Latest news with #ArabTheatre
Sharjah 24
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
ATI assigns Sameh Mahran to deliver message of Arab Theatre Day
This choice comes in recognition of his distinguished stature within the Arab theatre scene, his role as a leading intellectual reference, and his active contribution to shaping the theatrical landscape in Egypt and the Arab world. A Pivotal Figure in Egyptian, Arab, and International Theatre Dr Sameh Mahran, born in Cairo in 1954, earned his PhD in 1989 with a thesis titled "The Concept of War in Arab Theatre." As a professor of drama and theatre studies, he has played a pivotal role in the theatrical arenas of Egypt, the Arab region, and beyond, through his scholarly output and the leadership positions he has held. He has presided over multiple editions of the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre, served as Head of the Educational Media Department at the Faculty of Specific Education – Cairo University, and acted as advisor for the university president on arts. He also headed Al Ghad Theatre and the National Centre for Theatre, Music, and Folk Arts, presided over the Academy of Arts in Cairo, and chaired the Theatre Committee of the Supreme Council of Culture. Mahran is the author of numerous plays, studies, and influential books, and has translated many key academic sources. A Constellation of Influential Theatre Makers With this message, which he will deliver at the opening of the 16th Arab Theatre Festival—organised by the ATI in collaboration with Egypt's Ministry of Culture from January 10 to 16, 2026—Sameh Mahran joins a constellation of influential theatre makers who have penned these messages from 2008 through 2025. These figures have crafted pages lit by the light of knowledge and the fire of experience, envisioning the future with an awareness rooted in the present and its pressing questions. Ismail Abdullah: Mahran Is a Valuable Intellectual and Creative Addition Secretary-General of the Arab Theatre Institute, Ismail Abdullah, expressed his pride in Dr Sameh Mahran and the profound intellectual and creative presence he represents. Mahran, he said, is a creative academic whose contributions span multiple dimensions of the theatrical process and whose influence reaches across all Arab theatre landscapes. Abdullah considered Mahran's addition to the group of message-bearers a valuable intellectual and creative contribution to the legacy of visionaries who have shaped deep perspectives—starting with Yacoub Al Shadrawi in 2008 and including other significant names that have given Arab Theatre Day profound meaning within our theatrical lives. Mahran: A Deep Personal Drive to Continue in Theatre For his part, Dr Mahran expressed his sincere gratitude to the ATI, its Secretary-General the esteemed writer Ismail Abdullah, and the Board of Trustees for choosing him to carry the message of Arab Theatre in the 16th edition of the Arab Theatre Festival in Cairo. He added that this honour is a responsibility—and that the selection serves as a powerful and deeply personal motivation to continue in the field of theatre, which he loves and is passionate about.
Al-Ahram Weekly
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Lady of Arab Theatre Samiha Ayoub dies at 93 - Stage & Street - Arts & Culture
Egypt's iconic actress Samiha Ayoub, dubbed Lady of Arab Theatre, died in her apartment in Cairo's Zamalek district on Tuesday morning at the age of 93. Ayoub was born in Cairo's Shoubra district on 8 March 1932 and enjoyed the longest artistic career in Arab cinema's history for a female actress. She studied at the Nuns' School in Cairo. When she was still very young, she made her debut in the role of Mary Magdalene in the 1938 film The Life and Passion of the Lord Christ. The film starred Ahmed Allam, Aziza Helmy, Kamal Hussein, and Tawfik Al-Daqn. Then, she joined the Zaki Tulaimat Troupe, and her first performance was in a play, In the Service of the Queen. Tulaimat, an Egyptian actor and director, is one of the Egyptian theatre's pioneers. He founded the School of Theatre and the Institute of Dramatic Arts in Cairo and played a fundamental role in the young actress's formative years. One of Ayoub's early breakthroughs came in Al-Motasharida (The Homeless, 1947), a film directed by Mohamed Abdel-Gawad and starring Hikmat Fahmy, Mohsen Sarhan, Siraj Mounir, and Mary Munib. Encouraged by Tulaimat, Ayoub joined the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in 1949, where he continued to mentor her alongside other renowned Egyptian artists. Throughout her career, Ayoub collaborated with the most renowned directors and participated in over 170 theatrical productions. This was topped by dozens of roles in radio, television series, and films. Ayoub was among the first Egyptian female artists to venture into the directing field in the 1970s. She has directed four theatre plays and co-produced a few plays and films. In the Egyptian theatre, film, radio, and television, she created dozens of iconic characters, acting in works such as Al-Bakheel (The Miser), Kobry Al-Namoos (Mosquito Bridge), and Sikkat Al-Salama (The Right Way). Several films starring Ayoub, such as The Monster (1954), appear on lists enumerating the 100 best Egyptian films of all time. Her most recent roles include those in the television series El-Tawoos (2021), Agaza Maftouha (2021), Sukkar Zeyada (2020), and Awraq El Toot (2015); the films Teta Rahiba (2012), Al-Leila Al-Kebira (2015), Sanaa's Tale, a 2016 documentary; and a number of theatre plays, including Almaz and Si Abdo (2021). She continued to be active until her final years. In 2021, Ayoub was honoured at the Sharm El-Sheikh Theatre Festival for Youth and remained honorary president throughout the following years. Ayoub repeatedly expressed her love for acting during this festival. 'Deep inside of me is this very humble person who feels she has not done much. When standing on stage, I find my strength; it is in front of the audience that I am alive; the presence of the audience allows me to create the true character that I portray,' she said during one of the symposiums in 2021. The 17th edition of Egypt's National Theatre Festival (2024) carried the actress's name and honoured her. Ayoub was also director of the Modern Theatre (1972-1975) and headed the National Theatre twice, between 1975 and 1989. She received numerous national and international awards, including the Republic Medal of the First Class for Art from President Gamal Abdel-Nasser (1966), the Knight Medal from French President Giscard d'Estaing (1977), and a Certificate of Appreciation from President Anwar El-Sadat (1979). In 2015, she received the Nile Award in the Arts, the highest prize of the State Awards granted to people who have made a significant contribution to the arts. The same year, the large hall in the National Theatre was named after her. A year later, the Writers and Critics Association released The Charming Woman: A Vocation of Creativity, a new book celebrating Ayoub's life. Journalist Sayed Mahmoud wrote the book. According to the media, Ayoub was married four times, and all her husbands came from the artistic community. Her longest-lasting marriage was 30 years to playwright Saad El-Din Wahba, until he died in 1997. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Sharjah 24
10-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Sharjah 24
15 shows in the 34th edition of Sharjah Theatre Days
Opening performance and festival highlights The 34th session of Sharjah Theatre Days will kick off at the Cultural Palace Theatre with the Tunisian show Al-Bukhara , which won the Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Award for Best Arab Theatre Show at the Arab Theatre Authority competition in Muscat. Intellectual Forum and Festival honours Makhlouf also revealed that the festival will host an intellectual forum titled 'Criticism... Memory of Arab Theatre.' This forum will explore the role of criticism in preserving and sustaining Arab theater heritage. Additionally, the festival will celebrate Syrian artist Asaad Fadda for winning the Sharjah Award for Arab Theatre Creativity and honour Emirati artist Maryam Sultan as the 'Honoured Local Personality' for this edition.
