The 26th edition of the Carthage Theatre Days launched Saturday evening at the City of Culture in Tunis, gathering artists and intellectuals from Tunisia and abroad for a celebration of performing arts.
In his opening speech, Festival Director Mounir Argui framed the event as a platform for diverse global voices. He stated that the participating performances carry “experiences, perspectives, and questions that intersect with current human issues,” representing talents from Tunisia, the Arab world, and Africa.
Argui emphasized theatre’s vital role in “confronting isolation and fear” and directly addressed the conflict in Gaza, asserting that “art is an act of resistance” and that keeping the Palestinian cause in the public consciousness is a duty for the artistic community.
New Additions and Honoring Legacy
This year’s programme introduces a new segment, an International Theatre Forum, alongside its main competitive and off-programme sections. The event also features seven practical workshops and an academic research forum for PhD candidates.
The opening ceremony included tributes to several prominent figures in Tunisian, Arab, and African theatre. International honorees were Latifa Ahrar (Morocco), Imad bin Mohsen al-Shanfari (Oman), and Abdramane Kamati (Côte d’Ivoire). They were joined by a cohort of celebrated Tunisian artists, including Leïla Rezgui, Fethi Akkari, and Slim Sanhaji. A separate homage was paid to late Tunisian creators who left a lasting mark on the cultural landscape.
A Packed Programme of Performances
Prior to the official ceremony, a musical performance on Habib Bourguiba Avenue set the tone, blending Tunisian, Arab, and African influences. The opening night culminated with a performance of the Egyptian play “King Lear,” starring veteran actor Yehia El-Fakharany and produced by the Egyptian National Theatre.
The festival’s extensive lineup includes:
- 12 plays in the official competition vying for the top Golden, Silver, and Bronze Tanit awards.
- 16 Tunisian productions and 6 Arab and African plays.
- A dedicated “Freedom Theatre” section featuring 16 works created in cooperation with prisons and rehabilitation centers.
The competition jury, chaired by Tunisian Lassad Ben Abdallah, includes members from Kuwait, Algeria, Congo, and Syria. Tunisia is represented in the official competition by two plays: “Al-Haribat” by Wafa Taboubi and “Jacaranda” by Nizar Saidi.
TunisianMonitorOnline (NejiMed)
