Extra workers have been drafted in to ensure Bahrain’s first national theatre, a BD19 million ($50.53 million) waterfront facility near the Diplomatic Area, opens on schedule.

Construction of the theatre has been going on for 12 months and is scheduled to be completed by mid-November.

Spanning 11,669m, it will be able to accommodate more than 1,000 people and hopes to attract some of the world's top performers to the kingdom.

It will be equipped to stage opera, drama, modern and classical dances and symphonic concerts, and features a flexible theatre.

The progress of the project was discussed during a meeting of top officials from the Culture and Works ministries.

Works Minister Essam Khalaf said work was going on round-the-clock and extra manpower had been brought in to ensure it finishes on schedule.

He revealed nearly 700 people were now working on the project, including around 625 people during the day and another 70 at night.

Khalaf stressed the need to change the rate of work on the project to turn the site into a non-stop working area and called for project engineers of the Turkish Construction Company to comply with the completion date.

Culture Minister Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa also urged officials to comply with the deadline fixed for the opening of the theatre, which will coincide with events taking place as part of celebrations marking Manama as the Capital of Arab Culture.

"Work has started on erecting the cladding walls of the auditorium that will house 1,001 seats for the audience," said a Culture Ministry official.

"Steel works for the main entrance were fixed to reflect the scene of the water lagoon parallel to the theatre's entrance.”

"The discussions dealt with the air-conditioning system, glass shipments, leather materials for the theatre ceiling and increase of the workforce at the project site,” the official said.

"Talks during the meeting also dealt with overcoming all the obstacles in carrying out the project which the kingdom hopes will become a significant cultural landmark." – TradeArabia News Service