First UAEU theatre festival a success

The two plays were presented by the universities of Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah.

The jury announced Sheikha Almkabbali and Naila Zajaji as winners of the second best actress award and Faisal Atiq as the best actor, while Reem Sadiq won the best actress award for her role in Romeo and Juliet.

Ibrahim Qahomi won the best actor award for his role in Bi Hosne Nyia and the play Al Qarar got the best settings award. Romeo and Juliet also won the best script award. Ayman Al Khadim was named as the best director and Bi Hosne Nyia received the best overall theatrical performance award in the festival.

Minister for Culture, Youth and Community Development Abdul Rahman Bin Mohammed Al Owais, while giving away the awards, acknowledged the good results achieved by the first United Arab Emirates University Theatre festival, held in collaboration with the UAE Theatrical Association.

Al Owais stressed that the ministry will continue to monitor all the young participants and evaluate what has been done, and take into account all these experiences to organize the second edition of the event in a fitting manner.

Al Owais thanked Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah for his attention to all artistic and cultural activities in Sharjah and praised the efforts of all those who contributed to the success of the festival.

The festival concluded last Tuesday evening and was attended by senior Arab and Emirati theatre experts and university students.

The event was a success in terms of participation and quality of staging, the minister said.

“It is the role of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development to encourage the UAE universities to pay attention to theatrical arts on campus, and encourage students to channel their creative energies in the field of theatre,” he said.

He added that the festival will be a platform for launching many Emirati theatre artists.