Riad Ismat
Encyclopedia
Mohammad Riyad Hussein 'Riad' Ismat (born 11 July 1947) is the Syrian Minister of Culture
, serving since 2010. He is also a writer, critic and director.
. In October 2010, Ismat was appointed Syrian Minister of Culture
.
and Frank Wedekind
, as well as producing his own personal vision of The Arabian Nights. He founded the first mime troupe in Damascus and taught mime and acting at the Syrian Academy of Dramatic Arts. His breakthrough as a playwright came with The Game of Love & Revolution; among his best known dramatic works are: Was Dinner Good my Sister, Mourning Becomes Antigone, Sinbad, Shahryar's Nights, Abla & Antar, Mata Hari and In Search of Zenobia. Ismat also directed a television trilogy for Syrian TV.
and a book on cinema. As a television script writer, he has written the scripts for 7 TV serials.
Ministry of Culture (Syria)
The Ministry of Culture is a government ministry office of the Syrian Arab Republic, responsible for cultural affairs in Syria.-Ministers of Culture:*Dr. Najah al-Attar *Maha Qanout...
, serving since 2010. He is also a writer, critic and director.
Early life, education and career
In 2003, Ismat became Director General of Syrian State Radio & Television; then, held the post of Syrian Vice-Minister of Culture. In 2005 he was appointed Ambassador to Pakistan and, in 2010, Syrian Ambassador to QatarQatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. In October 2010, Ismat was appointed Syrian Minister of Culture
Ministry of Culture (Syria)
The Ministry of Culture is a government ministry office of the Syrian Arab Republic, responsible for cultural affairs in Syria.-Ministers of Culture:*Dr. Najah al-Attar *Maha Qanout...
.
Theatre
Ismat has directed more than 15 theatrical productions, including interpretations of Shakespeare, Tennessee WilliamsTennessee Williams
Thomas Lanier "Tennessee" Williams III was an American writer who worked principally as a playwright in the American theater. He also wrote short stories, novels, poetry, essays, screenplays and a volume of memoirs...
and Frank Wedekind
Frank Wedekind
Benjamin Franklin Wedekind , usually known as Frank Wedekind, was a German playwright...
, as well as producing his own personal vision of The Arabian Nights. He founded the first mime troupe in Damascus and taught mime and acting at the Syrian Academy of Dramatic Arts. His breakthrough as a playwright came with The Game of Love & Revolution; among his best known dramatic works are: Was Dinner Good my Sister, Mourning Becomes Antigone, Sinbad, Shahryar's Nights, Abla & Antar, Mata Hari and In Search of Zenobia. Ismat also directed a television trilogy for Syrian TV.
Publications
Ismat has published 33 books, including short stories and several books on Arab and World drama. He has also written a book on the Nobel Prize laureate Naguib MahfouzNaguib Mahfouz
Naguib Mahfouz was an Egyptian writer who won the 1988 Nobel Prize for Literature. He is regarded as one of the first contemporary writers of Arabic literature, along with Tawfiq el-Hakim, to explore themes of existentialism. He published over 50 novels, over 350 short stories, dozens of movie...
and a book on cinema. As a television script writer, he has written the scripts for 7 TV serials.
External links
- Ministry of Culture official government website