Kuwait, November 9 (QNA) - The 8th Kuwait International Monodrama Festival opened today, Sunday, at the Kuwait National Museum, with Qatari participation.

The festival, which runs until next Thursday, features 11 theatrical performances from 10 countries: Kuwait, Qatar, Spain, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman, Algeria, Iraq, and Palestine.

Qatar is participating with the play "The Shoeshine Man," written by Dr. Khaled Al Jaber, which has previously been performed at several festivals.

The play, presented in a monodrama style, explores the suffering of contemporary Arabs amidst political and social transformations. It tells the story of a single character's internal conflict, rich with multiple voices and meanings, reflecting a sense of alienation and futility.

The festival opened with the play "Abaya" by the Teatro Troupe from Kuwait, written by Dr. Fatima Al Attar and directed by Dr. Hani Al Nassar. The opening ceremony also honored Kuwaiti artist Ibrahim Al Sallal as the festival's honoree, along with several other Kuwaiti and Arab artists.

On this occasion, Musaed Al Zamil, Assistant Secretary-General for the Arts Sector at the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters in Kuwait, stated that monodrama is one of the most refined forms of theatrical expression, where the actor and audience meet in a space of truth and creativity, allowing the single actor to present a rich artistic and intellectual vision that embodies the essence of theater and its humanistic meaning. (QNA)