International Street Theater Festival opens in Kirkuk, celebrating cultural diversity

KIRKUK — The 8th International Street Theater Festival in Kirkuk began on Saturday, drawing artists from 14 countries for a series of performances and cultural displays. The festival’s opening ceremony took place along the main streets near the old governorate building, featuring a mix of street performances, Kurdish music recitals, and drum shows with participation from both Kurdish and Iraqi artists, as well as international attendees.

Kirkuk Governor and Kurdistan Region’s Minister of Culture and Youth were among the prominent guests at the ceremony, which included a prestigious award presentation. Twelve artists from Kurdistan and various Arab countries received the Golden Award for their contributions to the arts.

The festival is scheduled to run for three days, showcasing performances by 22 theater groups. The diverse lineup includes international acts from countries such as Iran, Spain, and Lebanon, offering a broad spectrum of theater genres. In addition to the performances, prominent actors and directors from various regions have been invited as special guests.

Renowned Kurdish actor Mustafa Ahmed expressed his support for the festival, telling 964media, “I appreciate the organizers of this festival, an international platform where our culture and those of other countries are shared and appreciated.”

Ahmed also emphasized the significance of hosting the festival in Kirkuk, noting the challenges faced by the Kurdish community in the city. “Over successive regimes in Iraq, the people of Kirkuk, especially the Kurds, have faced many injustices and have been deprived of their rights. Kurds here have not had the same freedoms as in other Kurdish areas,” he said, underscoring the cultural importance of the event in promoting understanding and solidarity.