Al Shafaq Experimental Theatre Festival (Muscat 2026) – Full Schedule
Dates & Daily Timings
The inaugural Al Shafaq Experimental Theatre Festival ran in early January 2026. According to official reports, the festival took place January 1–6, 2026 (Thursday through Tuesday), with one performance each night. Evening shows began promptly at 8:00 PM.
Venue & Location
All festival performances were held at the College of Banking and Financial Studies Theatre in Muscat (often called CBFS). Oman’s news sources note that the entire festival ran on the CBFS stage in the Al-Ghubra area of Muscat. This central venue accommodated both the six experimental plays and the accompanying discussion sessions.
Performances & Acts
The festival featured six original experimental plays by Omani theatre . Key performances included:
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Jan 1, 2026 (Thu): Luban Theatre Group – Tawahhus (توحّش), directed by Sami Al-Busaidi.
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Jan 2, 2026 (Fri): Al-Salam Amateur Theatre – Masameer Al-Khulood (مسامير الخلود), directed by Ahmed Al-Batal.
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Jan 3, 2026 (Sat): Al-Din (Al-Den) Theatre – Ramad (رماد), directed by Mohammed Khalfan.
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Jan 4, 2026 (Sun): Al-Shafaq Theatre – Nuqt (نُقَط), directed by Walid Al-Maamari.
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Jan 5, 2026 (Mon): Al-Bunn Theatre – Wajum (وجوم), directed by Osama Zayed.
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Jan 6, 2026 (Tue): (Sixth competitive performance – local troupe and title not explicitly named in available reports.)
Each evening’s play was presented in a competitive showcase format. (Oman’s Ministry of Culture notes that the festival “includes six experimental theatre performances” in total) After each show, cast and crew often joined critics and the audience for Q&A or critique sessions.
Themes & Special Events
Beyond the plays, the festival’s program emphasized experimental theatre concepts. Organizers held post-show panels and critique sessions on the aesthetics and questions of experimental dramaalwahamagazine.com. In these discussions, local and visiting theatre artists and scholars debated the meaning of “experimentation” in text, direction, and performance. A jury of theatre experts (Omani and international) oversaw the competition, and several Arab critics and directors attended as guests. These intellectual sessions (often led by the festival director and guest moderators) were a special feature aimed at deepening the theatrical dialogue.
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