School Theatre Festival opens in Muscat

The 11th School Theatre Festival was launched on Monday evening, April 20, 2026, at 7:00 pm, under the theme “Rooted Values... Creative Generation”, at Dohat Al Adab School Theatre, under the Directorate General of Education in Muscat.
The event was held under the auspices of Dr Abdullah bin Ali al Shibli, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Education for Higher Education. The programme began with the honouring of the patron, marking the official opening of the festival.

This was followed by a piano performance presented by student Luai al Hinai from Shaikh Salem bin Said Al Saighi School. Al Hinai said his talent in piano began during the lockdown period, when he borrowed an instrument from a friend and started learning. He explained that the early stages were challenging, but through continued practice and learning musical notes, he was able to develop his skills. He added that he is currently participating at the Sultanate of Oman level and aspires to achieve first place.
Following the musical segment, a play titled “Barawiz” was presented as part of the festival programme. The performance was followed by a discussion session with the audience, during which themes related to art and identity were raised, along with reflections on the role of performance in educational activities.

The discussion also highlighted different aspects of the performance, including its presentation and the ideas it conveyed, while allowing the audience to engage and share their observations in an open setting.
In this context, Ali al Alawi, a school activities supervisor at the Directorate General of Education in Al Sharqiyah South Governorate, said his role in the festival involves providing feedback on the performances. He noted that the purpose of this feedback is to evaluate and support the efforts of students and teachers involved in the work, while also encouraging them and raising their morale.
Al Alawi also called on parents to support their children’s talents and encourage their participation, stressing that school activities form an essential part of the educational process.