Friday/Saturday July 17, 2026

The Saudi play 'Mazad Atefi' continues its presence on the Arab festival map through a new tour in July, starting from the Arab Republic of Egypt with participation in the ninth edition of the Cairo International Monodrama Festival from July 13 to 17, before heading to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to participate in the fourth edition of the Arab Monodrama Festival, as part of the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts, held from July 26 to August 1. This step reflects the growing presence of Saudi theater in major Arab theatrical forums.

Saudi Economic Reports

This tour extends the successes achieved by the production during 2025, after representing the Kingdom in the tenth edition of the Sharm el-Sheikh International Festival for Youth Theater, where the lead actress Afnan Al-Khedr won the Special Jury Award, along with the Distinguished Acting Talent Award for her performance in the play. The play's text, by writer Ohood Al-Qurashi, had previously won second place in the playwriting competition organized by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission in 2024.

'Mazad Atefi' presents a contemporary monodrama experience addressing human and social issues with a theatrical vision relying on solo performance and visual language. It is written by Ohood Al-Qurashi, directed by Turki Baisa, produced by Jowqat Al-Masrah Troupe, and stars Afnan Al-Khedr. The work also includes assistant director Dana Al-Qedhi, costumes by Rola Mutlaq, set design by Samia Al-Nu'mani, makeup artist Laila Al-Harthi, and production assistant Khaled Sham.

The Jowqat Al-Masrah Troupe, founded in Riyadh in 2021, continues to solidify its presence in the Saudi and Arab theatrical scene by producing quality works and participating in local and international festivals, as part of its vision to present Saudi theater as a space for creativity and cultural dialogue, and to enhance its presence on regional and international platforms.

The participations in Cairo and Jerash mark a new milestone in the journey of 'Mazad Atefi', which continues to represent Saudi theater in Arab festivals, affirming the rising momentum and growing presence of Saudi theater in terms of production, creativity, and competition in international forums.