The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

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From walking into the theatre, hearing the rustling of the programmes and the quiet murmurs to the hush that takes over the room as the curtain goes up, everything about the theatre experience is thrilling. As a booming industry in Egypt teeming with intelligentsia, it comes as no surprise that our theatre festivals would go global, travelling and blessing the world with our creations. This year, the Sharm El Sheikh International Theatre Festival for Youth (SITFY) is going to Kraków, Poland, on April 20th!

Inaugurating on April 20th and ending on April 23rd, SITFY marks a revolutionary milestone in the theatre industry, not just in Egypt but also in the MENA region. With the help of an exciting collaboration with Kite Theatre, an independent Kraków expat theatre company, SITFY will introduce its latest edition for the first time beyond national borders, creating a meeting point for the theatre cultures of various continents. 

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The event is set to take place in the Centrum Kultury Dworek Białoprądnicki, a cultural centre in Kosciuszko Park in Kraków. An important historical landmark dating back to the mid-16th century, the Centrum Kultury Dworek Białoprądnicki holds diverse events and classes, from exhibitions and multimedia shows to concerts and workshops, making it the ideal spot for such a culturally rich festival. 

Stretched across four days, SITFY promises to provide an expansive, all-embracing exploration of theatre through a slew of competitions and performances, whether honoree or premiere performances. With eight performances in total, the festival celebrates the work of several countries around the world. From Poland and Romania to Saudi Arabia and Oman, the performances are guaranteed to integrate the local, the regional, and the global, giving us a glimpse of multiple cultures.

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Zeroing in on the anticipated competition, the jury will include theatre professionals from different countries, such as Dr Engy El Bestawy, the Egyptian managing director of the festival, and Edmond Xhumari, the Albanian artist and director. As esteemed professionals, all the jury members have expressed their sincere pride and honour to partake in such a radical event.

Not just stopping with its action in Poland and making do with going to one country, SITFY hopes to spread even further, with solid plans to travel to Italy next October. With this in mind, it is the absolute debut of a local Egyptian festival going global!

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