The 19th National Theatre Festival of Egypt, chaired by Mohamed Riad, hosted an insightful discussion titled "Women's Theatre: Identity and Challenges" as part of its "Wasla" program.
Moderated by critic Manar Khaled, the session featured Efat Yehia, Nesreen Nour, and Nour Ismail, who shared their artistic experiences and discussed the evolving concept of women's theatre.
Manar Khaled argued that the term "Women's Theatre" raises more questions than answers, emphasizing the importance of open dialogue rather than rigid definitions.
Director and playwright Efat Yehia explained that throughout her three-decade career, she never intentionally pursued what is labeled as feminist theatre. Instead, she focused on stories that genuinely resonated with her, believing that authenticity is the foundation of meaningful artistic work.
Writer and critic Nesreen Nour highlighted the importance of emotional honesty in playwriting, stressing that major social issues become more powerful when they emerge naturally from human experiences rather than being presented through direct messages. She also reflected on her experience in street theatre and site-specific performances after the January Revolution.
Meanwhile, director Nour Ismail described theatre as a personal artistic journey driven by human questions rather than commercial success. She emphasized that every visual element on stage should serve the dramatic narrative and shared the production challenges she faced throughout her career.
The discussion concluded by emphasizing that artistic excellence depends on sincerity, creative vision, and meaningful storytelling rather than predefined labels, reinforcing the festival's role as a platform for theatrical dialogue and cultural development.
