The 23rd Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre will kick off on 20 September and run until 30 September.

The festival is one of two large-scale state-run festivals taking place in Egypt – with the second one being the Cairo International Film Festival – and is presided over by the former president of the Academy of Arts Sameh Mahran.

A total of 29 plays will be staged during the 10-day festival, 13 from Egypt, six from other Arab countries – Tunisia, Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq – and 10 plays from Chile, Sweden, Armenia, the US, Russia, Moldova, Rwanda and Poland.

The plays are to be staged at 10 theatres across Cairo: the Small Hall at the Cairo Opera House, the Artistic Creativity Centre, El-Hanager, El-Ghad, El-Taliaa, Metropole, Miami, Falaki, El-Gomhouria, and the Cairo Puppet Theatre.

The festival's workshops and lectures will take place simultaneously at the Pyramisa Hotel and other theatre venues.

Guests from the participating countries will be in attendance, including directors, actors and leaders of troupes and festivals. A discussion will be held after the first performance of each play.

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