Nidhal Elachkar

Nidal Al Achkar (born 1941) is a Lebanese actress and theater director, hailed as "The Grande Dame of Lebanese Theater". Personal life Nidal was born in Dik El Mehdi, Matn District in Mount Lebanon Governorate. She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. In 1967 she directed her first play in Beirut, and went on to found the Beirut Theatre Workshop in the late 1960s. Nidal Al Achkar is married to Fouad Naïm and is mother of Omar Naim and Khaled Naïm. Career After Nidal graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA), her encounter and training with John Littlewood changed her vision about theatre. She founded “The Beirut Theatre Workshop” in 1968. In 1984, Nidal Al-Achkar established the “Arab Actors” theatre company; it was the first troupe of artist found from 13 different Arab countries. She is currently the founder chairperson and artistic director of Masrah Al-Madina Cultural and Arts Center. The Center is composed of two performance areas, a training section, an exhibition hall, and a coffee shop. Both Nidal and Masrah Al-Madina aim to continue to promote culture, art, and artists, and through them to inspire change and instill new values.