National Festival Connects Algerian Youth to Theater Memory
The 57th National Cultural Festival of Amateur Theater commenced in Mostaganem on Wednesday evening, bringing together 11 theater groups from across Algeria. Seven of these groups are participating in the official competition, representing wilayas including Mostaganem, Oran, Tissemsilt, Blida, Boumerdès, and Tizi Ouzou. Four additional groups from Mostaganem and Relizane are presenting their works outside the competitive framework. The opening ceremony took place at the Regional Theater "Djilali Ben Abdelhalim" in the presence of local authorities, numerous artists, theater professionals from various regions, and a significant public audience.
Minister of Culture and Arts, Malika Ben Doudah, delivered an address, read on her behalf by Mohamed Merouani, the wilaya director of culture and arts, emphasizing the festival's national importance. She highlighted its role in showcasing Mostaganem's prominent theatrical movement and nurturing emerging young talents in acting and theatrical training. The Minister underscored the festival's vibrant nature and its message of loyalty to the founders of theatrical art, noting its historical roots in struggle and its capacity to inspire determination in today's youth. She affirmed that this edition creates a sophisticated bridge between young people and memory, stating that the festival, born from the revolution and independence, remains dedicated to amateurs, youth, and creativity, staying true to its original identity.
The opening ceremony featured a choreographic performance titled "Journey" by Opera d'Algeria, directed by Belmehdi Ayoub Nasrallah. Tributes were also paid to the late artists Ahmed Haroun and Touati Bahafid, as well as to theater artist Bouzidi Abdelkader, recognizing their significant contributions to enriching the Algerian stage and preserving the legacy of the fourth art. This year's jury, chaired by Halim Zeddam, includes renowned figures such as Nawar Dalila, Brahimi Ismail, and Nabila Ibrahim Zaidi. The festival program further includes training workshops led by five specialists in performance arts and a special meeting titled "Amateurs Have a History," designed to connect participating amateur artists with festival veterans to foster shared experiences and facilitate knowledge transfer between generations.
