Riyadh Theater Festival Concludes Its Cultural Activities
Licensing of Saudi Theater Groups
The Riyadh Theater Festival concluded its cultural activities last night in its first edition, according to Saudi Press Agency.
The festival, organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Authority, took place over 12 days at the Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University Conference Center in Riyadh.
Licensing of Saudi Theater Groups
Sultan Al Bazai, the CEO of the Theater and Performing Arts Authority, announced a directive from the Minister of Culture to issue a license for Saudi theater groups for the first time.
This license will be available on the “Abdaa” platform starting from this Monday.
He emphasized the importance of obtaining it, as after one year, renewal will require the group to be an institution with a clear regulatory entity.
New Era for Saudi Theater
Al Bazai stated, “Saudi theater is witnessing a new launch, not primarily sourced from the Theater and Performing Arts Authority, but from the theater groups that will emerge from this festival onwards.” He praised the dense audience attendance at various festival events.
Appreciation from Festival President
Actor Abdul Ilah Al-Sinan, President of the Riyadh Theater Festival, expressed gratitude for the Authority’s and workers’ efforts in making the festival successful. Subsequently, he highlighted Riyadh’s transformation into a cultural center.
Importantly, this renaissance is marked by a significant Saudi-Arab theatrical presence. It focuses on nurturing young Saudi talent and includes Arab and international theater artists.
Encouragement for Participants
Al-Sinan spoke to the participants of the qualifying plays: “Your journey is both creative and inspiring. Furthermore, the new talents we witnessed on stage for the first time demonstrate the festival’s true value.
Consequently, your experiences indicate a promising future for Saudi theater. This future is rich with varied experiences, artistic directions, and styles, all united by a shared passion for theater.”
Awards, Honors
The closing ceremony witnessed the announcement and honoring of winners in 11 categories of the festival awards. Shahab Al-Shahab won Best Actor for the play “Bahar,” while Adwa Fahd won Best Actress for the play “Al-Hijr.”
The play “Bahar” won three awards including Best Overall Theatrical Show, Best Music, and Best Theatrical Direction. The play “Safaa” won Best Script and Best Theatrical Set Design.
“The Last Shadow” play won the Jury’s Special Awards and Best Scenography, “Light” won Best Theatrical Lighting, and “Tali’a Hijr” won Best Theatrical Costumes.
Festival’s Goal, Tunisian Participation
The Riyadh Theater Festival was launched with the aim of revitalizing and activating the Saudi theatrical movement through a series of Saudi theatrical performances to support local theater production.
This year’s edition hosted Tunisia as a guest of honor, bringing with it the fragrance of Tunisian-Arab culture and its authentic creative theatrical art.
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