News & Event

Under the patronage of HE Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Nadabi, Secretary-General of the Shura Council, the 10^th edition of the School Theatre Festival kicks off on the stage of the Muscat Education Directorate Theatre at Dohat Al Adab School. Organized by the Ministry of Education, represented by the Career Guidance and Student Counseling Center, the school theatre festival continues for five consecutive days and will feature a selection of artists, theatre, television, and radio personalities from within and outside the Sultanate of Oman, alongside with a specialized jury to evaluate the participating theatrical performances.

The opening ceremony featured a variety of artistic and theatrical performances, including the solo musical performance competition, which kicked off with a performance by student Saleh Al Shiyadi from Sheikh Salem bin Said Al Sayeghy Basic School in the Muscat Governorate. The competition is then followed by the first theatrical performance, titled "Qattoura Al Shatoura," by students from the same governorate’s schools. This was then followed by a practical seminar that highlights the artistic and educational aspects of the theatrical performance. In the evening, student competitions continue in the solo musical performance competition, with the participation of student Maryam Al Busaidi from Al Shamoos Bint Al Numan Basic School in the North Al Sharqiyah Governorate. Students from the same governorate’s schools will also perform a theatrical performance, titled "The Apple Wing," followed by a practical seminar on the performance.

On the importance of holding the 10th edition of the School Theatre Festival, Sheikh Yaqoub bin Saif Al-Shahimi, Director-General of the Ministry’s Vocational Guidance and Student Counseling Centre and Chairman of the Festival’s Main Committee, said: “This festival is of great importance in building students’ educational and artistic personalities, and increasing their cultural and intellectual awareness, which enables them to read their contemporary reality and learn about the most important issues that touch upon their national, humanitarian, educational, artistic and cultural values, and present them in a way that links art and education. School theatre represents one of the most important school activities that the Ministry of Education is concerned with, and it has included it among the artistic activities active in various schools in the educational directorates in the governorates, after its approval by the Cultural and Social Committee emanating from the esteemed Council of Ministers.”

As for the new developments in the tenth edition of the School Theatre Festival, Al Shehaimi said: “This year, the festival’s main committee launched the Visual Arts Competition, under the title “Celebrating the Al Busaidi State”, by organizing an exhibition for this competition that includes a group of paintings and artistic sculptures produced by students from all educational directorates in the governorates. This is with the aim of developing the artistic and cultural sense among students and strengthening the spirit of belonging and connection to their national history through spaces of free creativity and purposeful artistic expression, as well as holding a theatrical writing competition for school students, based on the principle of preparing a generation of creative writers from school students, and advancing the future of theatrical activity in schools.”

Renowned Omani artist Saleh Zaal and renowned Egyptian artist Dr. Abeer Al Jundi are the guests of honor at the 10th School Theatre Festival. Al Jundi is the chairperson of the jury for the theatre competition. Also participating in the event is Fatima Khalfan Al Muhairi, Director of the Theatre Department at the Performing Arts Department in the Emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The jury for the theatre competition includes a group of prominent artists, namely: artist Abdeen Al Balushi, playwright Hilal Al Badi, and Nasser Al Siyabi. The jury for the solo musical performance competition consists of Safaa Al Mutaani, and Youssef Al Luwaihi. The performances are commented on by a group of academics and specialists, namely: Dr. Azza Al Qasabi, Dr. Said Al Siyabi, Dr. Mohammed Al Habsi, and artist Taher Al Harrasi.

It is worth noting that the School Theatre Festival in its tenth edition witnesses the presentation of (8) student theatre performances that qualified in the School Theatre Competition at the level of the schools of the educational directorates in the governorates, and a competition for solo musical performance for student performances at the level of the directorates, according to the stages of an evaluation plan from which (6) student performances qualified, and they are subject to the final evaluation in conjunction with the festival’s activities. In addition, the school theatre festival includes the artist Khalid Al-Dhuwayani presenting a training session in theatrical acting for the students participating in the festival, as well as an introductory visit to the Royal Opera House in Muscat Governorate. The school theatre festival also includes daily e-newsletter issued by the festival’s media committee, and a competition for the best media coverage among the schools of the educational directorates in the various governorates.