“The Last Option”... discusses the impact of globalization on our Arab societies at the Cairo International Forum for University Theater
In the presence of Mohamed Riyad Ali Al-Hanager... “The Last Option” is the second official competition show at the Cairo International Forum for University Theater
This evening at eight o'clock, the Hanager Theater in the Opera House witnessed the presentation of the theatrical performance "The Last Choice", from the Emirates, as part of the official competition performances of the Cairo International University Theater Forum in its fifth session, headed by director Amr Kabil, and in the presence of the performances jury, and the artist Mohamed Riad, president. The National Festival of Egyptian Theater, “Egyptian Theater Festival”, the critic and playwright Ibrahim Al-Husseini, Ahmed Abu Rahima, Director of the Theater Department at the Department of Culture in Sharjah (UAE), the screenwriter Walid Youssef, the researcher Muhammad Rashid Rashoud from the Emirates, and the critic Dr. Dalia Hammam, critic Ahmed Khamis Al-Hakim, director Adel Hassan, director of the Vanguard Theater, writer Magdy Mahfouz, and an elite group of Egyptian, Arab and foreign playwrights.
The play “The Last Option,” from the Emirates, deals with the aspects and impact of Western thought and globalization on our Arab societies in a comedic form, and the text is inspired by George Martin’s masterpiece - Chapter Four, “A Feast for Crows.”
“The Last Option”, starring: Majid Al-Mazmi, Nasr Al-Din Obaidi Abdullah Al-Shassani, Rashid Al-Zarouni, Sidra Al-Zoul, Halima Issawi, and the participation of Othman Obaid, Abdulaziz Al-Zarouni, lighting design and implementation by Hamid Al-Asiri, sound effects engineering and implementation by Abdullah Al-Dalali, costume and accessories design. Makeup by Abdullah Muhammad, set design and assistant director Majid Al-Mazmi, engineer Majid Al-Mazni, production implementation by Abdullah Al-Hashemi, and the show prepared and directed by Abdullah Muhammad Al Ali.
The jury for the official competition performances is composed of the distinguished artist Azza Labib (Egypt), the actress and artist Randa Al-Asmar (Lebanon), the actor and director Karim Rashid (Sweden), and the theater critic and interior designer Dr. Aida Allam, Professor of Theater Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Helwan University (Egypt), Doctor. Dr. Tahani Al-Gharibi from (Saudi Arabia)
It is worth noting that the fifth session of the forum, bearing the name of the distinguished artist Farida Fahmy, is held under the slogan “Life is Ours,” and witnesses 11 theatrical performances, Egyptian, Arab and foreign, including 9 performances in the official competition. During this week, the audience of the forum will see three Egyptian performances and six Arab performances. From Iraq, the Sultanate of Oman, the Emirates, Tunisia, Morocco, Kuwait, and a performance outside the official competition for the Taibah Academy team, and a theatrical performance at the closing ceremony.
The Cairo International Forum for University Theater will be organized from 21 to 27 October. It is chaired by the founder of the forum, director Amr Kabil, and its higher committee is chaired by Professor Dr. Hossam Badrawy. Its membership includes the star artist Tariq El-Desouki, the writer and author Fatima Naout, and the writer Dr. Amal Siddiq Afifi, and Professor Dr. Samar Saeed, Dean of the Higher Institute of Folk Arts, Secretary-General of the Forum, and Artistic Director of the Forum, the star artist Hossam Dagher.
The forum continues its sessions after the success and great international resonance of the first international gathering of its kind in Egypt for university theatre, where the first session was launched in October 2018, under the patronage of Mr. Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The forum is organizing its fifth session, in the period from 21 to 27 October. 2023, under the official sponsorship of Prof. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, for the third session in a row, with the support and sponsorship of the Ministry of Culture, headed by Prof. Dr. Nevin Al-Kilani, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports, headed by Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, the Tourism Promotion Authority, and the Egyptian Artists Foundation for Culture and Arts.
