SITFY's message on the World Theatre Day

CAIRO - 27 March 2020: Sharm El-Sheikh International Theater Festival for Youth chose Egyptian young artist and playwright Mahmoud Gamal, better known as Mahmoud Hedini, to deliver a speech on the World Theatre Day.

The festival's newly established tradition aims at allowing a different, theatrically active and influential young artist each year to deliver their message on the World Theatre Day.

The festival’s administration translated the message into more than one language. The message was broadcast in audio and video annually on the World Theater Day.

Here is the English version of the message:

Theater will not die

Theater is a place where artists can present their talents to the audience.. A long time ago, the first human narrated his great hunting trip to his family.. The first human embodied his trip and his children and wife were impressed... Ever since then, theater was established..

Theater was established when humans discovered the creative language of expression.. Even before discovering the real spoken languages.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the theater continued to shine in spite of launching cinema, radio, television, and internet... The reason behind that is that theater is the living language between the artists and the audience. Additionally, theatrical language can always be renewed and developed in order to surprise everyone.

A virus -that is not invisible to the eye- forced everyone to stay at home. Humans returned to their small worlds among their families. Everyone started to narrate his tales and adventures to his family in order to impress them; thus, homes become small theaters.. Perhaps when another virus affects the whole world, or a great war takes place, the whole world will come to an end and all its mechanisms will be destroyed.. However, artists will always be able to present their creative talents to everyone.. Theater will last forever... Theater will always be able to affect the audience..... Theater will never reach an end.


SITFY postponed its fifth edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We have exerted extensive efforts to launch the fifth edition of SITFY and finished all the preparations. We have contacted all the theatrical groups; however, the spread of coronavirus all over the world is the main reason behind the postponement of the fifth edition of SITFY. Thanks a million for your understanding. We hope to be back on track as soon as possible in order to continue our work with all the theatrical groups and experts. SITFY's Higher Committee highly appreciates each and every one who has accomplished his/her duties to the fullest," SITFY's President Mazen el-Gharabawy declared.

The fifth edition of SITFY was planned to bear the name of legendary actress Sanaa Gamil. Moreover, SITFY planned to dedicate the authorship Award to late professor and writer Ahmed Sakhsoukh, who presented various theatrical and critical writings to the Egyptian and Arab theatre.

Egyptian veteran actress, Samiha Ayoub, has been appointed as the honorary president of SITFY, while veteran actor Mohamed Sobhy was appointed as head of the higher committee of SITFY, and Egyptian actor Tarek Sabri was appointed as the executive director. SITFY is managed by Ingy el-Bestawy and actor Mohsen Mansour supervises the festival's workshops.

SITFY is held under the sponsorship of the minister of culture, South Sinai governor, Minister of Youth and Sports Ashraf Sobhi, Minister of Tourism Khaled al-Anany, and Chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board Ahmed Youssef.