Dibba Al Hisn Duo Theatre Festival concludes

High-quality theatrical performances, visions, and experiences from the Arab world

On the occasion of the closing ceremony, Bourhima said: “Thanks to the support and guidance of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, the festival has solidified its position and enhanced its reputation. It has contributed to the production of high-quality theatrical performances, visions, and experiences from across the Arab world, becoming a prominent reference point in its field.” Bourhima expressed his gratitude to the participating groups for their outstanding work and commended the cooperation of the city's governmental and social organisations, which contributed to the festival's resounding success. He also praised the large audience that continued to flock to the festival grounds daily.

The audience on the festival's final night witnessed the Moroccan play "Waiting" by the "United Comedians" troupe. Written by Mohamed El Alami and directed by Ahmed Reda Tassouli, the play starred Hajar El Mesnaoui and Ayman Rahim. Drawing inspiration from the Greek epic "The Odyssey," the play follows a journalist's journey to the battlefields, where he undergoes a harrowing existential experience, discovering himself, the depth of his bond with his wife and son, and the hypocrisy of his social circle.

Participants in the symposium, moderated by artist Mohamed Remichi, praised the director's skillful use of technique to bring the scenes to life. However, they noted the play's pacing, which was packed with narratives, and emphasised the need for a more concise narrative.

For his part, Ahmed Reda Al-Tasouli thanked the management of the Dibba Al Hisn Festival for the valuable opportunity it provided him and his play's team. He expressed his delight at participating in this edition and learning about the Emirati theatrical scene. He affirmed that all the feedback received during the seminar would contribute to the development of future performances of the play, which ran for seventy minutes.

At the conclusion of the seminar, the Chairman of the Dibba Al Hisn Parents' Council—the sponsor of the closing day—presented a certificate of appreciation to the Moroccan troupe.

It is worth noting that the ninth edition of the Dibba Al Hisn Duo Theatre Festival commenced on May 21st, with the participation of five theatrical groups from the UAE, Egypt, Syria, Tunisia, and Morocco. The festival also hosted the 21st Sharjah Forum for Arab Theatre, themed "Theatre and Education," in addition to three training workshops in playwriting, directing, and acting, and daily critical seminars that highlighted the aesthetics and challenges of the participating performances.