TUNIS / Adel Al-Thabeti / Anadolu

The 60th edition of the International Festival of Hammamet in Tunisia opened Saturday evening with the play 'The Runaways' by director Wafa Taboubi, one of the most prominent Tunisian and Arab theatrical works that has won several awards.

The festival, which takes place in the tourist city of Hammamet (east) and continues until next August 13, is held under the slogan 'A Living Memory' and includes 32 shows ranging from music, theater, and contemporary dance, with the participation of artists from 12 countries.

The opening performance of 'The Runaways,' produced by the Tunisian National Theater (state-run) and Al-Ustura Production Company with support from the Ministry of Culture, drew a large audience, according to videos circulated on social media.

The play's events unfold in a space resembling a mysterious waiting station, where five women and a man meet in a state of anticipation, before the waiting turns into an existential journey exploring questions of identity, destiny, and salvation, reflecting escape as a psychological and intellectual act in the face of a crisis-ridden reality.

'The Runaways' won, last January, the 'Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi' Award (awarded by the Arab Theatre Authority, headquartered in Sharjah) for Best Arab Theatrical Performance at the 16th edition of the Arab Theatre Festival in Egypt. It also previously won the Golden Tanit (Grand Prize) at the 26th edition of the Carthage Theatre Days, in addition to the Grand Prize of the third edition of the Tunisian National Theatre Festival 'Seasons of Creativity'.

On June 27 last, the festival administration stated in a press release that the 'exceptional edition' celebrates six decades since the founding of the festival, which is considered one of the most prominent 'cultural and artistic appointments in Tunisia and the Arab world, and a space for meeting between creative experiences and different cultures.'

It added that the program includes participants from 'Tunisia, Lebanon, Algeria, Morocco, Mali, Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Cuba, the United States, and the Palestinian territories,' reflecting an artistic vision based on diversity and openness.

It pointed out that the shows will include various musical styles and contemporary artistic experiences.

The list of participants in the current edition includes artists such as Lebanese Marcel Khalife, Moroccan Najat Aatabou, Palestinian Faraj Suleiman, Italian Mario Biondi, and Portuguese Mariza, along with a number of Tunisian artists, including Soufia Sadek, Chokri Bouziane, and musician Zafir Yusuf.

The edition also allocates space for new Tunisian musical performances, including 'Live With Orchestra' by Nour Argoun and Selim Argoun, 'Echo of the Atlas' by Attel Maawi, 'Doulicha' by Bouthaina Napoli, and 'Nostalgic' by Mehdi El Mouelhi.

The theatrical program also includes performances of 'Jacaranda' by director Nizar Al-Saidi, 'Homa' by director Sirine Qennoun, and 'The Garden of Lovers' by director Moez Al-Ashouri.

The first edition of the International Festival of Hammamet opened in 1964 with William Shakespeare's 'Othello,' directed by the late Tunisian artist Ali Ben Ayed, while the 59th edition opened in July 2025 with the musical and theatrical performance 'Rgouj' by director Abd El Hamid Bouchneka.