Khorfakkan Theatre Festival marks its 11th edition

The event drew a large audience and was attended by His Excellency Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture, Ahmed Bourhima, Director of the Theatre Department, and numerous theatre and drama artists.

Grand opening parade

The festival opened with a vibrant celebratory parade that began at 4:00 PM, moving from the city centre to the park. The procession featured a military band, mounted police, folk performers, circus and puppet acts, vintage vehicles competing in the “Most Beautiful Car” contest, as well as school and scout groups.

Diverse performances across stages

Activities commenced with the traditional Emirati “Al-Ayyala” dance on the Red Stage. On the Blue Stage, audiences watched school theatre productions including The Dreams of Mice by Atika Bint Zaid School and The Promise of Loyalty by Al Eqd Al Fareed School. The short play Misunderstanding, directed by Heba Deeb from the Kalba Short Plays Festival, was also performed.

The Red Stage later hosted acrobatic shows, while the Green Stage featured The Road by the Sharjah Scout Commission, an award-winning production from the 13th Sharjah Scout Theatre Festival.

Competitions and cultural showcases

The festival continued with the Emirati “Al-Dan” dance and the “Festival Princess” competition, which celebrated creative theatrical costumes. Winners included Samah Al-Zubair, Mahra Magdi, and Mansa Ikrami Ahmed. The “Bride of the Festival” competition for girls under 14 honoured Mahra Faisal Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Subha Ahmed Khamis, and Maryam Salem Khamis Musbah.

In the Masks competition, prizes went to Abdullah Majid Nasser, Mohammed Adel Rajab, and Amr Tariq Al Tayeb. The Classic Cars contest winners were Saba Abdul Qayyum, Imran Al Baqish, Raya Nasser Rashid, Saud Jassim, and Yousef Khoda.

Award-winning theatre highlights

Folk performances from the UAE, Egypt, India, and Africa were staged on the Red Stage. The audience also enjoyed The Kingdom of Elira, winner of the Best Integrated Theatrical Performance award at the 19th Emirates Children’s Theatre Festival, produced by Khorfakkan Arts Theatre and directed by Abdullah Al Haribi.

Closing performance and festival legacy

The festival concluded with the popular play First Encounter, directed by Mohammed Jumaa and starring Jumaa Ali alongside a group of artists.

Established in January 2014, the Khorfakkan Theatre Festival is held annually in the coastal city and is regarded as the largest one-day open-air interactive arts event. It brings together traditional and modern performing and visual arts, blending theatre, folk performances, music, and live artistic demonstrations within Khorfakkan’s scenic natural setting.