radio and television plays and acted on radio, television and cinema. Among his acting works Al Mukhalah, Al Jarh, Tales of the Three Cities, We Always Love, and among his films Autumn Leaves, Under One Sky, On a Traveling Night, and King Ghazi. He wrote many plays about the Palestinian cause, the Algerian revolution, and others. His last assignment was as Director General of the Cinema and Theater Department. He died on January 4, 2022.

• 9 March 2023
• Dalia Saad