Cairo: The 33rd Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre, a prominent event showcasing over 20 theatrical productions from Egypt, Europe, Arab countries, and the United States, commenced on September 1st and will continue until September 8th. According to National Iraqi News Agency, the festival’s comprehensive program features workshops, meetings, and seminars alongside the theatrical performances.
Festival coordinator Mohamed Abdel Rahman El-Shafei announced at a press conference that the event received more than 400 submissions from Egyptian, Arab, and international artists. Ten international productions, four Arab productions, and two Egyptian productions were chosen for the official competition. Additionally, two Egyptian productions from training workshops and a production titled “Seventh Heaven” by the National Theatre Company will be showcased outside the competition framework. Performances are scheduled at various venues, including the Peace, Republic, Falaki, Hanager, Samer, and Al-Ghad theatres, as well as the Small Theatre at the Cairo Opera House.
This year, the official competition includes productions from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, Hungary, Belarus, Jordan, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates. Mona Suleiman, head of the festival’s troupes and performances committee, highlighted that this edition honors Egyptian theater directors with international acclaim, featuring plays like “Salma, My Love” by Ahmed El-Attar and “Happy Children” by Omar Ghayat.
The festival also hosts a five-session intellectual forum named “Geo-Experimental Theater,” examining how geography influences theatrical experimentation. Forty researchers from eleven nationalities will contribute to discussions on cultural, social, and political contexts in theater.
Thirteen notable theater figures will be honored, including actor Hamza El-Aily, actress Aida Fahmy, and Iraqi actor Jawad El-Shakarji, among others. The festival will also feature a celebration of Egyptian Theater Day at the Arab Music Institute Theater, organized by the National Center for Theater, Music, and Folk Arts.