KUWAIT CITY, Dec 5: The 24th Kuwait Theater Festival kicked off on Wednesday evening with a special tribute to the legendary artist Maryam Al-Saleh, who was named the "Personality of the Year" in recognition of her extensive contributions to the theater movement in Kuwait.

Representing the sponsor of the event, Minister of Information and Culture and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi, Dr. Mohammad Al-Jassar, Secretary General of the National Council for Culture, Arts, and Letters (NCCAL), delivered a speech at Dasma Theater. He expressed Kuwait's pride in Al-Saleh, who made history as the first Kuwaiti woman to take the stage in 1962. Dr. Al-Jassar highlighted that her remarkable career has enriched both Kuwaiti and Arab arts, making her one of the cornerstones of Kuwaiti theater and an inspiring figure for future generations.

Ismail Abdullah, Secretary-General of the Arab Theater Authority and President of the Theater Association in the UAE, also welcomed the audience. He praised the importance of Maryam Al-Saleh's contributions to theater and recognized Kuwait's longstanding influence in the field, including hosting the 40th anniversary of the Permanent Committee of Civil Theater Groups for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

In his speech, Abdullah underscored the role of theater in bridging cultures and civilizations throughout history. He noted that the Kuwait Theater Festival, which began in 1989, was founded to fulfill the National Council's social responsibility to promote theater's cultural, political, moral, and human significance. The festival serves as a platform for local theater groups, fosters competition, and provides audiences with diverse artistic experiences.

Dr. Al-Jassar also praised the festival for helping raise Kuwait’s profile in international theater festivals, where the country’s artists have won numerous awards, enhancing Kuwait's artistic reputation.

Before the ceremony, Dr. Mohammad Al-Jassar, Assistant Secretary-General for the Arts Sector Musaed Al-Zamel, and Maryam Al-Saleh inaugurated an art exhibition showcasing her impressive career.

Khaled Al-Ruwaie, Chairman of the Permanent Committee for Civil Theater Groups in the GCC, expressed his appreciation for Kuwait, the birthplace of the Gulf Theater Festival, which was launched in 1988. He spoke about the committee’s evolution and its collaborative efforts to sustain the Gulf theater project, while acknowledging the support of Minister Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi and early pioneers of the festival.

During the ceremony, Musaed Al-Zamel, Assistant Secretary-General of the NCCAL’s Arts Sector, and Chairman of the Festival, announced the members of the festival's jury. The jury includes Dr. Abdullah Al-Aber (Chairman), Dr. Musa Arti, writer Taghreed Al-Dawoud, and artists Jamal Al-Radhan and Abdullah Al-Turkmani.

The festival features a wide range of activities, including six theatrical performances, panel discussions, and two artistic workshops. The first performance, Under the Shadows by the Gulf Arab Theater Group, will be held on Thursday, December 5. Other performances will follow, including works by the Kuwaiti Theater Group, the Arab Theater Group, the Public Authority for Youth, and Trend Production Company. The final performance, Call, will be presented on December 10 by the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts.

All performances will be staged at Dasma Theater, followed by practical seminars with artists, critics, and theater experts. The festival will conclude with a closing ceremony and awards on Thursday, December 12.