Being a "Cultural Bridge Between East and West," as the press release reads, the festival focuses on powerful and intimate form of solo performance.
"As an artist working between cultures, I have always believed that theatre has the unique ability to connect people beyond language and geography," Rashad commented adding that "Kraków Fest is not just a festival; it is a meeting point for voices, stories, and perspectives from around the world."
Rashad is an Egyptian-born theatre maker, actor, and director based in Poland. He is the co-founder and artistic director of Kite Theatre, an independent platform for experimental and English-language theatre in Kraków. His work spans acting, writing, and directing, with productions presented in Poland and internationally, often blending elements of physical theatre, absurdism, and cross-cultural storytelling.
The festival's first edition is dubbed Eros Awakened and features 11 monodramas from Turkey, South Korea, USA, Spain, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, UK, including a play representing Palestine, Jordan, and Switzerland. All performances are staged with English translation.
The international dimension of the festival is further strengthened by the presence of distinguished figures from the global theatre scene, including Arab nationals. Among them is a the Omani theatre academic and researcher Abdelkarim Jawad Allwati who presdies over the festival’s main jury, and a Jordanian journalist Rula Habahbeh, who participated in plays selection committee.
The festival also features workshops conducted by renowned international artists, covering topics such as acting transformation, intricate theatrical techniques, the relationship between body and space on stage, and work with memory.
Egyptian artist, Mohamed Farag, conducts a workshop titled Body and Space in Theatre. Farag is a leader at Ashtanga Egypt Center located in Dęblin (south east Poland).
The festival's strategic partner and founder of its Grand Prix is Mohamed Saif Al-Afkham, Emirati theatre academic and former president of International Theater Institute (ITI–UNESCO, 2016-2024), and the first Arab President of ITI.
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