Fujairah To Host Sixth Fujairah International Monodrama Festival

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, the Sixth Fujairah International Monodrama Festival (FIMF) will be held from 20 - 28 January 2014. The festival, which is organized by the Fujairah Culture and Media Authority (FCMA), will host one actor theatre shows from 12 Arab and international countries, with a guest list of more than 300 celebrities from all over the world.

This was stated by Mohammad Saeed Al Dhanhani, Vice Chairman of FCMA and the Festival’s Chairman, during the press conference that was held on Wednesday January 8th at Le Meridien Al Aqah Hotel in the presence of the Festival’s Director, Mohammad Saif Al Afkham and a number of the festival’s main sponsors.

At the beginning of the press conference, Al Dhanhani expressed his sincerest thanks and appreciation to HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Fujairah, for his patronage and support of the festival since its first year. He also extended his thanks to HH Sheikh Mohammad bin Hamad bin Mohammad Al Sharqi, Crown Prince of Fujairah, for his support of the festival’s management and of cultural activities in Fujairah, and Sheikh Dr. Rashid bin Hamad Al Sharqi, Chairman of FCMA for his continuous efforts and his commitment to achieve more success with the festival.

Al Dhanhani said: "Theatre artists from all over the world aspire to be part of FIMF as it brings together an elite group of the leading theatre artists and experts in the world, and particularly in the field of one actor theatre or monodrama. We hope that this success will continue for more years and editions to come".

The festival will start with a spectacular opening ceremony that will be held on the evening of Monday 20 January 2014 on Al Aqah beach in Fujairah. The ceremony will include an operetta titled "Pearl of the East". The operetta has been written by the Jordanian poet Jeryes Samawi, and will be performed by Sima Dance Group. The music has been composed by Dr. Abdul Rab Idris. A number of Emirati stars such as Hussain Al Jasmi, Aryam, Walid Ibrahim and the Kuwaiti artist Mohammed Al Mesbah will read the poems for the operetta which is directed by Maher Al Sulaibi.

Al Dhanhani revealed that renowned Kuwaiti actor Abdul Hussain Abdul Ridha was chosen as this edition’s winner of the Fujairah Award for Excellence in Theatre. He will be honored by H.H. the Ruler of Fujairah during the opening ceremony. Winners of the Arabic version of the International Playwriting Competition will also receive their awards during the opening ceremony. The winners of the competition are: the late Jordanian writer Atif Al Farrayah (his widow Mrs. Amal Al Mashayekh will receive his award), Mr. Mamoun Al Hajjaji from Egypt, Ms. Fayza Mostafa from Algeria and Mr. Mostafa Al Hamdawi from Morocco.

Festival Director Mohamed Saif Al Afkham announced the participating shows in the 6th Fujairah International Monodrama Festival: "Finding Aziza Sulaiman"; written by the late Jordanian writer Atif Al Farrayah, directed by Asaad Fidha, performed by Amal Arafa and produced by Fujairah Culture and Media Authority. "Maya" (Algeria); written and directed by Boussela Houari Hichem and performed by Janati Souad. "A Woman in Waiting" (South Africa); written by Yael Farber ’&’ Thembi Mtshali-Jones, directed by Yael Farber and performed by Thembi Mtshali-Jones. "Just Garbage" (Oman); written by Qassim Matroud, directed by Khalid Al Amri, and performed by Abdul Hakim Al Salehi. "Sighing" (China); written by Yu Rongjun, directed and performed by Tian Mansha. "Burning" (Sudan); written by Farhan Al Khalil, directed and performed by Huda Al Mamoun. "Eves of a Dream" (Jordan); written by Mofleh Aladwan, directed by Firas Almasri, performed by Arij Aljabour. "Convict Women: Lifetime Exile" (Australia); written and performed by Jolanta Juszkiewicz, directed by Anatoly Frusin and Jolanta Juszkiewicz. "Life as a Dream: Salvador Dali" (Germany - Russian Theatre); written by: Salvador Dali (stage adaptation by Inna Sokolova-Gordon), directed by Inna Sokolova-Gordon and performed by Vadim Grakovski. "The Law of Gravity" (Tunisia); written and performed by Meher Awachri and directed by Imad May and Meher Awachri. "Miss Julie" (Sweden); written by August Strindberg, directed and performed by Anna Pettersson. "Diary of a Mad Man" (Kuwait); written by Nikolai Gogol, directed and performed by Yousif Al Hashash. "Human Form 1" (Germany); written, directed and performed by: Minako Seki.

Panels and Discussions Al Afkham also stated that all the winning texts of the Arabic Version of the International Playwriting Competition were published in a book that will be distributed during the festival. The book is published by FCMA and ITI/UNESCO in both Arabic and English. He also stated that the festival’s main panel titled "Monodrama: Text and Embodiment" will be held on 23 January 2014. It will include papers by Dr. Abdul Halim Al Masoudi from Tunisia, Dr. Najwa Qandaqji from Jordan, Fahad Al Harthi from Saudi Arabia, Omar Ghubash from the UAE, and Dr. Juri Alschitz from Germany and Steve Karier from Luxembourg.

There will also be the usual after-show discussions and a round table discussion titled "What’s left of Theatre: New realities, new trends". Speakers include: Savas Patsalidis (Critics Association - Greece), Ross Manson (Canada), Sun Huizhu William (China). Dr. Hans-Georg Knopp (Germany), Anatoly Frusin (New Zealand) and Colin Watkeys (UK). A memorial service of the late Jordanian poet and writer Atif Al Farrayah, who won 1st prize in the Arabic Version of the International Playwriting Competition for his text "Finding Aziza Sulaiman" will be held during the festival. Polish artist Jolanta Juszkiewicz will be giving a workshop on "Poor Theatre Method" to young local talents.

Moreover, Al Afkham revealed that Lithuanian artist Birute Mar is the first winner of the Fujairah International Monodrama "Valery Khazanov" Award and she will receive her award during the festival. He also stated that the ITI will have its executive board meetings on the sidelines of the festival.

The festival’s director said the guest list includes celebrities from the UAE, Arab and foreign countries.

Emirate:  Fujairah

Date: Jan 9, 2014

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