Baghdad: The Alaa Al-Jaber Award for Theatrical Creativity has officially closed the submissions for its children’s plays category, known as the Iqbal Naeem cycle. This announcement comes with the news of an increase in prize money for this category, aligning with other categories of the award, as confirmed by Safaa Al-Bili, the award coordinator, critic, and playwright.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the award administration had previously announced submission requirements for other categories, including the critical essay category and plays for adults, before closing submissions for children’s plays. This year saw a notable rise in the number of submissions received from across the Arab world for the children’s plays category.

The Alaa El-Gaber Award for Theatrical Creativity operates under the Zada Foundation for Development and Women, chaired by Dr. Rania Yahya, the former Dean of the Higher Institute of Art Criticism. Established in 2017 with the support of writer and theater critic Alaa El-Gaber, the foundation aims to enrich the Arab theatrical scene by encouraging Arab writers to contribute with critical writing and texts that resonate with young people’s visions. The award’s inaugural edition was dedicated to the late Egyptian writer and critic Dr. Mohsen Moselhy, focusing exclusively on playwriting.

In its second edition, the award expanded to include theater criticism and playwriting for children. The critical essay competition was named in honor of the late Egyptian critic and drama professor at Ain Shams University, Dr. [Name Missing]. Hazem Azmy dedicated the adult playwriting competition to the late Kuwaiti writer and director, Saqr Al-Rashoud, acknowledging his innovative contributions to Kuwaiti theater. Additionally, the children’s playwriting competition pays tribute to the late Tunisian director, Makram Nassib, who made significant contributions to theater, television, and film as both an actor and director.