Bahraini storyteller Noor Hameed is reviving traditional folklore, putting a new spin on old stories, which she brings alive as Mama Amnah.

The beloved character, inspired by her grandmother, is a kindly old woman that delights children with tales from a past long forgotten.

The artist from Manama narrates in standard Arabic mixed with the Bahraini dialect, donning traditional clothing, offering listeners a complete local experience.

She has performed at many cultural events in the kingdom, including the recently held Hawa Al Manama at the Manama Suq.

Currently, the 32-year-old is attending Sharjah Heritage Days Festival in the UAE, representing the kingdom alongside raconteurs from around the world.

“The response at the Sharjah festival has been truly wonderful,” the creative talent told GulfWeekly.

“The children are deeply engaged and the adults are equally enthusiastic. They have loved the character from the very first day,” she added.

“Mama Amnah is inspired by my grandmother, Amnah, who used to tell me stories. I love her deeply and was close to her. She taught me the art of storytelling – sharing tales that carry meaningful lessons, told with warmth and humour.”

In honour of her grandmother’s literary legacy, Noor decided to take her love for stories to the next level and has been lighting up stages with her act for the last five years.

Noor channelises the ‘captivating feeling’ she experienced while listening to her grandmother’s stories through the personality.

While Noor is popular among children, she is a hit with older audiences as well, entertaining people of all ages with stories that she pens down. They are inspired by well-known Bahraini myths, and set in historic locations including Muharraq, Adhari, Manama; even ancient Dilmun.

While the artist most enjoys connecting with her listeners, she is also grateful for the opportunity to showcase Bahraini culture and heritage in such an accessible way.

“People are learning about Bahrain, sometimes for the first time, and I get to introduce them to our small island filled with diverse cultures, dialects, art, and beauty,” she said.

Complementing her knack to weave a story is Noor’s love for theatre, which began as a child. She participated in school plays and then went on to train under local and international theatre coaches, eventually staging her work in 2022.

The following year, she directed the play Asfoori, written by renowned Bahraini playwright Jamal Al Saqer, highlighting the loss of childhood and the Palestinian cause.

“What I enjoy most about theatre is the freedom to present my ideas and passions, and the issues that affect me personally and humanly through artistic expression. I am deeply passionate about movement, lighting, stage colours, and the beautiful madness of theatre. I love expressive movement and performance,” she noted.

Speaking of goals for the year, Noor said that she wants to continue telling stories and keeping her grandmother’s memory alive. She revealed that she has many shows coming up during Ramadan this month especially around gergaoun.

“We inherit these tales from our ancestors, which we pass on to our children so that they continue to live forever,” she remarked.

For more information, follow @mama.amnah on Instagram.