KUWAIT CITY, Nov 10: The eighth Kuwait International Monodrama Festival began on Sunday at the Kuwait National Museum, celebrating the distinguished career of veteran Kuwaiti artist Ibrahim Al-Sallal, who was honored as this year’s featured personality.

Held under the patronage of Minister of Information and Culture, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and Chairman of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL), Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, the festival will run until Thursday and feature 11 theatrical performances representing 10 countries — Kuwait, Spain, South Africa, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Algeria, Iraq, and Palestine.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister, Assistant Secretary-General for Arts at NCCAL, Musaed Al-Zamel, described monodrama as “one of the most refined forms of theatrical expression,” emphasizing its power to unite the actor and audience in an intimate space of truth and creativity.

“We are delighted to honor the esteemed artist Ibrahim Al-Sallal, whose long-standing artistic journey has given us timeless works that continue to illuminate the history of Kuwaiti and Gulf art,” Al-Zamel said. He also announced the honoring of Saudi director Ahmed Al-Ahmari for his outstanding contributions to Arab theater.

Al-Zamel added that the festival reflects NCCAL’s vision to promote the theatrical movement, encourage emerging talent, and foster cross-cultural dialogue through artistic exchange.

Festival President and Founder Jamal Al-Laho highlighted the festival’s commitment to innovation in its structure, ideas, and performance selection since its inception. “This year’s edition includes international works from South Africa and Spain, affirming the festival’s growing global reach,” he said.

“The festival is not merely a series of performances, but a gathering of souls devoted to art — a reunion of memories and dreams that celebrate theater’s enduring spirit,” Al-Laho added.

The opening ceremony also honored several artists and creatives, including director Ahmed Al-Ahmari, artist Khalifa Khalifoh, artist Haifa Adel, director Najaf Jamal, poet Saher, and author Farah Al-Saqqaf.

Audiences were treated to the opening performance, Abaya by Kuwait’s Teatro Troupe, written by Dr. Fatima Al-Attar, directed by Dr. Hani Al-Nassar, and starring Rouh Salah.

Monodrama, a theatrical genre centered on a single actor, places full dramatic weight on the performer’s expressive abilities — transforming voice, movement, and emotion into a powerful human narrative that connects directly with the audience’s heart and mind.