Opening of the Sixth International University Theatre Meeting in Cairo
The curtain rose on Saturday evening in Cairo, marking the opening of the sixth International University Theater Meeting, which will run until October 25. This event brings together theater troupes from universities and institutes across Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Sultanate of Oman, and Romania, with notable participation from Morocco.
The program includes seven training workshops, one of which focuses on theater music, led by the Moroccan artist Soufiane, known as “Maz.” He expressed his delight in facilitating this workshop, emphasizing that this is his first participation in an artistic event in Egypt. A graduate of the Conservatory of Art and Music in Tangier, “Maz” has taken part in numerous music and theater festivals throughout the Arab world and beyond. As a versatile artist, he has produced several music videos and has directed various international workshops on music, choral singing, and vocal techniques. His workshop aims to introduce participants to breathing and pronunciation techniques.
The other scheduled workshops will cover a variety of themes, including staging, acting, puppetry, improvisation, as well as contemporary and African dance.
Participants will have the opportunity to compete for three awards: the “Mahmoud Nassim Award for Playwriting,” the “Samia Habib Award for Theater Criticism,” and the “University Star Award.” The opening ceremony, which paid tribute to the late artist Fouad Al-Mohandis, also honored artists Ahmed Seyam, Ayda Fahmi, Ranya Atef, Mustapha Abou Sriaa (Egypt), and Omani director Imad Al-Shanfary.
In a statement to MAP, Egyptian artist Tariq Al-Desouki, a member of the organizing committee, highlighted that these university theater events enable young people to unlock their artistic potential and serve as a true breeding ground for the future of theater.
