The second edition of the Riyadh Theatre Festival concluded on the evening of Thursday, 26 December 2024, after two weeks on the Red Theatre stage at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. The festival drew strong attendance and wide interest from the public, featuring quality stage productions and creative initiatives that reflect the evolution of the theatre scene in the Kingdom.

The Festival's Goals and Cultural Role

The festival aimed to:

  • Energize the Saudi theatre movement and raise awareness of the value of theatre and the performing arts.
  • Discover and develop promising theatrical talent.
  • Provide a platform for engagement with local and international theatrical work.

CEO of the Theatre and Performing Arts Commission Sultan Al-Bazei said at the closing ceremony that he was proud of the festival's achievements, stressing the importance of sustaining efforts to develop the theatre sector and reinforce its standing as a core cultural component, with a focus on engaging with global theatrical experiences.

Honoring Saudi Theatre Pioneer Ahmed Al-Sibai

The second edition featured a special tribute to Saudi theatre pioneer Ahmed Al-Sibai (may he rest in peace), considered the founder of theatre in the Kingdom. The tribute included:

  • An art exhibition recounting his literary and theatrical career.
  • A display of his writings and personal belongings.
  • A documentary film chronicling key milestones in his life, including his founding of Saudi Arabia's first theatre, known as "Dar Quraish for Dramatic Performance," in 1961.

An Exceptional Platform for Theatrical Creativity

Festival director Dr. Rashed Al-Shamrani said the festival has become a platform bringing together leading creatives and promising talent, noting that this edition reaffirmed the Kingdom's commitment to developing theatre as a core cultural pillar. He added that the festival marks the start of a new era that will help build a new generation of theatre artists capable of keeping pace with the global scene.

Awards and Honors

The ceremony closed with the announcement of:

  • The winners of the Best Integrated Theatrical Production award in both the Contemporary Track and the Social Track.
  • Recognition of the chair and members of the judging committee for their role in maintaining the quality of the productions presented.