Damascus, Aug. 2 (SANA)Syria opened its2026 Theatre Festivalon Saturday with a performance of The White Side at Damascus’ Al-Hamra Theatre, as theMinistry of Culturecontinues efforts to promote the country’s theatre scene through a program of Syrian stage productions.

The play, written by Faten Derki and directed by Suhail Aqla, explores themes of compassion, human resilience and personal responsibility, while criticizing superstition and practices portrayed as harmful to individuals and society.

Speaking to SANA, Aqla said the production encourages audiences to embrace the “white side” within themselves and promote values of kindness and solidarity. He described theatre as a reflection of society and an important platform forcultural dialogueand social engagement.

Actor Mohammad Jandiyah said his character, Iyad, is a visual artist struggling with grief after the death of his mother while facing social barriers that complicate his relationship with the woman he loves. He said the story ultimately conveys that genuine happiness comes from meaningful human relationships rather than false promises or illusions.

The festival, organized by the Ministry of Culture’s Directorate of Theatres and Music, is intended to highlight contemporarySyrian theatreand support the country’s cultural scene through a series of performances staged during the event.