(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) MANAMA Feb 2 (KUNA) -- President of the Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities (BACA) Shaikha Mai bint Mohammad Al Khalifa opened the 9th Awal Theater Festival on Tuesday with seven plays from GCC member states on the agenda.The event to last until February 8 features four Bahraini plays and one from each of the Sultanate of Oman the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Shaikha Mai highlighted in her inaugural speech the role of the theatrical art in the cultural movement in the Gulf region and in strengthening the people-to-people relationships.She wished success for the participants in event in offering performances that could live up the good reputation of the Gulf theater.The festival opened with 'maqamat bin tayeh' play offered by the UAE Ras El-Khaima troupe while Bahrain's Awal Theater is to perform 'Al-Nafitha' (the window) play on Wednesday. (end) mge.gb