Abu_Khalil_Qabbani
Abu Khalil Qabbani
Syrian playwright, writer and composer
Abu Khalil Qabbani (Arabic: أبو خليل القباني / ALA-LC: Abū Khalīl al-Qabbānī; 1835–1902) was a Syrian playwright and composer of Turkish origin.[1] Active as a pioneer of Arab theatre at the time of the Arab nahda movement in Damascus and Cairo, Qabbani has been called the "Father of Syrian theatre", and has influenced later generations of playwrights and actors.[2] Further, he introduced short musical plays (similar to an operetta)[3] in Arabic theatre and worked to establish a theatre district in Damascus.[4]