OMAN, Muscat, Oct 25, (Agencies): The capital, Muscat, witnessed the launch of the fourth edition of the International "Ad-Dan" Theater Festival for Children and Adults, and Street Theater, which runs until the 31st of this month, hosted by the Omani Society for Cars' activities.

The festival commenced with a significant audience presence through the Children's Theater competition, with the presentation of "Beautiful Fingers" by writer and director Asaad Al-Siyabi, featuring a group of children and the artist Idris Al-Nabhani. The performance addresses the important issue of bullying, which has become widespread among children in the Arab world recently.

The play "The Zone" by the "Al-Ban" theater troupe kicked off the Street Theater competition. The show tackles the issue of educated young people who are forced to earn their living by trading on the streets, despite their academic qualifications. They bring their trade and stories to the street sidewalks and their struggles. The work is written and directed by Sami Al-Busaidi.

In the Adult Theater competition, the Arab Republic of Egypt presented the play "Night of Assassins," written by Jose Triana and directed by the young Egyptian director Mohamed Zaki. The show delves into the relationship between parents and their children. The director chose this script due to the constant differences between generations, with each trying to cling to their own views and not allowing the new generation to control their lives. They attempt to impose their own old way of life on them, making them feel as though they are not truly alive and that they are living what their parents wanted from them.

The accompanying activities of the festival included the start of the intellectual symposium titled "Street Theater: Experiments and Concepts." Dr. Bashar Al-Owei presented a paper on "Street Theater: Its Nature and History." Dr. Azza Bint Hamoud Al-Qasabi presented a paper on "Street Theater in Oman: Opportunities for Development and Growth."

The artist Shadia Zaitoun discussed "Scenography in Street Theater," while the writer and director Mubarak Al-Ghazali talked about his experience in Street Theater. The first day of the symposium concluded with the signing of the book "Street Theater: Study and Texts" by Dr. Bashar Al-Owei.

The festival's committee, in cooperation with the Educational Activities Department at the Directorate of Career Guidance at the Ministry of Education, held a workshop titled "Rediscovering the Senses for the Actor," presented by the Syrian artist Mustafa Al-Khani. This was for those in charge of theatrical activities in the schools of the Governorate of Muscat.

Our thanks to the Egyptian Ministry of Culture... and the best is yet to come.