Friday 10 / January / 2025
Muscat: HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham Al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth presided at Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre today over the opening ceremony of the 15th edition of the Arab Theatre Festival.
The festival, which runs until 15 January 2025, is hosted by the Sultanate of Oman, represented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth, in partnership with the Arab Theatre Authority and Oman Theatre Society.
Sayyid Said Sultan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture, Chairman of the Main Committee of the 15th Arab Theatre Festival, said, that the Arab Theatre Authority has enriched the intellectual repertoire of the Arab cultural community through various events held in Arab countries by rotation for more than 15 years.
The events seek to support theatre activities and theatre people in member states, he explained, noting that theatre occupies centre stage in the innovative system of culture and that it constitutes one of greatest means of human expression.
During the opening ceremony, the Palestinian artist and theatre director Fat’hi Abdul-Rahman delivered the message of the “Arab Theatre Day”, which falls on 10 January every year.
The ceremony included a musical show by the Royal Oman Police (ROP) Women's Band, as well as the "Festival Film" screening that introduced the troupes and theatrical performances of the Arab Theatre Festival’s 15th edition.
During the ceremony, a number of establishments were felicitated for their outstanding role in establishing and developing theatre in the Sultanate of Oman. Those were: Al Saidi Schools, club theatres, the Youth Theatre, Al Sahwa National Theatre Troupe and Oman Theatre Society. Palestinian artist and theatre director Fat'hi Abdul-Rahman was also honoured during the ceremony.
The festival features 15 sensational theatrical performances from Oman and abroad. The performances will be staged in three theatres, those of Al Bustan Palace, Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (Al Irfan) and the College of Banking Studies.
The festival constitutes a forum that brings together an elite group of outstanding Arab artists, theatre specialists, writers and directors, who will consider ways of enhancing the role of theatre in supporting culture and innovation in the Arab world.
As many as 500 Arab artists take part in staging the 15 theatrical performances and accompanying activities.
The festival includes an exhibition of Omani handicrafts, an art exhibition and 28 press conferences, in addition to a scholarly workshop that will elaborate on various aspects of theatre, artificial intelligence (AI) and innovation.
