Riyadh Theater Festival 2024

Riyadh Theater Festival 2024 is the second edition of the Riyadh Theater Festival. It was launched by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, affiliated with the Saudi Ministry of Culture, from December 15-26, 2024, at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh City, capital of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Riyadh Theater Festival, in its second edition, aimed to stimulate the theater and performing arts sector, as well as to discover and develop talents and revitalize and activate the local theatrical scene through competition among troupes for the festival’s awards. It also worked on raising awareness of the theater sector, focusing on the development of theatrical criticism, in addition to supporting local production for Saudi theater.

The list of theatrical performances selected to participate in the second edition of Riyadh Theater Festival included: “Al-Suqut Min Nass Dafee (Falling from a Warm Script), Rehla Dawliyah (International Journey), Imbratoriyyat Mankhulia (Mancholia Empire), Harisat al-Masrah (Theater Guard), al-Naʿishun (The Revivers), al-Mukaʿbal (The Tumbled One), Container, Shaker Holmes, al-Hadhyan (Delirium), al-Mughamir wal-Mamlouk (The Adventurer and the Mamluk), Sharhaban, Toq (Collar), Rasheed wa al-Li Sawah Fi Bilad al-Wah Wah (Rasheed and What He Did in the Land of Wah Wah), Khatam Zawaj (A Wedding Ring), Wardat al-Laylak (Lilac Rose), Hafid lil-Ijar (A Grandchild for Rent), al-Ashbah (The Ghosts), al-Qumqum (The Bottle), Ghemah (A Cloud), Sleeq wa Baqit (Sleeq and Baqit).” Participation in the festival was divided into two main tracks: Social Theater and Contemporary Theater.

The 2024 edition of Riyadh Theater Festival featured two tracks:

- Social Theater Track: A track that included theatrical works that embodied social environments, local issues and stories, and popular heritage. It utilized treatment approaches close to the audience and their interests.

- Contemporary Theater Track: A track that relied on modern theatrical methods to achieve a metaphorical function reflecting the artist’s perceptions. It employed scenography elements, sound, lighting, and actor formation techniques. It also included monodrama and duodrama components.

Several activities accompanied the festival to support the arts and theatrical performance, such as workshops, intellectual seminars, and the Honored Figure Exhibition.

Riyadh Theater Festival 2024 received submissions from entities producing theatrical works in Saudi Arabia through the registration page in its first phase, in October 2024. This was followed by a phase of screening, viewing, and evaluating the works by a specialized theater committee to select approximately twenty theatrical performances for the festival’s official competition. The next phase was the festival stage, which included qualified works from various regions of Saudi Arabia to participate in the official competition organized by the commission in Riyadh. Participating theatrical troupes competed for multiple awards in different aspects of theatrical production.

Riyadh Theater Festival 2024 supports the efforts of the Theater and Performing Arts Commission in promoting theatrical activity and local production for Saudi theater, as well as encouraging the participation of Saudi theater professionals, discovering and refining their talents. This was achieved by presenting twenty-two theatrical performances, three intellectual seminars, three workshops, and twenty critical reviews, alongside the Honored Figure Exhibition and various accompanying events.

Riyadh Theater Festival presented monetary awards to winners in its competition, including a cash prize for Best Integrated Theatrical Performance, Best Theatrical Direction, Best Theatrical Script, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and monetary awards for Best Theatrical Set Design, Best Theatrical Lighting, Best Theatrical Music, Best Theatrical Costumes, and Best Theatrical Makeup.