Muscat: The 8th Omani Theatre Festival kicked off on Sunday evening at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre's theatre in Madinat Al Irfan. The event was inaugurated by Salim bin Mohammed al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism, and will run until October 1. Eight Omani theatre troupes are participating in the festival, competing for 11 different awards.
The festival is organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth in cooperation with the Omani Theatre Association, as part of efforts to support Omani theatre and artists. It also aims to enhance the role of local theatre groups, which have now grown to 56, by encouraging theatrical production and promoting the various elements that contribute to its development.
With the launch of the festival's eighth edition, HH Sayyid Theyazin bin Haitham al Said, Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth, emphasised the importance of theatre as an integral part of the performing arts, which has contributed to the evolution of civilisations. He described it as a form of cultural expression that reflects human creativity and knowledge transfer. He also noted that through the ministry’s cultural strategy, efforts are being made to create a conducive environment for creativity and to strengthen cultural identity, ensuring the festival's continuity in its future editions.
HH Sayyid Theyazin reaffirmed ongoing support for the development of theatre in Oman, inviting creative individuals to participate in enhancing and advancing theatre in line with global trends and the needs of the local community. The ministry looks forward to further progress and prosperity in Oman’s cultural landscape.
In his opening speech at the festival, Sayyid Said bin Sultan al Busaidy, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth for Culture and the president of the festival, emphasised the importance of theatre in liberating minds, stimulating expression, promoting values, and solidifying identity, making it a fundamental pillar in the building and development of societies.
He added: "Through its cultural strategy, the ministry has established comprehensive plans and programmes that cover all aspects of culture, with a focus on arts. The Omani Theatre Festival is at the forefront of these initiatives. Today, we celebrate the launch of its eighth edition, which reflects the ministry’s support for cultural production, including theatre. This support is evident in the new theatrical performances we see today, along with the accompanying intellectual seminars that contribute to the development of creative thinking."
Al Busaidy noted that artistic festivals play a prominent role in enhancing Oman’s cultural scene and expressed happiness with the successes achieved in this edition of the festival, which has positively impacted the skills of Omani theatre groups. He also highlighted the Royal directives to establish the Oman Cultural Complex, which will include National Theatre, as a testament to the significant attention that His Majesty bestows on this vital sector.
The competing theatre performances will begin on Monday with the Luban Theatre Group presenting 'Al Jadar,' written and directed by Ahmed al Zadjali. On Tuesday, 'Al Zumur' will be performed by the Muscat Theatre Group, written by Abdullah al Battashi and directed by Jasim al Battashi. On Wednesday, the Sultanate of Oman Theatre Group will stage 'Ashab Al Sabt', written by Osama Zayed and directed by Dr Murshid Raqi. The performances will continue until September 30, when the Tawasul Theatre Group will conclude with 'Masarat Al Hob wa Al Harb' (Paths of Love and War), written by Badr al Hamdani and directed by Sami al Bousafi.
The judging panel consists of Omani Abdulghafour al Balushi, Kuwaiti Hussein al Muslim, Iraqi Dr Abdulreza al Dulaimi, Dr Habib Ghuloom from the UAE and Dr Amina al Rabee from Oman. They will award 11 prizes.
Several individuals who have contributed to enriching the Omani theatre movement were honoured during the opening ceremony. Among them were Dr Abdulkarim Jawad, director and writer Ahmed al Azki, director Ahmed al Balushi, Dr Said al Siyabi and theatre director Khalid al Shanfari.
OTHER EVENTS
Alongside the theatrical performances, several intellectual seminars will be held, addressing topics related to the development of Omani theatre. These include a seminar titled 'Towards an Effective Omani Theatre' and panel discussions with festival guests. Workshops will also be held in areas such as the psychology of theatrical characters, directing in puppet theatre, empowering people with disabilities in theatre, and basic stage makeup, in addition to several parallel theatrical performances.
On the final day, before announcing the festival results, the winners of the playwriting competition organised by the Omani Theatre Association will be announced. Ten scripts were shortlisted to compete for the top three positions after reviewing around 60 submissions.
Photos by Hussein al Muqbali
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