Manama: The fifth Bahrain Theatre Festival is witnessing a remarkable Arab and international presence, having received more than 40 theatrical productions submitted for participation in its honorary performances program, including four Bahraini productions, during a two-week application period. Festival Director, artist Ali Marhoon, stated that submissions came from 15 Arab and foreign countries, including the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, as well as Iraq, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Sweden, and France.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Marhoon explained that the artistic committee, headed by artist Hussein Abdul Ali, will review the submissions and select the productions that best fit the available dates in the festival schedule. The final list will be announced this September. For his part, Festival President, artist Adel Shams, expressed his delight at the overwhelming response to the submissions, emphasizing that the number of applications exceeded expectations, especially considering that the festival only provides the performance venue for the honorary productions and does not cover any other costs.
Shams believes this interaction reflects the growing presence of the Bahrain Theatre Festival and its reach into theatrical circles outside the Kingdom. He considers this expansion a shared responsibility among amateur theatres, cultural and artistic bodies, and the private sector to build an effective partnership that supports the festival’s development and delivers a program befitting the history of the Bahraini theatre movement and Bahrain’s cultural standing.
For his part, Mohammed Al-Saffar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Bahraini Theatre Associations Union, emphasized the importance of the festival as a cultural, artistic, and intellectual platform that reflects the dynamism of the Bahraini theatre scene. Al-Saffar pointed out that the collective efforts of the theatre groups affiliated with the Union, along with the contributions of the artists, have helped strengthen the festival’s presence outside the Kingdom, transforming it into an attractive space for Arab theatrical experiences and even attracting participation from outside the Arab region.
The fifth edition of the Bahrain Theatre Festival is expected to launch during the first week of November, with the participation of Bahraini amateur theatres in the official performances, alongside a selection of honorary Bahraini, Arab, and international performances.