Sharjah: The ninth edition of the Duo Theatre Festival continued its activities at the Cultural Centre in Dibba Al Hisn, attracting a notable audience including Ahmed Bu Rahima, Director of the Theatre Department at the Department of Culture and Festival Director, along with several local and Arab artistic and cultural figures.
According to Emirates News Agency, on the second day of the festival, audiences were captivated by the Egyptian play "Dahab," presented by the 'Egyptian Artists for Culture' troupe. The play, written and directed by Amr Qabil, featured performances by Qabil himself and child actress Dana. The storyline revolves around a man escaping his past and a lost girl, with harmonica music playing a crucial role in bridging their emotional divide and helping them face their fears.
A critical seminar, moderated by Egyptian actress Iman Imam, followed the performance, highlighting the play's focus on children and the elderly. The seminar praised the young actress's stage presence and composure. Discussions also touched on the complexities of managing writing, directing, and acting roles simultaneously.
Director Amr Qabil expressed gratitude towards the festival organizers, emphasizing the artistic adventure duo theatre represents. He appreciated the feedback received during the seminar. Nada Abdullah Al Hassani, representing the Social Services Department branch in Dibba Al Hisn, concluded the session by presenting a certificate of appreciation to the Egyptian troupe.
The festival's second day also featured the opening session of the 21st Sharjah Forum for Arab Theatre, with the theme 'Theatre and Education.' Moderated by Emirati artist Faisal Al Darmaki, the session underscored initiatives by His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi in promoting school theatre.
Dr. Said Karimi of Morocco presented the forum's first paper, discussing the historical relationship between theatre and education, and advocated for integrating theatrical arts into curricula. Dr. Mohammed Amin Banioub of Morocco, in his paper, emphasized the transformative potential of educational theatre in developing student capabilities. Dr. Fawzia Dhaifallah of Tunisia, in the third paper, addressed the impact of digital media on theatre education.
The day's programme included a workshop titled 'Theatrical Writing: From Idea to Text,' led by Dr. Kamal Khladi, focusing on methodologies of writing for school theatre.