Kalba Short Plays Festival Concludes With Celebrations Of Theatrical Talent And Awards

The Kalba Short Plays Festival's 11th edition concluded at the Kalba Cultural Centre. The event was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. Attendees included Sheikh Haitham bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Ahmed Bourhima, and Abdullah Al Owais.

Sheikh Haitham bin Saqr Al Qasimi, along with Abdullah Al Owais and Ahmed Bourhima, presented awards to the winners. The festival featured 12 performances from 27 September to 1 October. The jury's report and recommendations were reviewed before announcing the winners.

The jury praised His Highness for his commitment to theatre in Sharjah and beyond. Dr. Lamis Anwar from Egypt led the jury, which included Ali Nabil Al Amri, Eissa Kayed from the UAE, Zaid Khalil Mustafa from Jordan, and Nasser Al Abidi from Tunisia. They highlighted the festival's role in nurturing talent through workshops and lectures.

"Farewell Song," directed by Talal Qamber Al Balushi and inspired by Anton Chekhov's work, won Best Performance and Best Director. Mohammed Anwar Hamza, Mansour Nasser, and Khaled Fahd shared the Best Actor award for their roles in this play.

Sakina Fawzi was honoured with the Best Actress award for her role in "Unannounced." She shared this accolade with Waad Tariq for "Shakespearians" and Enas Ezzat for "Good Morning." These performances were highly appreciated by both audiences and critics alike.

Jassem Gharib received recognition for scenography in "The Sanctuary." Amir Saidi earned a special honour for his performance in "The Guest." Ibrahim Salem presented Massinissa Labt with an award for Outstanding Theatrical Effort as part of the theatrical elements course.

The festival has consistently played a significant role in promoting theatre arts across different age groups. Through its various initiatives, it continues to support emerging talents within Sharjah and throughout the Arab world.

With inputs from WAM