Aleppo, Sep. 6 (SANA) Syria’s Central Theater Festival opened in Aleppo on Saturday, bringing together theater groups from across the country as part of efforts to revive stage arts and strengthen their role in Syrian cultural life.
The opening ceremony at the Artists Syndicate theater was attended by Culture Minister Mohammad Yassin Saleh, Aleppo Governor Azzam Al-Gharib, artists and cultural figures, and Arab guests.
Al-Saleh said Aleppo was chosen to host the festival in recognition of its longstanding role in Syria’s theatrical and cultural movement. He said the Culture Ministry and artistic teams had worked for a year to prepare the event.
He described the festival as a platform for diverse artistic and intellectual experiences aimed at strengthening theater’s role in contemporary Syrian culture.
Nawar Bulbul, director of the Directorate of Theaters and Music, said the strong audience turnout demonstrated the importance of public engagement to the survival and continuity of theater.
“Theater loses its essence and its existence without its people and audience,” Bulbul said, describing the turnout as an encouraging indication of renewed activity in Syrian theaters.
Ghatfan Ghanoom, dean of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts in Damascus, said launching the festival in Aleppo marked an important step for Syrian theater after years of declining theatrical activities amid the difficult circumstances the country had experienced.
He said the strong turnout reflected the public’s need for serious artistic productions addressing everyday life, while highlighting theater’s role in promoting peaceful dialogue and social awareness.
The festival features daily performances by artists and theater groups from several Syrian provinces, accompanied by critical discussions with Arab guests, as part of efforts to strengthen Syrian theater and expand Arab artistic and cultural exchange.
Ghanoom expressed hope that the festival would lay the groundwork for regular theater festivals across Syria and help support artists and professionals working in the sector.
R.D/MF
