Curtains go up on 28th annual Jordanian Theatre Festival

AMMAN — The 28th annual Jordanian Theatre Festival kicked off at the Royal Cultural Centre on Thursday evening with the participation of troupes from Jordan, Tunisia, Syria, Iraq and the UAE.

“The festival is launched this year as part of the celebrations marking the centennial of the Jordanian state with the participation of over 90 guests,” director Abdul Karim Al Jarrah, the manager of the festival, told The Jordan Times.

Among the guests are 31 Arab academics, critics, theatre artists, and media professionals from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Kuwait, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, Egypt, Syria, Oman, Bahrain and Sudan, he added.

Jarrah also said that “this edition of the festival is named in honour of the late artist Jamil Awwad to commemorate his great achievements and artistic legacy”.

During the opening ceremony, which was presented by actors Mohammad Al Ibrahimi and Nadira Omran, the writer Hazaa Al Barari handed artists Habis Hussein and Abdul Latif Shamma two honorary shields.

“This was done in recognition of their creative achievements and contributions in developing the Jordanian theatre,” Jarrah said.

Nagham Choir and Orchestra performed before the showing of the Jordanian play “Flock Birds” by the director Firas Al Raymoon at 8pm.

The festival, which lasts for 11 days, will feature Arab theatrical plays.

“The plays will be held daily on the main theatre within the Royal Cultural Centre at 6pm and again at 7:30pm,” he added.

The festival also features review sessions, and a seminar titled “Post-Drama Theatre” in addition to two workshops; “Puppetry” held by Karim Dakroub from Lebanon and “Actor Management and Directing Techniques” by director Hashem Shakib from Morocco, according to Jarrah.

“Anyone is welcome to attend the festival so long as they have ‘green clearance’ from the ‘Sanad’ application, adhere to defence orders, and comply with health regulations and physical distancing”, Jarrah said.

“All shows and seminars will [also] be live-streamed on the Ministry of Culture’s social media websites,” Jarrah added.