Egypt will hold the first edition of the National Egyptian School Theatre Festival from November 10 to 22, under the patronage of First Lady Entissar El-Sisi, with students from different educational stages across the country taking part, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Culture on Monday.
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and acting Culture Minister Abdelaziz Konsowa said the patronage reflects the state’s commitment to nurturing children, discovering their talents and promoting the role of the arts in developing students’ personalities and strengthening their sense of identity and belonging.
He described the festival as an important step towards restoring theatre’s role in schools, noting that school theatre has helped discover talents who later became prominent figures in Egyptian arts.
The initiative aims to develop students’ creativity, self-confidence, communication skills and ability to work as a team, the minister stressed.
The festival is organised in co-operation between the ministries of Culture and Education, with the National Centre for Theatre, Music and Folk Arts and the General Authority for Cultural Palaces among the organisers.
Head of the General Authority for Cultural Palaces, Hisham Atwa, said the authority’s theatres across Egypt would host rehearsals and performances free of charge, ensuring that students could participate regardless of their schools’ resources or locations.
Director of the National Centre for Theatre, Music and Folk Arts, Adel Hassan, said the event turns recommendations from a national conference on developing school theatre, held in August 2025, into practical action.
Competitions will begin at school level before progressing through educational districts, directorates and regional rounds, culminating in the final events in Cairo. The festival will close on November 22, coinciding with the celebration of World Children’s Day.
