The 36th Regional Theater Festival began on October 7, 2026, at the Mohamed Merzouki Cultural Center in Douz, Qibili governorate. The festival, which runs until October 11, features a mix of workshops, theater performances, and dance shows for children and adults. According to Mohamed Anwar Hamdi, head of the Cultural Affairs Department at the Regional Cultural Affairs Delegation, the festival aims to promote theater culture and support young talent.
The festival's first phase, from October 7 to 9, focuses on training and workshops for cultural and youth sector professionals. Four workshops are scheduled, covering shadow puppetry, glove puppetry, street theater techniques, and theater direction. These sessions are led by experienced instructors, including Khoula Khalil, Hamza Ben Aoun, Rahab Amami, and Rahab Benmabark.
The second phase of the festival, on October 10 and 11, showcases participating theater and dance performances. The program includes a play titled "Kharjat Al-Arais" by the Euro-Mediterranean Culture and Entertainment Association, led by Omar Bsebess. Another performance, "Majurat ala Al-Asa," is led by Abdelkader Al-Hadhiri. The festival also features a competition for puppet theater performances, with presentations by the Ibn al-Haytham Cultural Center's theater club and the Ibn Rashiq Cultural Center's theater club.
The festival continues with a monologue competition, featuring performances by Mohamed Mehlel, Mubrouka Ben Ahmed, and Ferj Al-Karous. These performances represent various cultural centers, including the Mohamed Merzouki Cultural Center, Ibn Khaldun Cultural Center, and Ibn Rashiq Cultural Center. The competition aims to encourage young talent and provide a platform for them to showcase their skills.
On October 11, the festival concludes with a group performance competition for children and another for youth and adults. The children's competition features performances by theater clubs from various cultural centers, including the Mohamed Merzouki Cultural Center, Ibn Rashiq Cultural Center, and Dar Al-Shabab Ibrahim Ben Omar. The youth and adult competition includes a performance titled "Safinat Al-Diyaa'" by the Mohamed Merzouki Cultural Center's theater club.
The festival also pays tribute to the career of Tunisian theater artist Mansour As-Saghir, a native of the region. The event is organized by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and aims to promote theater culture and support young talent in the Qibili governorate. The festival provides a platform for participants to showcase their skills and exchange experiences with peers from different regions.
The Regional Theater Festival is an annual event that promotes cultural and artistic activities in Tunisia's regions. This year's event features 20 performances and attracts participants from various cultural centers and theater clubs across the country. The festival's program is designed to cater to diverse audiences, including children, youth, and adults.
Key points
- The festival aims to promote theater culture and support young talent in the Qibili governorate.
- The event features a mix of workshops, theater performances, and dance shows for children and adults.
- The festival concludes with group performance competitions for children and youth and adults.
