Sulayman Al Bassam Brings the Script to the Stage in Cairo: Inside His “From Text to Stage” Workshop
Kuwaiti playwright and director Sulayman Al Bassam has launched his three-day workshop “From Text to Stage” as part of the training program of the 33rd Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre. The workshop combines theoretical discussions with practical stage work, allowing participants to study classical texts, adapt and rewrite selected material, and eventually perform it themselves. Al Bassam’s participation comes alongside his honoring at this year’s festival, adding a special dimension to his long-standing relationship with the Cairo experimental theatre event, which dates back to 2002.
🎭 Sulayman Al Bassam Launches “From Text to Stage”
The 33rd Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre is hosting a special workshop led by Kuwaiti playwright and director Sulayman Al Bassam.
Titled “From Text to Stage,” the three-day workshop forms part of the festival’s professional training program and brings together participants interested in theatre writing, directing and performance.
The workshop focuses on one central question: how can a written script become a living theatrical experience?
✨ Rather than treating the script as a finished literary product, Al Bassam encourages participants to explore it as material that can be interpreted, reshaped and tested on stage.
✍️ Two Complementary Paths
The workshop follows two interconnected paths.
The first combines theoretical discussions with practical experience, drawing on Al Bassam’s extensive background in writing, adapting classical texts and directing.
The second moves participants directly from script analysis to stage practice.
🎬 This transition is at the heart of the workshop. Participants do not simply discuss theatrical texts; they experience what happens when written words become dialogue, movement, rhythm, physical presence and performance.
🎭 Working with Classical Theatre
One of the workshop’s key exercises involves working on a scene from a classical text.
Participants begin by preparing and rewriting the material before moving toward performing the scene themselves.
This creates a complete creative journey—from the written page to adaptation, rehearsal and performance.
The process highlights the difference between reading a play and actually staging it.
A theatrical script is not built on dialogue alone. It also depends on movement, silence, rhythm, physical space, relationships between characters and the director’s interpretation.
🔥 By testing these elements practically, participants gain a deeper understanding of how theatre is constructed.
🧠 Why the Workshop Matters
The importance of “From Text to Stage” lies in its interdisciplinary approach.
A writer can understand how a director interprets a script, while a director can explore how actors transform written material into physical performance.
At the same time, performers gain insight into how their choices can reshape the meaning of a scene.
✨ This approach gives emerging theatre artists a broader understanding of the creative process and encourages experimentation with classical material in contemporary contexts.
🇰🇼 Al Bassam’s First Workshop in Egypt
Al Bassam explained that this is the first time he has presented a workshop in Egypt, making his participation particularly meaningful.
He expressed his happiness at returning to the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre, describing his relationship with the festival as a long-standing and special one.
Although he is not participating this year with a theatrical production, the workshop gives him a different opportunity to connect directly with theatre practitioners and enthusiasts.
The participants also include people from outside Egypt, creating an environment for cultural exchange and interaction between different theatrical backgrounds.
🌍 A Space for International Exchange
The workshop goes beyond conventional training.
It creates a space where theatrical experiences from different countries and generations can meet.
The Cairo experimental theatre festival has long provided a platform for Egyptian, Arab and international theatre artists, researchers and practitioners to exchange ideas.
🎭 Through Al Bassam’s workshop, participants gain direct access to the experience of a major Arab theatre practitioner, while Al Bassam has the opportunity to engage with emerging artists and their ideas.
This makes the training process a two-way exchange rather than a simple transfer of knowledge.
🏆 A Relationship with the Festival Dating Back to 2002
Al Bassam’s relationship with the Cairo experimental theatre festival goes back more than two decades.
He recalled that his first participation dates back to 2002, around 24 years ago.
During previous appearances, he received several awards, strengthening his connection with the festival and its audience.
Among the most notable milestones of that period was the recognition of his production “The Hamlet Summit,” reflecting his interest in reinterpreting classical international material through an Arab contemporary perspective.
⭐ Al Bassam Honored at the 33rd Edition
This year’s participation carries an additional significance because Al Bassam is also among the theatre figures being honored during the festival’s 33rd edition.
The recognition reflects his contribution to contemporary Arab theatre, as well as his work across writing, directing and international theatrical exchange.
❤️ His current participation therefore represents more than a professional appearance.
It is a return to a festival that has been connected to his career for decades, this time as both an honored artist and a mentor sharing his experience with a new generation.
🎬 The Legacy of “The Hamlet Summit”
Al Bassam has become known for his interest in revisiting classical material and transforming it through contemporary theatrical language.
His work on “The Hamlet Summit” is one of the best-known examples of this approach.
The production offered an Arab reinterpretation inspired by Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, reflecting Al Bassam’s interest in using classical material as a starting point for examining contemporary cultural and political questions.
His broader career has included numerous theatrical projects and appearances at international festivals, establishing him as a prominent figure in contemporary Arab theatre.
📚 Training at the Heart of the Cairo Experimental Festival
The workshop is part of a broader professional training program accompanying the 33rd edition of the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre.
The festival is taking place from September 1 to September 8, 2026, alongside a diverse program of theatrical performances, workshops, discussions and intellectual activities.
📌 The training program reflects the festival’s broader interest in professional development, experimentation and direct interaction between established artists and emerging talents.
🔥 The Script Is Only the Beginning
“From Text to Stage” raises a fundamental question about the relationship between writing and performance.
A script may be complete as a literary work, but theatre requires another creative process to transform it into a living experience.
The workshop therefore asks:
How can an idea become a scene, a scene become performance, and performance become an experience for the audience?
That question concerns writers, directors, actors, designers and everyone involved in creating theatre.
✨ From this perspective, the workshop becomes a practical laboratory for theatrical thinking rather than simply a short training course.
🌟 A Different Return to Cairo
Al Bassam’s current participation combines three important elements: honoring, training and a renewed relationship with the festival.
More than two decades after his first participation, he returns to Cairo in a different role, sharing his experience with a new generation while being recognized for his own contribution to Arab and international theatre.
🎭 His return also highlights the role of the Cairo experimental theatre festival as a space for dialogue and experimentation—not simply as a platform for presenting performances.
The journey from the written page to the stage remains at the center of the experience, connecting writers, directors, actors and audiences through the shared language of theatre.
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