National Theatre Festival Explores Women's Theatre and Its Creative Challenges
As part of the 19th National Theatre Festival of Egypt, a panel discussion titled "Women's Theatre: Identity and Challenges" brought together leading female directors, playwrights, and critics to explore the concept of women's theatre and the realities of artistic creation within the theatrical landscape.
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.
Egyptian actress Huda El Etraby has denied reports claiming that she withdrew from the upcoming film “Hiroshima,” starring Ahmed El Sakka. The actress directly addressed the circulating report and confirmed that it was false. She is expected to remain part of the film’s cast, portraying a retired singer, while the production team prepares to begin filming in early September
The National Theatre in Cairo is preparing to host “Madad Ya Rasoul Allah” on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, as part of the celebrations marking the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday. Starting at 9 p.m., the free event will combine theatre, religious chanting, music and traditional praise of the Prophet, featuring a group of Egyptian theatre artists, performers and religious singers.
Lebanese superstar Haifa Wehbe is preparing to perform a highly anticipated concert in Egypt’s North Coast on September 18, 2026, as part of the events marking the end of the summer season. The concert is expected to attract a large audience of her fans, adding another major stop to her busy schedule of concerts and artistic appearances across the Arab world and beyond.
The family of Egyptian diplomat Yahya Shoukry Sarhan, son of legendary Egyptian actor Shoukry Sarhan, is facing delays in transferring his body from Australia to Egypt following his death. The family has appealed for assistance in completing the necessary procedures, while his only son, Karim, remains in Australia accompanying his father’s body. The late diplomat had expressed his final wish to be buried beside his father in Cairo
