Amman, Sept 16 (Petra) – The 19th edition of the Jordanian Children’s Theater Festival, dedicated to the late director Samir Al-Khawalda, opened Tuesday evening at the Royal Cultural Center in Amman.

Nidal Al-Ahmad, Secretary-General of the Ministry of Culture, said in his opening speech that the festival represents a key milestone in enriching Jordan’s theatrical scene. He described children’s theater as the foundational stage for society, serving as a school for dialogue, awareness, and personal development.

“The importance of children’s theater lies in fostering national identity and noble human values in children, while encouraging them to engage with digital transformations and scientific advancements,” Al-Ahmad added, stressing the ministry’s reliance on children’s theater to create a vibrant theatrical culture responsive to contemporary challenges.

The opening ceremony, hosted by actor Karam Al-Zawahreh, featured the launch of the Children’s Theater Museum exhibition in the “Fakhr Al-Nisa” hall, showcasing puppets, marionettes, shadow theater, and photographs documenting past children’s theater performances.

A film tribute honoring the late director Samir Al-Khawalda highlighted his 25 years of contributions to children’s theater in Jordan and across the Arab world. Al-Ahmad presented the festival shield to Al-Khawalda’s family in recognition of his artistic legacy.

The festival, running for five days, features performances including the shadow theater “Here is Amman” by the Puppet Theater Museum, “Moon Island” directed by Mahmoud Al-Zughoul, “Ward and the Magic Brush” directed by Fadia Abu Ghoush, and “Cinderella Returns” directed by Ramadan Al-Fayoumi.

The opening shadow theater performance, “Here is Amman,” explored the city’s history from ancient times to the present, highlighting landmarks such as the Roman Theater, downtown restaurants, and the traditional vegetable market.

Children attending the opening received the ministry’s “Wisam” magazine and balloons.

//Petra// AF
16/09/2025 22:15:27