In a festive atmosphere full of vitality and warmth, the Small Theatre at the Cairo Opera House hosted, on Friday, March 27, 2026, the celebration of World University Theatre Day. The event was held ضمن activities of the Cairo International Festival for University Theatre, in cooperation with the Cultural Activities Department.
The celebration, organized by the festival team under the leadership of Hossam Badrawi, Chairman of the Higher Committee, and director Amr Qabil, founder and president of the festival, began with the Egyptian national anthem, followed by a series of speeches and performances reflecting the spirit and human message of theatre.
Amr Qabil’s Speech
Director Amr Qabil emphasized that since its founding in 2018, the festival has been keen to participate annually in World University Theatre Day celebrations. He noted that the goal is to maintain activity throughout the year, not only during the festival in October.
He added that the timing of the celebration carries special significance given the regional crises, stressing that art and theatre remain voices of peace and love. He also expressed his happiness in honoring distinguished theatrical figures.
Dr. Hossam Badrawi’s Speech
Dr. Badrawi expressed his pleasure at attending, noting that his repeated participation in university theatre celebrations always reminds him of “the beauty of Egypt and the beauty of its youth,” emphasizing that this promising generation is capable of shaping the future and achieving prosperity.
He explained that the criteria for selecting members of the Higher Committee are based on their ability to embrace and enrich youth talents, as well as their openness to change, which he described as “a law of life.”
In response to a question from actress Reem Ahmed about the secret behind his youthful energy, Dr. Badrawi revealed two key factors:
- Continuous engagement with young people and listening to their ideas
- Focusing on the best in others
He added that seeing the positive aspects in people fosters optimism, noting that society holds a great deal of beauty worth recognizing and celebrating.
His Vision for the Festival’s Future
Dr. Badrawi stated that his ambitions focus on:
- Achieving sustainability
- Expansion and wider reach
- Increased media attention
He pointed out that the festival is a youth-driven, non-profit initiative funded by the الشباب themselves, and therefore deserves greater media support.
He concluded with a message to young people:
“Keep going and don’t stop because of obstacles… there is no such thing as failure; every experience builds a new success.”
Artistic Performances and Honors
The celebration featured a variety of artistic performances by previous winners, including:
- Singing
- Dance
- Acting
- Poetry
The atmosphere reflected creativity, enthusiasm, and a shared love for theatre.
Several theatre figures were honored:
- Actress Haidy Abdel Khalek
- Lebanese actress Marwa Qarouni
- Actor Ezzat Zein
Veteran actor Mohamed Sobhi was also honored. He was unable to attend due to unforeseen circumstances but sent a recorded message expressing his appreciation. The award was received on his behalf by writer Fatma Naoot.
The event concluded with the announcement of the “Star of This Year’s Edition,” the renowned actress Esaad Younes, to great applause.
Higher Committee Formation
The Higher Committee includes a distinguished group of public and artistic figures, including:
- Dr. Hossam Badrawi (Chairman)
- Director Amr Qabil (Festival President)
- Actor Hussein Fahmy
- Dr. Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour
- Dr. Samar Yaeed
- Writer Fatma Naoot
- Dr. Fatma El-Boudy (author and publisher)
- Prof. Osama Hamdy
- Dr. Nabila Makram
- Actress Azza Labib (Festival Director)
Attached is Dr. Badrawi’s speech for the festival:
https://drive.google.com/…/1Gm4TYG0o2B5sjHMov8W…/view…
