🎭 “Matwally and Shafika” Wins Two Awards at Dhofar International Theatre Festival in Oman
Excerpt
The Egyptian theatrical production “Matwally and Shafika” has added two new awards to its growing record after representing Egypt at the second edition of the Dhofar International Theatre Festival in Oman. Actress Yousra El Mensi won Best Actress, while Dala Harbey received the Special Jury Award. The new recognition follows the production’s success at Egypt’s National Theatre Festival, where it won Best Theatrical Production along with awards for directing, movement performance and set design.
Content
🏆 “Matwally and Shafika” Adds Two New Awards in Oman
Egyptian theatrical production “Matwally and Shafika” has achieved another milestone after returning from Oman with two awards from the second edition of the Dhofar International Theatre Festival.
The production represented Egypt at the festival, which brought together theatrical works from several Arab and international countries.
The latest awards add another important chapter to the production’s growing festival journey, following its success at the Egyptian National Theatre Festival.
🎭 Actress Yousra El Mensi received the Best Actress Award, while actress Dala Harbey won the Special Jury Award.
The recognition highlights the performance of the cast and adds two new individual achievements to the production’s growing list of honors.
🇪🇬 Egypt Represented at Dhofar
“Matwally and Shafika” participated in the Dhofar festival as an Egyptian production presented by the Al-Taliaa Theatre Company, led by actor Sameh Bassiouny.
The participation followed the production’s strong performance at the Egyptian National Theatre Festival and gave the team an opportunity to present the work to a wider Arab and international audience.
🌍 International theatre festivals provide Egyptian productions with opportunities to meet different theatrical traditions, exchange artistic experiences and introduce Egyptian stage work to new audiences.
🎭 What Is the Dhofar International Theatre Festival?
The second edition of the Dhofar International Theatre Festival was held in Oman’s Dhofar Governorate from September 14 to 22, 2026.
The festival featured 15 theatrical productions divided into three main competitive tracks: Major Productions, Elite Shows and Dhofar Theatre.
The program included productions from several countries, including Egypt, Georgia, the UAE, Tunisia, Turkey, Iraq, Spain and India, in addition to Omani productions.
🎬 Alongside theatrical performances, the festival also featured cultural activities, workshops and specialized theatre sessions.
The event aims to strengthen Dhofar’s position as a meeting point for Arab and international theatre.
🏅 Another Chapter After the Egyptian National Theatre Festival
The Dhofar awards were not the first major achievement for “Matwally and Shafika.”
The production previously won Best Theatrical Production at the 19th Egyptian National Theatre Festival.
The success extended to several other categories.
🎬 Director Amir El Yamany won Best Director jointly.
💃 Ahmed Mano received the Best Movement Performance Award.
🎨 Mohamed Saad won the Best Set Design Award.
The result demonstrated recognition across several different components of the theatrical production, from the overall work and directing to movement and visual design.
🎬 Amir El Yamany’s Directorial Vision
Director Amir El Yamany is one of the central figures behind the production’s artistic identity.
His Best Director award at the Egyptian National Theatre Festival added another important recognition to the project.
🎭 Theatre productions depend on the interaction between directing, acting, movement, visual design and the overall rhythm of the performance.
The range of awards received by “Matwally and Shafika” demonstrates recognition across several of these areas.
👩 Yousra El Mensi Wins Best Actress
The Best Actress Award received by Yousra El Mensi represents another major milestone for the production.
Acting awards are among the most closely followed categories at theatre festivals because they recognize an actor’s ability to develop a character and connect with the performance as a whole.
🌟 Winning the award at an international festival adds a new dimension to Yousra El Mensi’s participation in the production.
⭐ Dala Harbey Receives the Special Jury Award
Actress Dala Harbey also received the Special Jury Award, making her the second female performer from the production to receive recognition at the same festival.
👏 The two awards strengthen the production’s presence at the performance level and highlight the contribution of its female cast.
The achievement comes after the production had already received several awards in Egypt.
🏛️ The Role of Egypt’s Theatre Production Network
The production is presented through the Al-Taliaa Theatre Company, under the umbrella of Egypt’s theatre production system.
International participation by Egyptian theatre companies helps bring Egyptian stage productions to audiences outside the country.
🌍 It also creates opportunities for artistic exchange between Egyptian theatre makers and performers from different theatrical traditions.
🎭 Dhofar as a Growing International Theatre Platform
The second edition of the Dhofar International Theatre Festival featured several competitive tracks designed to accommodate different forms of theatrical production.
These included Major Productions, Elite Shows and Dhofar Theatre.
The festival also announced significant financial awards, with a $50,000 prize for the winner of each track, highlighting the scale of the event and its ambitions.
🎬 Against this backdrop, “Matwally and Shafika” became part of a broader international theatrical conversation.
🌍 From Local Success to Arab Recognition
One of the most notable aspects of the production’s journey is its movement from local recognition to international competition.
After winning Best Theatrical Production in Egypt, the show went on to represent the country in Oman and returned with two additional awards.
🔄 This continued festival journey gives the production team opportunities to encounter different audiences and artistic environments while building on the work’s previous success.
💬 Why Is “Matwally and Shafika” Attracting Attention?
The production’s award history is notable because its recognition extends across several artistic categories.
🏆 Best Theatrical Production
🎬 Best Director jointly
💃 Best Movement Performance
🎨 Best Set Design
👩 Best Actress
⭐ Special Jury Award
This range demonstrates recognition of the production as a collective artistic effort rather than one based on a single performer or creative element.
Its movement from the Egyptian National Theatre Festival to the Dhofar International Theatre Festival also gives the production a wider regional presence.
📱 A Theatre Success That Can Reach a Wider Audience
In the social media era, theatre awards can extend the life of a production beyond the festival itself.
📸 Award ceremonies
🏆 Winning moments
🎭 Behind-the-scenes footage
👏 Audience reactions
All of these moments can introduce theatrical productions to people who may not have seen them on stage.
The latest Dhofar awards therefore represent not only another festival achievement but also an opportunity for “Matwally and Shafika” to reach a wider audience.
📝 Final Word
“Matwally and Shafika” continues to expand its theatrical journey after winning two new awards at the Dhofar International Theatre Festival in Oman.
🏆 Yousra El Mensi won Best Actress, while Dala Harbey received the Special Jury Award.
The achievements add to the production’s earlier success in Egypt, where it won Best Theatrical Production along with awards for directing, movement performance and set design.
✨ From Egyptian stages to international theatre festivals, “Matwally and Shafika” continues to build a growing record of recognition and bring Egyptian theatrical talent to new audiences.
🎭 From Egypt to Oman, the journey of “Matwally and Shafika” continues—with new stages and new milestones ahead.
