This annual festival is the only one in the Middle East and North Africa to be organised by an independent theatre company. Performances are mainly in Arabic and English.
Advertisement
The festival was first held in 1994, initiated by members of Amman's Al Fawanees theatre company to provide a venue for artistic exchange among independent and experimental Arab troupes. It aims to encourage alternatives to the present environment in which artists work in the Arab world, as well as increasing their exposure to a more global spectrum of artistic activity.

The eight days of activities this year are made up with performances (from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Swiss, Italy, Palestine, Jordan, Sweden, and Turkey), workshops, movie days, and three workshops (sound techniques, improvisation and dance). Also, a meeting about artistic documentation and oral history is scheduled, and the final part of the festival hosts a meeting to discuss relations between the European directors and the Arab directors.<