The blast went off inside the theatre

Other residents have talked about their shock that such a thing could happen in a peaceful city.

Here is a selection of your comments:

We were on stage for the final scene of the play when we heard a loud noise that sounded like cars had driven into metal garbage cans. We went on with the show, there was a short silence then a huge blast ripped through the theatre. It was like a huge vacuum, the audience ran out through the auditorium and the actors left out of the wings.

There was dust everywhere and it stank of things burning. It was surreal and completely unexpected.
Dima, Doha, Qatar

I was on my way to city centre when all of a sudden I heard an earth shattering blast that could've deafened anyone! We stopped at the side of the road to see what was happening and we could see from a distance fumes flying into the air and dust covering the whole sky. The aroma of the burning building was everywhere. it's such a shock that such a thing would ever happen in Qatar - it was my first time to ever witness such a thing!
Sally, Doha

We heard the blast from our apartment last night, but did not know what the cause was until this morning when I saw it on BBC World this morning. The British Embassy has a warden system that is supposed to contact residents if there are security problems. I haven't received a call as yet. Knowing how the British Embassy reacted during the 1st Gulf War, when they closed for the Christmas Holidays, they have probably have shut down for the Easter Holidays and can offer no advice or assistance to British citizens in Qatar. At the weekend we were at the American School of Doha Friendship Festival where security was very tight. Some Brits have been disparaging in the past about the Americans going over the top with security, but prevention is surely better than cure. This is a wake-up call for expats in this previously sleepy place.
Anthony Killeen, Doha, Qatar

This is not good news in the Middle East.
Sidhiq Kunnath, Doha, Qatar

This area is not far from where I live. At the moment I'm in the UK, but my husband and stepson are in Qatar. I am very surprised that this has happened in Qatar. Doha is a safe city, Islamic extremism is not present (that I know of). Westerners are welcome and treated well. I am returning to Qatar on Monday, I shan't let these people stop me, but should the situation get much worse then it will be time to return home. The Qatari people as well the Qatari royal family have done nothing wrong, it's all down to a few people who wish death upon themselves and others and they don't care if the victims include Arabs.
MK, Fleet/Qatar

I was watching a film in my flat at the other side of town. At about nine the windows all shuddered and the extractor fan in the bathroom blew inwards very briefly. At the time I assumed it was something industrial like the oil refinery. I said to my girlfriend that I thought there had been an explosion. It's a real shame because Qatar has or at least had a very safe feel and a very exciting future. I think this may well spoil the lifestyle and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people left.
Tim , Doha, Qatar

The sound was deafening. My windows blew up and my friend is in the hospital. What evil person could do such a thing?
Khaled Abdel Mohsen, Doha, Qatar

I have to seriously reconsider signing a new contract to work out here now that the arm of terror has gripped this small, friendly and generally benign country. This is exactly what this country did not need with the billion dollar deals being signed here for gas development based on the country's previously tight but not very visual security.
Iain Macdonald, Al-Khor, Qatar

Suddenly there was an ear-splitting blast and our whole house shook as shockwaves passed through Ayesha and Mariam, Doha City

We were at the Doha English Speaking School until about 20-30 minutes before the explosion. We went to a nearby restaurant and sat there when the explosion was felt by us as much as heard. The windows shook and the blinds went up in the air. We ran out to look and saw a giant mushroom of smoke rising up in the sky and wondered if it was the American Embassy or DESS or Doha Players.
Shanthi, Doha, Qatar

At the time of the blast, we were at home. Then suddenly there was an ear-splitting blast and our whole house shook as shockwaves passed through. We were stunned, and immediately went outside to see what had happened. The sound of police cars and ambulances soon filled the air, and they went on until late at night.

At the scene, it was chaos. The police had blocked all the roads, and we saw a huge plume of white smoke rising in the air. The stench was nauseating and was carried all the way down several roads by the wind. We saw a couple of ambulances rushing to the scene and there was a large ball of fire at the Doha Theatre.

Spreading chaos and havoc in a peaceful place like Doha is worse than murder Alan, Ottawa, Canada

The police kept on yelling and pushing people and cars back. They blocked off the entire area, but people kept on cutting through the roads to try and get a better look.

I don't think anyone has ever seen anything like this in their lives, their faces held expressions of shock and awe. This has been a very shocking experience, we never could have imagined such a thing could happen in one of the safest countries.
Ayesha and Mariam, Doha City

I was a member of the Doha Players for 10 years and my sister Jennie Jones was the lady who helped instigate the building of the theatre. Our thoughts go out to the bereaved and injured in this terrible tragedy and we would like to express our condolences to those injured and bereaved.

It was a wonderful community theatre and very famous in the Gulf. Visitors to the theatre in the past included Jasper Carrott, Billy Connolly, Tommy Cooper and many others. The wonderful people who have had suffered this latest outrage have only just had a fundraising event in the desert to help towards new seating in the theatre.
Andy Vining

I've lived most of my life in Doha, Qatar and I'm currently in Canada to study and set to return to Doha. Once I heard about this explosion I called my dad to ask him about it. If it was a suicide bombing, it seriously is a shock.

I used to go to the Doha Players Theatre once a week. It was like my second home. It's visited by all nationalities, including many Arabs so if this was an anti-American motive, then I have no idea why they picked this place. Spreading chaos and havoc in a peaceful place like Doha is worse than murder. God Bless Qatar, I still stand by it as the safest country in the world.
Alan, Ottawa, Canada