"Cairo Experimental"... Al-Bassam honored at the Opera House

The Cairo International Experimental Theatre Festival honored Kuwaiti director and writer Sulaiman Al-Bassam, along with a group of honorees from around the world, on Wednesday, during the opening of its 33rd edition at the Grand Theatre of the Egyptian Opera House.

Al-Bassam was honored in recognition of his career as one of the most prominent creators of contemporary Arab theatre on the international stage, owing to his unique theatrical experience and distinguished contributions to the development of Arab theatrical discourse and its openness to global practices, as well as his active presence at major international theatre festivals and events, where he championed issues of identity and freedom.

Al-Bassam is participating in the current edition as part of the festival’s training program, leading a workshop titled “From Text to Actor,” within the framework of activities that combine theatrical performances, research, training, and the exchange of expertise.

The workshop, which began today, includes 20 participants selected from 160 applicants comprising playwrights, directors, and theatre actors. Participants joined from Cairo, Alexandria, other Egyptian governorates, as well as from Lebanon, Syria, and Tunisia.

The workshop offers participants the opportunity to explore the relationship between writing and directing, and how a theatrical text transforms into a live performance through actors’ performances and directorial vision, via an intensive training program that combines applied lectures and practical exercises. It also provides participants with a window into one aspect of Al-Bassam’s vision and experience in theatrical work.