Haqqi Shalabi Statue

The statue of Haqi Al Shibli, widely known as “The Father of Modern Iraqi Theatre”, now stands at the entrance of the Iraqi National Theatre a tribute to his pioneering role in building Iraq’s theatrical movement and cultural identity.

Born in Baghdad in 1913, Al Shibli began his artistic journey at an early age. At just 12 years old, he appeared in his first role in 1926 with the renowned Egyptian troupe led by George Abyad. A year later, in 1927, he founded Iraq’s first national acting troupe, “The National Dramatic Ensemble”, performing alongside notable figures such as Ahmad Haqi Al Hilli, Mohammed Al Qabbanchi, Azeez Ali, Nouri Thabet, Faiq Hassan, and Hafidh Al Droubi.

In 1931, he established a new theatre troupe under his own name, and went on to found the Theatre Department within the Institute of Fine Arts, which had originally been a music-only institution founded by maestro Muhyi Al Din Sharif. Al Shibli became head of the department, then a professor, and eventually served as dean of the institute.

In 1935, he was sent on a government scholarship to study theatre in Paris, where he immersed himself in the foundations and aesthetics of European theatrical art. This experience profoundly enriched his creative outlook and brought new dimensions to the Iraqi stage.

By the mid-1940s, he helped reshape the Institute of Fine Arts into its modern form and continued teaching and mentoring new generations of Iraqi artists until his retirement in 1976.

In addition to theatre, Al Shibli played a vital role in developing Iraqi cinema. He founded the Sumer Film Company, which produced two films, and became the first Director General of the State Directorate of Cinema and Theatre. Under his leadership, Iraq produced influential films such as Al Fann (The Art), Al Jabi (The Collector), and Shaif Khair (Hopeful Sight).

Later, Al Shibli became President of the Iraqi Artists Union, which grew significantly under his leadership to include over 3,000 members from across Iraq’s artistic disciplines.

He received numerous awards and honors, both in Iraq and abroad. In 1983, he was honored in Tunisia as a pioneer of Arab theatre, and in 1984, he was celebrated in Kuwait by a local theatre group that nominated him as a representative figure for Gulf artists. He was also the first Iraqi artist to be sent on a cultural mission to Egypt, where he spent a year studying its flourishing theatre scene and gaining deep insights into its artistic practices.

Haqi Al Shibli passed away in 1985, leaving behind a monumental legacy in theatre, cinema, and arts education a legacy that continues to inspire generations of Iraqi and Arab artists.