RIYADH: The Riyadh Theater Festival, concluding on Dec. 26, has shone a spotlight on “Saleeg and Baguette,” a play that presents a fusion of the cultures of Saudi Arabia and France, and which comments on the financial tribulations of a married couple.

Organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission and supported by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Culture, the festival is being held at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. The play was among the works selected by a committee of experts for its relevance and artistic merit.

The thought-provoking show was developed by young Saudi playwright Ghada Aboud, who received a grant from the French Ministry of Culture to take part in a Franco-Saudi artistic residency at La Chartreuse, the National Centre for Performance Writing. 

Aboud told Arab News: “I am a Saudi writer who has dedicated her life to publishing novels, films and plays that help people empathize with themselves and others and reconcile their contradictions, because in the end we are all human.”

The play focuses on the unstable marriage of Rima and Khaled, a young couple facing financial difficulties linked to the hotel Rima inherited from her mother.

Throughout the play, the couple have to overcome the tensions and pressures of their precarious economic situation. 

Their story highlights the difficulties inherent in modern relationships, where financial problems can exacerbate conflicts and test the strength of their union.

Through poignant dialogue and tense moments, the writer explores themes of love, responsibility and survival, while reflecting on the expectations and dreams of young couples that are often dashed.

Faced with their own personal problems and frustrations, the characters see the hotel as a miraculous solution to their worries. They believe that by investing in this new venture they will escape their everyday difficulties and make a fresh start. 

Speaking about her inspiration for the story, Aboud said: “In the current financial climate, pressures are weighing heavily on individuals, particularly couples. 

“This can lead to the breakdown of marriages and families. I chose to test the couple’s bond by exposing them to a financial problem. Will their marriage be strengthened or broken by financial difficulties?”

However, the hotel, instead of solving their problems, exposes new layers of complexity and conflict.

“Writing is about sharing experiences and cultural influences on creativity. My residency at La Chartreuse with Odyssee allowed me to exchange my culture with French theater artists and to experience French theater and culture,” Aboud added. 

“It’s important to me to create a narrative that promotes understanding between cultures, particularly France. Given the cultural cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France, I’m looking to show the common human elements between the different nationalities.” 

Aboud uses dark humor as a tool to explore the complexities of married life and human relationships. By tackling serious themes in a light-hearted way, she creates a space where the audience can reflect on sensitive subjects without feeling overwhelmed. 

“My aim as an author is to make the audience laugh and cry. I try to balance bittersweet and sweet themes through dark comedy. This creates empathy, self-pity, reflection and reconciliation,” she said. 

“My dream is to present my work to French audiences,” Aboud added. “I will try to find ways to present it in France and highlight the shared human experiences between Saudi Arabia and France.

“I hope to draw attention to the financial burdens and problems of marriage, as well as the fusion of Saudi and French music.”