The esteemed Egyptian artist Safaa Abu Al-Saud returns to grace the microphone of Egyptian radio during the upcoming Ramadan season, where she embarks on a distinctive artistic experience through her participation in two radio works that carry a social and humanitarian character, to bring back memories of the good old days and consolidate the values ​​of the authentic Egyptian family.

"Two Rooms and a Living Room"... A social drama featuring young faces

In her debut project, Safaa Abu El-Saoud stars in the radio drama "Two Rooms and a Hall," a rich dramatic offering that explores societal issues from within the heart of the Egyptian home. She is joined by a stellar cast including Ahmed Siam, Nashwa Mustafa, Adel Shaaban, Nagah Hassan, and Ali Murad.

What distinguishes this work is its support for emerging talent, featuring a group of outstanding young graduates from the "Creativity" festival, reflecting the continuity of artistic generations. The series is written by Amani Dargham and directed by Tamer Shehata, and is expected to garner a wide audience due to its storyline that resonates with the realities of middle-class families.

"The Joy of Ramadan"... A return to the spirit of the holy month

The second project, titled "The Joy of Ramadan," is a radio drama series broadcast on the "General Program" and several local stations. Alongside the "Icon of Joy," it stars Mai Abdel Nabi, Adel Shaaban, Mustafa Darwish, and Abeer Makawy. The series is written by Ahmed El-Kasaby and co-directed by Tamer Shehata and Abdo Bakry.

The series offers a dose of light social atmosphere that reflects the spirit of harmony and joy within Egyptian homes, highlighting the Ramadan customs and traditions that bring the family together, a style that has always characterized Safaa Abu Al-Saud’s works.

An icon of joy and emotional connection with the audience

Safaa Abu El-Saoud's return to radio is particularly significant given her prominent place in the hearts of Egyptian and Arab audiences. She is not merely an artist, but an "icon of joy" associated with holidays and happy occasions, especially through her timeless song "Ahlan Bil Eid" (Welcome to Eid) and her theatrical performances that shaped the consciousness of entire generations. Her return via radio represents a revival of a bygone era of refined art and reaffirms that a distinctive voice remains capable of captivating and influencing, regardless of the evolution of performance methods.

The magic of radio during Ramadan... a tradition that will never fade

These two works reaffirm the continued vitality of radio drama in Egypt. Despite the dominance of television series and digital platforms, radio retains its unique charm, especially during Ramadan. Millions listen to dramatic stories over the airwaves, whether while driving before Iftar or at home. The participation of a star of Safaa Abu El-Saoud's caliber makes this year's Egyptian radio programming a significant addition and reinforces the status of "the theater of the mind," which relies on imagination and voice.

Saudi drama faces fundamental challenges that trap it in a cycle of repetition, rendering it seemingly incapable of keeping pace with the comprehensive renaissance and radical transformations that Saudi Arabia has witnessed over the past decade. Despite the rising aspirations of Saudi viewers and the evolution of their artistic taste, local drama production remains stagnant, unable to offer content that reflects the magnitude of the social and cultural changes.

A history of comedy and the enduring influence of "Tash"

Looking back at the historical context, the popular series "Tash Ma Tash" marked a turning point in the history of Saudi television, offering social commentary in a satirical and comedic format that suited a specific era. However, Saudi drama remains captive to this model, with most current productions adopting the style of "Tash" and its ilk, relying on episodic but interconnected episodes and improvised comedy. Despite the passage of many years, the industry has been unable to break free from this mold, resulting in a lack of innovation and renewal, with only superficial changes to sets and names while the core content remains repetitive and overused.

The crisis of texts and the escape from tragedy

Observers of the local drama scene have noticed an excessive tendency towards light comedy, neglecting the tragic aspect that demands a well-crafted plot and profound dramatic connections. This trend stems from purely production-related reasons, primarily the desire to reduce costs and intellectual effort. Tragic works require highly skilled actors and tightly woven scripts, a task that challenges production teams, who then opt for easier solutions by assembling a large cast at lower wages in readily available comedic formats.

Institutional support versus production stagnation

These problems arise at a time when the Kingdom is witnessing an unprecedented artistic revolution, supported by the existence of a Ministry of Culture and specialized bodies concerned with regulating and supporting the arts sector. However, this institutional support has not been sufficiently reflected in the quality of television series, which still suffer from a "time constraints" crisis. The responsibility here is shared between producers, writers, and television channels; series are often approved only about 60 days before Ramadan, placing creators in a real predicament to search for scripts, filming locations, and actors in record time, thus stifling opportunities for creativity and excellence.

Proposed solutions for advancing the industry

To achieve a qualitative leap that allows it to compete regionally and within the Arab world, Saudi drama doesn't need an increase in the number of productions, but rather a change in its production methodology. This requires early preparation for the drama seasons and allocating sufficient time for scriptwriting and pre-production. Furthermore, investing in Saudi Arabia's literary heritage is a crucial step, by adapting successful local novels and stories into television series with dramatic weight. This will move the industry beyond the confines of vulgar comedy and slapstick, and offer viewers content befitting the Kingdom's cultural and artistic standing.