The city of Kairouan, Tunisia, played host to the inaugural session of the Central Theater Forum, which kicked off on October 23, 2026. The festival commenced with a performance of the play "Jacranda" at the Cultural Complex in Kairouan. This event is part of the fourth edition of the National Theater Festival of Tunisia and is organized by the Tunisian National Theater in partnership with the National Center for Dramatic and Theatrical Arts in Kairouan and the Regional Cultural Affairs Delegation.
The Central Theater Forum aims to revitalize the cultural and theatrical scene in the region, expanding the scope of creative action to include various delegations of Kairouan Governorate. According to Houssamed Ghribi, director of the National Center for Dramatic and Theatrical Arts in Kairouan, the festival's program, which runs until October 26, 2026, combines theatrical production, training, intellectual discussions, and contemporary artistic expressions. This initiative seeks to support creativity, promote exchange among artists and creators, and consolidate cultural decentralization.
The opening day of the festival featured a scientific symposium titled "Questions of Theatrical Training in the Era of Artificial Intelligence," as well as the screening of the documentary "Lamssa Wafa," which documents the history of the theatrical movement in the region. Additionally, an exhibition titled "Droub" was inaugurated, showcasing images of various plays produced by the Tunisian National Theater. The evening concluded with a performance of "Jacranda," a play that tackles issues of collective memory, deferred dreams, and the crisis of a generation.
"Jacranda," produced in 2025, explores the themes of collective memory and deferred dreams through its characters, who are struggling to find their place between the past and the present. The play was written by Abdel Halim Masoudi, with direction and scenography by Nizar Saidani. The cast includes Hamouda Ben Hassin, Asala Kouass, Anis Kammoun, Thawab Al Eidoudi, Helmi Al Khleifi, Mohamed Arfat Al Qizani, and Hasnaa Ghanam.
The festival's program includes 17 specialized training workshops in areas such as writing, theatrical criticism, and the use of artificial intelligence in theater. These workshops will be held at various cultural centers and artistic spaces across different delegations of Kairouan Governorate. Participants and artists have emphasized the significance of this event in revitalizing the cultural scene in the region, providing opportunities for training and exchanging experiences between professionals and amateurs.
The festival's participants also highlighted the role of theater in developing expressive abilities, shaping personality, and broadening the horizons of young people. They stressed the importance of organizing artistic events during school holidays to strengthen the connection of new generations with the fourth art. The festival will conclude on October 26, 2026, with a program that includes the city of Chebika and the university campus for cultural and sporting animation, followed by a closing ceremony at the Asad bin Al Furat Cultural Complex in Kairouan.
The closing ceremony will feature a performance of the play "Homa," produced by the Al Hamraa Theater. This event is part of a series of cultural activities taking place in Tunisia, including the 14th edition of the Maghrebi Festival for Children's Theater in Nablus, which kicked off on October 26, 2026, and the 30th edition of the Khalifa Al Stamouli Theater Festival in Mahdia, which began on October 26, 2026.
Key points
- The Central Theater Forum aims to support creativity and promote exchange among artists and creators in Tunisia.
- The festival features a diverse program of theatrical productions, training workshops, and intellectual discussions.
- The event seeks to consolidate cultural decentralization and promote the presence of theater in local cultural spaces.
