Supervisor Elham AbolFateh
Editor in Chief Mohamed Wadie

Under El-Sisi's Auspices, Culture Min. Inaugurates 11th Edition of Arabic Theater Festival


Sun 13 Jan 2019 | 04:54 PM
Ali Abu Dashish

By: Ali Abu-Dashish

CAIRO, Jan. 13 (SEE)-Abdel Dayem: the festival organizers announce Egypt's celebration of Arabic art.

The pioneers of theater attended the ceremonies of The Arabic Theater Festival.

Under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah Sisi , President of Egypt , Dr. Enas Abdel Dayem, Minister of Culture, and Ismail Abdullah, Secretary General of the Arabic theater Authority, inaugurated The 11 Edition of The Arabic Theater Festival, which continues from 10 until 16 January , with the participation of seven Arab countries: Egypt, UAE, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Iraq and Kuwait.

The ceremonies were attended by members of the Supreme Committee of the festival :- artist Khalid Jalal , General Coordinator, Dr. Sameh Mahran member of the Arabic Theater Authority, Dr. Magdy Saber Head of The Opera House, the artist Ismail Mukhtar, head of Artistic House of Theater, director Dr. Essam El Sayed, Dr. Youssef Eidaby, the Consultant of the Arabic Theater Authority and a group of Egyptian and Arab critics, artists and media figures .

At the beginning of the ceremonies, Abdel Dayem welcomed the guests in their second home Egypt, assuring them that the return of the Arabic Theater Festival to Cairo , under the auspices of President Abdel Fattah Sisi President, confirms the appreciation the political leadership for culture and arts as a soft tools to raise awareness and to build inpidual's personality in order to preserve our Arabic identity. Moreover, she added that this edition include the celebration of Egypt's Arabic arts in various fields because it was and will remain a strong tool of encouraging creativity and enlightenment.

She pointed out that the Ministry of Culture and its sectors ,in cooperation with The Arabic Theater Authority and with the support of Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, member of The Supreme Council of the United Arab Emirates Union and the Ruler of Sharjah are seeking to achieve a new developed stage for this festival which will include performances that reflect the Arab world theatrical movement.

Abdel Dayem also hoped that the creative young people will stimulate creativity and to pump new blood and a new artistic vision to the process of the enlightenment of the Arabic artistic movement and the artistic cultural scene , stressing that we need to put our values and art in the top of our priorities to face the surrounding Arabic challenges and she hoped that this Edition reflects the aspirations of the Arabic nation , concluding her speech by acclaiming " Long live Egypt and long live the Arab nation"

On his part, the Secretary General of The Arab Theater Authority said that the festival activities are considered as messages of hope from Egypt to all the world, especially after holding its first Edition in Cairo, noting that this event opens the windows of heart and mind, during seven days, praising the pioneers of theater for their efforts, who produced many wonderful theatrical works. He elaborated that theater is a platform for life ,saying " long live for you and for theater ".

To celebrate the Day of the Arabic Theater, which coincides with the opening of the festival, the great Algerian artist Sayed Ahmed Aqomy delivered a speech, saying that he succeeded in realizing his dream to work as a theatric actor where truth mingled with imagination to change reality is found. He stressed that acting enabled him to be an ambassador of human dream. Moreover, he was honored by the Secretary General of the Arab Theater Authority , plus , the Minister of Culture gave him the festival's shield as an appreciation for his efforts.

On her part, the minister gave the Festival Memorial Shields to a group of theatrical pioneer who influenced the Arabic theater including :- Ashraf Abdul Ghafoor, Amal Bakir, Jalal Sharkawy, Rashwan Tawfik, Samiha Ayoub, Samir Ahmed, Samir El-Asfoury, Samir Ghanem, Samira Abdul Aziz, Sana intercessor , SZ Morshedi, Abdul Rahman Abu Zahra, Ezzat Alayli, Fahmy Khouly, Kamal Eid, Lenin Ramly, received by the writer Fatima Almtl, Mahmoud Alhadiny, Mahmoud Yassin , received by his wife, , Nabil Halafawi, Nabil Mounir, Naima Ajami, Huda Wasfi , Yahya al-Fakharani .

The opening ceremony, which was directed by the artist Khaled Jalal, began with presenting a documentary film displaying a important scenes for the great stars of drama, followed by presenting a Operetta" our Biggest Nation" led by Maestro Alaa Abdulsalam , performed by the opera stars: Amira Ahmed, Ghada Adam, Noha Hafez, Ayat Farouk, Nihad Fathi and Ahmed Effat.