From November 22 to 29, the 26th edition of the JTC promises an immersion in the diversity of Arab, African and world theater, under the sign of dialogue and change.
The 26th edition of the Carthage Theater Days (JTC) promises to be bustling. More than 80 shows from Tunisia, the Arab world, Africa and elsewhere will be on view, from November 22 to 29, 2025, in Tunis and in several regions.
Placed under the slogan “Theatre, awareness and change. The theater, the beating heart of the street”, this edition, directed by Mounir Ergui, intends to reconnect with the civic dimension of the festival: to make the stage a place of expression and social transformation.
An eclectic and open program
The program, unveiled Thursday at the Cité de la Culture Chedly Klibi, gives pride of place to plurality.
Twelve plays compete in the official competition, alongside a rich parallel program: 15 international shows in the World Theater section, 16 Tunisian creations in National Theater, and 6 Arab and African works from Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Iraq, Jordan and Libya.
The Théâtre de la liberté, produced in penitentiary establishments, will present 16 creations, including three plays performed by women prisoners and two from re-education centers.
Twelve shows will also be dedicated to childhood and youth.
The opening, scheduled for November 22, will set the tone: the Egyptian play King Lear by Shady Sorour Ali, with the great actor Yehia El-Fakharani, will be presented at the Opéra de la Cité de la Culture, while Fadhel Jaïbi will unveil his new creation Rêve at the Le Rio hall.
Tunisian talents on the front line
In competition, Tunisia will be represented by Les Fugueuses by Wafa Taboubi and Jacaranda by Nizar Saïdi, two award-winning works during the Tunisian National Theater Festival Seasons of Creation.
They will rub shoulders with productions from Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Ivory Coast and South Africa.
The jury, chaired by Lassaad Ben Abdallah, brings together six figures from Arab and African theater, including Saade Aldaass (Kuwait), Malek Laakoun (Algeria) and Abdon Fortunée (Congo).
Participants will compete for the gold, silver and bronze Tanit, as well as four distinctive prizes: best text, best scenography, best female and male performance.
Between tributes, reflection and training
The JTC 2025 will pay tribute to several figures of Tunisian and international theater, including Leïla Rezgui, Fethi Akkari, Slim Sanhaji, Lazheri Sebii, and Hedi Boumiiza, but also Latefa Ahrrare (Morocco), Imad Mohson Ali Chanfari (Oman) and Abdramane Kamaté (Ivory Coast).
Special distinctions will salute the careers of Leïla Toubel, Aziza Boulabiar, Mohamed Massoud Idriss, Yehia El-Fakharani and Sylvie Dyclo-Pomos.
The International Theater Forum, scheduled for November 24 to 26, will have the theme “The theater artist: his time and his work” and will bring together speakers from ten countries.
Workshops and masterclasses will be led by Fadhel Jaïbi, Mohamed Moumen, Igor Yatsko (Russia), Gamal Yakout (Egypt), Evdokimos Tsoulakidis (Greece), Ali Abdel Nabi Al Zaïdi (Iraq) and Mihaela Mihut (Romania).
The Frenchman Harold David will offer a session on “How to participate in the Avignon off festival”, and a meeting will take place with Patrice Pavis, world reference in theater studies.
Created in 1983, the Carthage Theater Days remain an unmissable event for Arab, African and Mediterranean artists.
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