Sharjah: H.H. Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, attended the opening ceremony of the 35th Sharjah Theatre Days at the Cultural Palace. The annual festival features 14 theatrical performances and gathers artists and theatre researchers from the Arab world.
According to Emirates News Agency, H.H. the Ruler of Sharjah presented the “Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Award for Best Arab Theatrical Work 2025” to Wafa Taboubi, director of the Tunisian play ‘The Runaways.’ Additionally, the Sharjah Award for Playwriting was awarded with first place going to Maryam Abdullah Mubarak from Oman for her play “A Will Before I Was Born,” second place to Ahmed Abdullah Rashid from the UAE for “He Harm Himself,” and third place to Bader Al Hamdani from Oman for “The Station.”
The event also unveiled the judging panel, including Dr Ajaj Salim from Syria as Chairman, Engineer Walid Al-Zaabi from the UAE, writer Mufleh Al-Adwan from Jordan, Dr Hatem Darbal from Tunisia, and Dr Rania Yahya from Egypt. Eleven theatrical productions are vying for the Sharjah Theatre Days awards, with seven selected for competition level showcases.
The competing plays include “Choosing a Title” by the Sharjah Modern Theatre Troupe, “The Depths of the Soul” by the Kalba Folk Arts and Theatre Association, “Suna” by the Dubai National Theatre, “Half a Night” by the Khorfakkan Arts Theatre, “Hair Qarmousha” by the Sharjah National Theatre, “The Dictionary of Disappearances” by the Yas Culture, Arts and Theatre Association, and “We Will Restore It to Its Former Glory” by the Youth Arts Theatre.
The festival also features plays in its parallel programme such as “When the Soul Chose to Stand” by the Umm Al Quwain National Theatre, “Empty Suitcases” by the Dibba Culture, Arts and Theatre Association, “The Dry Land” by the Fujairah Theatre, and “Imagine” by the Abu Dhabi Folk Arts and Theatre Association.
Additionally, the 35th Sharjah Theatre Days includes two plays from the Kalba Short Plays Festival, “Without Certainty” and “You Are Not a Cave.” A symposium titled “The Director’s Visual Identity: Between Stability and Transformation” will also take place, inviting researchers and theatre practitioners.
The festival will host the 14th Sharjah Forum for Outstanding Arab Theatre Students, celebrating top performers from Arab theatre institutes and colleges. The forum provides students opportunities to engage with Sharjah Theatre Days through lectures, workshops, and cultural excursions.
The ceremony was attended by Sheikh Dr Salem bin Abdulrahman Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ruler’s Office; Abdullah Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture; Dr Mansour Mohammed bin Nassar, Chairman of Sharjah Government Legal Department; Mohammed Obaid Al Zaabi, Head of Protocol and Hospitality Department; Salem Ali Al Muhairi, Chairman of the Sharjah City Municipal Council; alongside senior officials, artists, intellectuals, media professionals, and theatre enthusiasts.