The 26th edition of the Carthage Theater Days (JTC) opened Saturday evening at the Cité de la Culture, bringing together Tunisian, Arab and African artists for a week dedicated to stage creation. Between tributes, street performances and artistic positions, this opening set the tone for a festival placed under the sign of collective consciousness and committed speech.
An opening in motion in the streets of Tunis
The inaugural evening did not only take place within the premises of the Théâtre de l’Opéra: it took place on Avenue Habib Bourguiba, where the musical show “Jouloud” brought a vibrant atmosphere, merging Tunisian, Arab and African sounds. The same evening, the Le Rio venue hosted “Rêve”, the new creation by director Fadhel Jaïbi, while the Théâtre de l’Opéra presented the Egyptian play “King Lear”, revisited by Shady Sorour Ali and performed by the famous actor Yehia El-Fakharani.
This simultaneous programming at different points in the capital gave the evening the character of an urban celebration, where audiences moved from one space to another, reflecting the festival’s desire to bring theater closer to the street, and the street to the theater.
An evening dedicated to the memory and major figures of Tunisian theater
In his speech, the artistic director of the JTC, Mounir Argui, recalled that the 2025 edition is structured around the slogan: “Theater, consciousness and change. The theater, the beating heart of the street. »
The opening ceremony was also an opportunity to honor a wide range of Tunisian and foreign artists. Among the personalities celebrated were Leïla Rezgui, Fethi Akkari, Ali Ohemiri, Lazheri Sebii, Slim Sanhaji and Hedi Boumiiza, as well as the Moroccan Latefa Ahrrare, the Omani Imad Mohson Ali Chanfari and the Ivorian Abdramane Kamaté.
A posthumous tribute was paid to several missing figures of Tunisian theater, including Ahmed Hadhak El Aref, Fathi Haddaoui, Mohamed Fadhel Jaziri, Anouar Chaafi, Fraj Chouchane, Abir Jebali, Amara Melliti, Salah Bourjini, Mokhtar Mlih, Taoufik Hammami and Mohamed Ali Belhareth.
A high-stakes pan-Arab and pan-African competition
The jury for the 2025 edition, chaired by Tunisian director Lassaad Ben Abdallah, brings together members from Algeria, Congo, Kuwait, Syria and Tunisia. Twelve Arab and African shows compete for the prestigious gold, silver and bronze Tanit, as well as for the text, scenography and interpretation prizes.
At the same time, a rich out-of-competition program welcomes works from Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America, including creations from Italy, France, Senegal, Iceland, Mexico and even Iran.
The organizers have also maintained a tradition dear to the JTC: productions carried out within prisons and rehabilitation centers, allowing prisoners and young interns to appropriate the stage as a rehabilitation space.
Organized from November 22 to 29, the festival offers more than 80 shows as well as an International Theater Forum.
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