After several years of procrastination, the Mohammedia theatre, victim of partisan conflicts and a policy of laxity, has finally emerged from the impasse. During its last session, the Mohammedia municipal council voted unanimously for the attribution of the name of the late Abderrahim Bouabid to this cultural infrastructure which cost 70 million dirhams. A common ground was found recently between the Ministry of Culture, the municipal council, and the governor of Mohammedia. In this context, a partnership agreement was signed between the commune and the Ministry of Culture. The latter will be in charge of the cultural and administrative management of the theatre. It will thus take care of the programming and will ensure the smooth running of the theatre's activities. These missions will be entrusted to Hamid Basket, appointed by the Ministry of Culture as director of the "Abderrahim Bouabid" theatre. "Hamid Basket, actor, director, and graduate of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art and Cultural Animation, will know how to attract young people to the theatre. His mission also consists of providing this establishment with a rich and varied programme in order to propel Mohammedia to the level of the great cultural and artistic metropolises," underlines an official at the theatre's management. And to add that many actions are planned within this cultural infrastructure, including an annual programme of activities, as well as greater cooperation and exchanges with other theatres in the Kingdom. According to a well-informed source, the detailed programme of the theatre's activities will not be set before February 2013, to coincide with the implementation of the commune's management budget. The inauguration of the theatre is scheduled for March 2013. In the meantime, the commune of Mohammedia has launched the renovation work on the theatre's facades. The Ministry of Culture has also committed to equipping the theatre with modern sound and lighting techniques with a budget exceeding 1 million dirhams. Three technicians specialised in lighting, sound, and scenography will also be recruited for this cultural space.

The project for the Mohammedia cultural complex was initiated thanks to an approach led by architects Berrada Najib and Mohamed Bouchebti in 1985, who had succeeded in convincing the municipal council of the time to plead in favour of a global socio-cultural project in place of a shanty town, the purpose of which would be the restructuring and opening up of the entire El Alia district. The socio-cultural complex includes the Sidi Mohammed Belarbi Alaoui house of culture inaugurated in 1990 and the theatre. The latter has never been officially inaugurated because of political-electoral stakes. And for good reason, a controversy around its name: "Abderrahim Bouabid". This name was adopted by the communal council at the time when it was presided over by the USFP member Mohamed Acherki. After his mandate, elected officials from other parties wanted to remove or swap the name of "Abderrahim Bouabid". This theatre was opened for certain special circumstances such as the "Casandalouse" Andalusian music festival at the request of the former Wali of Greater Casablanca, Mohamed Kabbaj. Nevertheless, the elected officials have always refused to find common ground on this subject.