Muscat

 - Explosive youth energies and various societal issues witnessed the performances of the Sandan Festival for Street Theater in the Sultanate of Oman, announcing the return of theatrical movement strongly to its previous era after being affected by the Corona pandemic during the past two years.

Sandan Festival is the first independent street theater festival in the Sultanate of Oman, and aims to promote cultural cooperation and provide an opportunity for young people to show their creativity and artistic abilities.

"The street theater movement began in the Sultanate of Oman in 2014, specifically in April, when the Alden Theater Troupe for Culture and Art implemented its first theatrical festival. It is the first presence of street theater In the Sultanate of Oman, from the gate of the first Alden Festival, and this presence of the street theater continued for 3 more theatrical sessions.”

Al-Nabhani added - in a statement to Al-Jazeera Net - that festivals and theatrical meetings, including theatrical performances and the subsequent criticism sessions and various theatrical workshops, occupy a great importance in the life of the artist in general and theatrical in particular, as it provides him with opportunities to appear, develop, compete and exchange experiences and knowledge.

He points out that the Sandan Festival for Street Theater comes to provide an opportunity for the participation of the largest number of theater lovers in the Sultanate of Oman, and also aims to provide the opportunity to participate for the largest number of theater enthusiasts from colleges, universities, theater groups and sports clubs.

The play "Afas" is part of the festival's work (Al-Jazeera)

Exchange of experiences

Al Nabhani also points out that street theater contributes to the exchange of internal youth experiences and the emergence of a number of young troupes in the theatrical field, which will greatly contribute to the continuation of theatrical movement in the Sultanate.

During the performances of the Sandan Festival for Street Theater, which witnessed a large audience from various segments of society, many economic, social and cultural issues were discussed, sometimes with a comedic and tragic character at other times.

Regarding street theater performances, the festival director says, "Street theater focuses on simplicity, as the success of the presented theatrical performance lies in the idea on which the rest of the theatrical tools are built," noting that the festival showcases a group of youth theatrical energies that are relied upon in the next stage to lead the stage. Omani.

Multiple offers

He explained that the festival witnessed 20 theatrical performances, which competed for 12 individual and group prizes, and the grand prize of one thousand Omani riyals will be presented for the best first theatrical show.

Al-Dan Troupe for Culture and Art is organizing the Sandan Festival for Street Theater in cooperation with the Industrial City of Sandan. The festival started on Sunday, April 17, and concluded last Friday.

The audience interacted with the Sandan Festival for Street Theater (Al-Jazeera)

The festival's jury is composed of artist Idris Al Nabhani as head of the committee, artist Mohamed Khalfan as a member, and artist Abdel Hakim Al Salhi as a member.

The organization of this qualitative festival comes within the cooperation and action plan that brings together the Al-Daden Theater Company and the city of Sandan, with the aim of supporting the youth theatrical movement, especially in the field of street theater, which is one of the modern theatrical fields that the Omani theater deals with, in an effort to reach this art to high levels of empowerment and competition. Arab and international.

creative industries

On this cooperation, the Director of Operations in the Sandan Industrial City, Muhammad Al Siyabi - told Al Jazeera Net - "This cooperation comes with the Alden Troupe for Culture and Art in organizing the Sandan Festival for Street Theater based on the vision of Oman 2040, and in confirmation of the creative industries plan that the Sultanate is working on. The organization of this festival comes To promote cultural cooperation and provide an opportunity for young people to show their creativity and artistic abilities.”

Al-Siyabi adds that one of the strategic objectives of the Industrial City of Sandan is: to be supportive of culture and youth by providing the appropriate environment for cultural and creative activities, and based on this goal, the city of Sandan signed a cooperation agreement with the Al-Daden Theater Group for Culture and Art to operate a cultural center in the city. Youth centers such as the educational center led by the easier platform for education, and the youth center led by the Oman debates.