Why did the Arabs not know the theatre in the western sense until the mid-nineteenth century?

الملخص EN

This study aims to examining and investigating the lake of knowledge of western- ׳ reasons behind Arabs sense theatre and the reasons behind the absence of this art in their culture.

The Arabs had no idea about this art until mid-nineteenth century when the Arab Lebanese merchant, Maroun Alnakash, got squinted with it.

The study presents, analyzes and comments on the main theories and points of view that explain this absence and its causes.

The study questions the validity of this term and argues that aspects of theatre and drama were latent in the period and the early years of Islam.

The study attempts to establish a link lack of knowledge ׳ between reasons behind the Arabs of theatre and the religious aspect of this.

The study discusses and examines theories as well as points of view expressed by Arab and foreign scholars interested in the phenomenon of absence of theatre in Arab culture.

This concept shall be analyzed and commentedon.

It will be followed by the discussion of scientific research methodology adopted in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the study.

This has been done by s ׳ relying on the questions aiming at verifying the study hypotheses