The second edition of the "Season of the University Theatre's Stars" wraps up today, 17 February, in the presence of Egypt’s Minister of Culture Helmy El-Namnam, head of the Cultural Development Fund Nivine El-Kelany, and the festival's founder, director Khaled Galal, who is also head of the Creativity Centre and responsible for the cultural production sector within the Ministry of Culture.

Jury president actor Ezzat El-Alayli will announce this edition’s winners.

The 10-day festival opened on 7 February with daily performances by students of different theatre faculties held at the premises of El-Ibdaa (The Creativity Centre).

Ten troupes are competing for this year's main awards.

This year’s edition honoured famous actors who commenced their career in university theatres, including actor Yehia El-Fakharani, Farouk El-Fishawy, Salah Abdalla, and late actors Fouad El-Mohandes, Mohamed Awwad and Khaled Saleh.

"The university theatre has played an important role in the history of theatre in Egypt,” Khaled Galal told Al Ahram Hebdo in a recent interview. “Several big names who performed in university plays have made it to the limelight, among them well-known actors such as Adel Imam, Salah El-Saadani and Maged El-Kedwany." 

"It is at the university that I first fell in love with theatre. This is also where I had the opportunity to meet several great directors who worked with students. Unfortunately, over the years, the university theatre has lost its lustre," he added.

The festival's jury comprises actor Mohamed Riyadh, stylist Marwa Ouda, scenographer Amr Abdallah and theatre critic Abla El-Roweini.

The first edition of the festival took place in July 2014 as an initiative of director Khaled Galal. It is organised by the Cultural Development Fund.

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