ATI assigns Sameh Mahran to deliver message of Arab Theatre Day

This choice comes in recognition of his distinguished stature within the Arab theatre scene, his role as a leading intellectual reference, and his active contribution to shaping the theatrical landscape in Egypt and the Arab world.

A Pivotal Figure in Egyptian, Arab, and International Theatre

Dr Sameh Mahran, born in Cairo in 1954, earned his PhD in 1989 with a thesis titled "The Concept of War in Arab Theatre." As a professor of drama and theatre studies, he has played a pivotal role in the theatrical arenas of Egypt, the Arab region, and beyond, through his scholarly output and the leadership positions he has held. He has presided over multiple editions of the Cairo International Festival for Experimental Theatre, served as Head of the Educational Media Department at the Faculty of Specific Education – Cairo University, and acted as advisor for the university president on arts. He also headed Al Ghad Theatre and the National Centre for Theatre, Music, and Folk Arts, presided over the Academy of Arts in Cairo, and chaired the Theatre Committee of the Supreme Council of Culture. Mahran is the author of numerous plays, studies, and influential books, and has translated many key academic sources.

A Constellation of Influential Theatre Makers

With this message, which he will deliver at the opening of the 16th Arab Theatre Festival—organised by the ATI in collaboration with Egypt’s Ministry of Culture from January 10 to 16, 2026—Sameh Mahran joins a constellation of influential theatre makers who have penned these messages from 2008 through 2025. These figures have crafted pages lit by the light of knowledge and the fire of experience, envisioning the future with an awareness rooted in the present and its pressing questions.

Ismail Abdullah: Mahran Is a Valuable Intellectual and Creative Addition

Secretary-General of the Arab Theatre Institute, Ismail Abdullah, expressed his pride in Dr Sameh Mahran and the profound intellectual and creative presence he represents. Mahran, he said, is a creative academic whose contributions span multiple dimensions of the theatrical process and whose influence reaches across all Arab theatre landscapes. Abdullah considered Mahran’s addition to the group of message-bearers a valuable intellectual and creative contribution to the legacy of visionaries who have shaped deep perspectives—starting with Yacoub Al Shadrawi in 2008 and including other significant names that have given Arab Theatre Day profound meaning within our theatrical lives.

Mahran: A Deep Personal Drive to Continue in Theatre

For his part, Dr Mahran expressed his sincere gratitude to the ATI, its Secretary-General the esteemed writer Ismail Abdullah, and the Board of Trustees for choosing him to carry the message of Arab Theatre in the 16th edition of the Arab Theatre Festival in Cairo. He added that this honour is a responsibility—and that the selection serves as a powerful and deeply personal motivation to continue in the field of theatre, which he loves and is passionate about.