‘Surrender’ highlights Egypt’s concern to support new talents

CAIRO – 8 March 2018: Egypt seeks to encourage talented youth in different fields, especially those that strip youth away from the ideas of terrorism and extremism. Hence, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi invited Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman to watch the play “Sallem Nafsak” (Surrender) during his three-day-visit to highlight new Egyptian talents.

Sisi and bin Salman watched “Salem Nafsak” on Monday and strongly applauded, showing their great appreciation for the play, the artists and the director.


The cast member of theatre show Salam Nafsk-Press Photo

“Salem Nafsak”, a play directed by Khaled Galal and staged by the students of the Actor’s Studio, is an opportunity to discover new talents among Egyptian youth. The play has been presented 115 times in a row since its first show in October 2017. Additionally, many critics described it as the best 2017 theater show.

The two-hour-play focuses on negative features in the Egyptian community during the recent period. This includes violence against women, terrorist acts under false religious slogans, consumption patterns of households, negative effects of social media and insincere love relations.

These features have been reflected in condensed 13 scenes in the form of sarcasm, mixed with music and dance, giving its actors the chance to showcase their skills.

At the end of the show, President Sisi referred that the scene that presented the noblest mission of defending Egypt has deeply affected him, expressing his thanks to all the actors and the director.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman during the theater show - Press Photo

Sisi remarked that difficult tests are set for youth seeking to enroll in the Egyptian National Academy for Youth Training and Rehabilitation. But, he remarked that he will allow the theater’s cast members to register easily in the academy, as they possess great talents.

The Egyptian National Academy was established in August 28, 2017 as one of Sisi’s recommendations during the first national conference in Sharm El Sheikh. The academy aims to achieve development among youth cadres in different sectors and advance their skills and capabilities in cooperation with international scientific institutions.

He added that Egypt needs honest and sincere people to be at the forefront of the country's building process to be able to achieve the intended objectives. Sisi expressed his thanks and appreciation for the team's dedication and hard work.

“I proudly watched a group of creative Egyptian young people performing in the theater show 'Salem Nafsak' at the Cairo Opera House,” Sisi remarked.

On the other hand, veteran Egyptian theatrical director Khaled Galal expressed his extreme happiness with President Sisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman's admiration for his play “Salem Nafsak”.

“My happiness is really indescribable because of the attendance of President Sisi and the Saudi Crown Prince, who praised the young Egyptian talents participating in the show,” Galal recounted.

Galal expressed his great pride of all his students who participated in the play and presented such a dazzling performance, such as Ola Fahmy, Ahmed Tarek, Ahmed Abdel Tawab, Mohamed Hassan, Rehab Ezzeldin, Mahmoud Abdel Lateef and Gamal Abdel Nasser, among others. Galal also thanked Minister of Culture Ines Abdel Dayem and Cairo Opera House Head Magdy Saber.