Riyadh | August 18, 2025

The Ministry of Culture continues staging its innovative theatrical production "Tarhal" at Diriyah Squares Hall, where audiences experience an immersive journey that goes beyond traditional theatrical scenes, taking them on a visual and emotional voyage through seventeen sequential tableaux depicting the features of Saudi identity in a contemporary spirit, running through August 25.

The show stands out for its ability to reshape place and memory through visual gateways that merge light with movement and sound, in an aesthetic composition that makes the tableaux feel like a poem read through the senses before words. From the opening moments, the audience feels transported into a new world where lighting effects and moving elements intertwine, rivaling the grandeur of the world’s great immersive theatrical productions.

"Tarhal" tells the symbolic journey of its protagonist, Saad, across the Kingdom’s different regions, moving between coastal shores, towering mountains, fertile valleys, golden deserts and palm oases, passing through cities, villages, traditional markets and authentic Saudi majlis gatherings, with each tableau weaving a distinctive scene reflecting the beauty of the Kingdom’s cultural and artistic diversity.

Among the tableaux that captivated the audience:

  • The Handicrafts tableau, presenting traditional Saudi trades through lively moving compositions blending heritage tools with light projections simulating the crafting process.
  • The Marine Environment tableau, in which the stage transforms into a sea teeming with life, accompanied by the sounds of pearl divers’ chants and waves, in an immersive scene of high technical precision.
  • The Majlis tableau, showcasing Saudi social traditions through a calm visual language and warm colors reflecting the depth of local values.

"Tarhal"’s distinction lies in its smart use of technology as an expressive tool rather than a mere decorative element, with direction and production overseen by a specialized team combining local and international expertise, creating harmony between sound, image and movement that gives the show a unique artistic dimension, presenting Saudi identity with an innovative spirit that blends authenticity and modernity.