Benghazi – This year, World Theater Day faces continuous challenges in Libya. Production is weak. Institutional support is declining. There is an absence of cultural spaces. These spaces are needed to host theatrical performances and young talent. Calls advocate reactivating theater. It is seen as a tool for public awareness and social expression.
World Theater Day is celebrated every March 27. The International Theater Institute adopted it in 1962. It serves as an annual occasion. It highlights theater’s role in cultural and social life. It also honors artists, writers, and directors.
Theater is more than an artistic performance. It serves as an open space. Here, community issues are discussed. Public concerns are conveyed. Discussions are stimulated about transformations and challenges. This makes it a key tool for shaping public awareness. It also fosters dialogue.
Salwa Al-Maqasbi is the head of the Performing Arts Professions Syndicate. She emphasized the importance of this occasion. Its celebration should not be just symbolic. It must be an opportunity to review Libyan theater’s reality. Urgent needs for support and development must be addressed.
Al-Maqasbi spoke to the Libyan News Agency. She explained theater has always been a platform. It expresses people’s issues. It questions identity, reality, and transformation. Despite challenges, theater retains its vital role. This is thanks to artists’ efforts and their persistence.
She added that theater support needs an integrated cultural vision. This vision goes beyond seasonal performances. It includes training and qualification. Suitable infrastructure must be provided. New generations need opportunities to participate and experiment.
Cultural enthusiasts see theater as a vital space. It enhances community dialogue. It discusses public issues. Theater presents reality in a direct, human way. This fosters understanding and influence. It also enables change.
In Libya, observers state restoring theater’s role is vital. It is part of a general cultural revitalization. Theater is historically linked to social transformations. It also addresses major societal questions.
Al-Maqasbi concluded her statement. World Theater Day honors Libyan theater practitioners. They continue creating despite many challenges. They believe in theater’s role. It is a space for words, ideas, and dialogue.