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The play “Ma qabla El Masrah” (Before theater) by the Kartina association of Mostaganem won the grand prize of the 14th edition of the local professional theater festival of Sidi Bel Abbès, which ended Thursday evening at the Abdelkader Alloula Regional Theater which hosted the event due to the closure for renovation of the TR of Sidi Bel Abbès.
Directed by the young Saïd Zakaria, this work inspired by the text of the playwright Abderrahmane Kaki seduced the jury with its artistic quality. In addition to this prize, “Ma qabla El Masrah” offers Kartina a ticket to the next National Festival of Professional Theater (FNTP) which will be held in December at the Algerian National Theater Mahieddine-Bachtarzi (TNA) in Algiers. A wonderful opportunity for this young troupe to measure itself against the greatest names in Algerian theater.
Fouzia Ait El-Hadj, president of the jury, stressed that the level of the six shows in competition was very similar. She encouraged young directors to explore comic theatre, a genre that is often neglected but has great potential. “The level of the six shows participating in the event was very similar. It was necessary to choose a winner who could join the National Festival scheduled for December in Algiers. The jury chose the play Ma qabla El Masrah because it met certain criteria, concerning performance, text, staging, music and scenography.”
Fouzia Ait El-Hadj also encouraged young people to explore comedy theater. She stressed that “even if comedy is a demanding exercise, excelling in it could open great opportunities for these young people in the world of theater. If, however, they do not succeed, it would be better for them to turn to another field.”
Said Zakaria, overcome with emotion, expressed his deep pride in winning the award for his play “Ma qabla El Masrah”. He said that “the work of the late Abderrahmane Kaki won the gold medal, ex aequo with the famous playwright Peter Brook, in 1982, in Egypt. Today, my play wins first place on the stage of Abdelkader Alloula”. He dedicated this award in tribute to two giants of Algerian theater.
Rachid Djerourou, who is in charge of the festival, gave a positive assessment of the edition that is coming to an end. While acknowledging the success of the event, he stressed the need for renewal, driven by youth and their new perspectives.
For the curator, this edition was also an opportunity to realize a long-held dream: to pay tribute to the theater critic and journalist Kamel Mustapha Bendimrad. Looking to the future, he promised an even more accomplished next edition, free of errors and rich in discoveries.
The festival was also marked by tributes to emblematic figures of the theatre, including Fadila Assous, Mohamed Mihoubi, Mohamed Khassani and Houari Ellouz, as well as to the members of the jury for their valuable contribution.
The play “National Duty”, written by the late Abdelkader Alloula (1939-1994) and performed by the talented actors Houari Bouabdallah and Mohamed Khassani. Their performance was greeted with a standing ovation, paying vibrant homage to Alloula’s legacy.
The festival was also an opportunity to highlight the promising next generation of Algerian theatre. The young people from the training school of the cultural association “El Amel” in Oran delivered a great performance by presenting the works of the workshop on the art of interpretation led by the director Tounes Aït Ali, dedicated to the memory of the playwright Bafadhel Sidi Mohamed.