Doha: The U VENUE Theater in Doha, for the second year in a row, is set to embrace the 37th Doha Theatre Festival on Wednesday. The festival is organized by the Ministry of Culture, represented by the Theater Affairs Center, in collaboration with the Qatar Events Center. The event reflects the ministry's efforts to energize the cultural scene in Qatar by promoting theatrical performances and encouraging Qatari theatre-makers to push forward in the performing arts.
According to Qatar News Agency, ten theatrical productions are vying for honors at this festival, including the opening play *A Notorious Being* by Hamad Al Rumaihi, and notable entries such as *Drowning* by Talib Al Dous, *Nine O'Clock* by Mariam Nasser, *You Are Invited to a Party* by Fatima Al Amer, and *The Stranger* by Tamim Al Borshaid. Other competing works include *The Captain* by Dr. Khalid Al Jaber, *Palm* by Faisal Rashed, *The Scent of Cardamom* by Abdulrahman Al Mannai, *Clowns Wanted* by Taghreed Al Dawood, and *Al Bahloul* by Talib Al Dous.
The closing ceremony on May 31 will feature an awards presentation and a concluding showcase titled *Theatre is the Audience*. The jury is chaired by Dr. Huda Al Nuaimi and includes director Salem Majed Al Marzouqi, critic Dr. Abdulkarim Jawad from Oman, Dr. Mousa Arte from Kuwait, and director Essam El Sayed from Egypt.
The festival also includes critical roundtables and applied symposia, with two dedicated sessions on May 24 and 27. Honorees include veteran figures nominated by the troupes, Youssef Ahmed, Saad Al Borshaid, and Ahmed Al Muftah. Two commemorative books will be unveiled during the festival, chronicling the contributions of Dr. Hassan Rashed and Faleh Fayez to the Qatari theatre movement.
Awards will span multiple categories, including best production, direction, writing, lead and supporting roles, scenography, musical composition, costume design, and emerging talent, with new additions for best overall production and best Arab guest performance. The festival remains a core component of the Ministry of Culture's broader vision to empower artists and foster a thriving theatrical landscape in Qatar.