The Kingdom of Bahrain concluded its participation in the 4th Jerash Monodrama Festival, held as part of the 40th Jerash Festival of Culture and Arts in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from 26 July to 1 August 2026, with a remarkable Arab achievement.
Representing Al Sawari Theatre, the production The So-Called Coincidence captured four of the festival's most prestigious awards, while Bahraini playwright Yousif Al Hamdan received the Best Playwriting Award. The festival featured 12 theatrical productions representing 11 Arab countries: Jordan, Bahrain, Palestine, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Sudan, and Egypt.
The participating productions included Hoor and The Last Supper (Jordan), Al Hakoura (Palestine), The So-Called Coincidence (Bahrain), Mr. Stage (Syria), Emotional Auction (Saudi Arabia), Smoke (Iraq), Letters Before Death (Morocco), Cage (Tunisia), The Fetus (Libya), With Red Lipstick (Sudan), and The Arrival (Egypt). The productions competed before an audience of distinguished theatre professionals, critics, and artists from across the Arab world.
The So-Called Coincidence emerged as one of the festival's standout productions, winning Best Overall Performance, Best Director for Ibrahim Al Mansi, Best Scenography for Abdullah Al Bakri, and the Special Jury Award for actor Kamel Al Busaidi. In addition, Bahraini playwright Yousif Al Hamdan was awarded Best Playwriting for his play Mr. Stage. On this occasion, Hussain Al Oraibi, President of Al Sawari Theatre, expressed his pride in the achievement, describing it as another milestone in the distinguished record of Bahraini theatre on the Arab and international stage.
Al Oraibi said: "I extend my sincere congratulations to the team behind The So-Called Coincidence and to Mr. Yousif Al Hamdan on this well-deserved recognition. These awards reflect the advanced level that Bahraini theatre has reached and reaffirm the ability of our national talents to compete successfully and earn recognition at the Arab world's most prestigious theatre festivals."
He added that such accomplishments underscore the importance of continued investment in Bahrain's theatre sector through the development of cultural infrastructure, the establishment of a Higher Institute of Performing Arts, and sustained support for Bahraini theatre companies to participate in regional and international festivals and training workshops. Such initiatives, he noted, would further strengthen Bahrain's cultural presence on both the Arab and global stages.
This latest achievement continues the distinguished legacy of Al Sawari Theatre, which for more than three decades has represented the Kingdom of Bahrain at major cultural events, earning numerous awards and reinforcing Bahrain's reputation as a leading centre for theatrical creativity in the region.
