Sobhy the higher committee head of Sharm El-Sheikh Youth Theatre Festival

CAIRO – 28 January 2019: Veteran theatrical actor and director Mohamed Sobhy will head the higher committee of the fourth edition of Sharm El-Sheikh Youth International Theatre Festival that will run from April1-7.

The festival’s management chose Sobhy because of his rich theatrical experience as he is considered a role model for all Arab theatrical artists.

“He is a cultured, enlightened and multi-talented artist who has enriched Arab theatre with many creative plays,” recounted Mazen el Gharabawy, the festival head.

The third edition of Sharm El-Sheikh Youth Theatre Festival management also honored Sobhy.

Sobhy was born in Cairo in 1948. In 1967, he caught widespread attention by playing the role of “Hamlet” in a unique adaptation for his final project at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts.

Sobhy graduated with honors, and was later appointed an instructor at the institute.

Sobhy began his theatrical career by performing minor roles in famous plays alongside great actors like Salah Mansour, Mohamed Awad, Fouad el-Mohandes, and Mohamed Negm, among others.

His first minor yet influential role was in the famous play “Hello Shalaby” in 1970. Sobhy’s first leading role was in “Entaha el Dars Ya Ghabi” (The Lesson is Over, Stupid).

Sobhy’s theatrical repertoire includes performances in “Al Joker” (The Joker), “Al Hamagy” (The Barbarian), “Weghet Nazar” (A Point of View), and “Carmen”, among others.

He performed in many popular soap operas, the most famous of which are “Fares bela Gawad” (A Knight without a Horse) and “Yawmeyat Wanees” (Wanees’ Diaries).

The Carthage Theatre Days Festival, which kicked off on December 8, 2017, honored Sobhy on December 11. CTDF organized a ceremony to honor the veteran actor.

The event also included a seminar discussing Sobhy’s theatrical career, which was attended by various media personnel.

The owner of Sama Company, Egyptian businessman Hassan Rateb, acquired 80 percent of Sobhy's company Sonbol City.

Rateb will transform Sonbol City into Sama Sonbol Academy, targeting young talents in various arts fields, such as music, singing, acting, directing and photography.

The academy will be the second technical entity specialized in this field, the first being the Academy of Arts.

Rateb previously pointed out that the academy also aims to maximize the cultural and artistic role in society.

Rateb added that they are planning to update all studios to have the best modern equipment in photography, lighting and visual effects. Rateb also plans to cooperate with a number of specialists to help develop young talents.

Sultan bin Muhammad Al-Qasimi, the sovereign ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah, honored Sobhy on March 13, 2018 at the opening ceremony of the 28th edition of Sharjah Theatre Festival.

Sobhy’s latest play is "Khebetna’’ (Our Sorrow). He previously recounted that he started preparing for the play in 2004 as the occupation of Iraq began. He finished writing the play in 2007, and during this period, he contemplated the fate of our nation in light of the events in Iraq.

"I wondered what our problem was in the Arab world, and answered this question in the play.

‘Khebetna’ is a work of magical realism,” he said.

The play is inspired by Francis Fukuyama’s “The End of History and the Last Man,” which tackles the final form of liberal democracy; the play is also influenced by the work of renowned historian Bernard Lewis.

“Khebetna” was written in 2004, but performance prospects were delayed several times.

The play has been adapted for relevance to current events. Studio Tamseel (Acting Studio) troupe participated in “Khebetna”. Alongside Sobhy, the play stars Samah el-Saeed and Nada Maher, among others.