The 18th Egyptian National Theatre Festival opened with a grand ceremony held at the Grand Theatre of the Egyptian Opera House, attended by a number of artists, intellectuals, and public figures. This festival is one of the most prominent annual cultural events celebrating the theatre movement in Egypt since its first edition in 2006.
The opening ceremony honored a group of Egyptian theatre icons in recognition of their long artistic careers. In his speech during the ceremony, Egyptian Minister of Culture Ahmed Fouad Hanno emphasized the importance of the festival and its role in supporting the Egyptian theatre movement, saying, “On this exceptional evening, we stand in appreciation and reverence for all those who have dedicated their lives to theatrical art. Our honoring of them today is a recognition of their contributions and a tribute to an unforgettable career.”
This year’s theme is “The Festival in All of Egypt,” as part of the Ministry of Culture’s efforts to achieve “cultural justice” and provide artistic and cultural activities to all Egyptian governorates. Over the past few weeks, the festival has toured four governorates representing various regions of Egypt, presenting a number of theatrical performances and cultural activities, in addition to honoring local theatrical icons from these governorates, ahead of the official launch of the new edition in Cairo.
The festival, which runs until August 6, presents a comprehensive panorama of Egyptian theatrical productions this year, showcasing 35 theatrical works by various troupes representing state, independent, university, and amateur theaters. All theatrical performances are presented free of charge to the public, as part of the festival’s mission to promote theatrical awareness and disseminate artistic culture among various segments of society.
The festival program also includes a playwriting competition and another for critical essays and theoretical research, encouraging creative energies in theatrical writing and theatrical theorizing. Additionally, a series of seminars and discussion panels will be held within the framework of the festival’s intellectual theme, which this year is held under the title “Transformations of Aesthetic Awareness in Egyptian Theater.” A number of academics, critics, and artists will participate to discuss the developments in theatrical art, its challenges, and future prospects. The National Festival of Egyptian Theatre is organized under the supervision of the Ministry of Culture, headed by artist Mohamed Riad. It aims to consolidate the value of theatre in Egyptian society as a means of enlightenment and artistic and cultural expression, in addition to its role in discovering new talents and providing them with the opportunity to advance towards professionalism and stardom.
