Slim Sanhaji
Slim Sanhaji began his theatre career in the mid-1970s in school theatre. In the early 1980s, he joined the Triangle troupe led by the late Habib Chebil, first as a stagehand and later as an actor, appearing in Carnaval, which won the Grand Prize at the Carthage Theatre Days. He went on to direct several acclaimed productions, including Safar and Sa’at Hob. He also served as Director of the Hammamet International Festival and Artistic Director of the Carthage International Festival. In addition, he founded and managed Dar Masrahi in Bardo (Tunis), where he created numerous cultural events.
Fathi Akkari
A graduate of the Tunis Drama Centre, Fathi Akkari continued his academic studies in Paris before returning to Tunisia to teach at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, following the completion of his PhD.
He was one of the founders of organic theatre in the early 1980s and a pioneer of “home theatre” experimentation.
Specialized in actor training, he was widely recognized for his theory of alternative theatre and the concept of the actor-researcher.
His most notable stage works include Zenous, Makata, and more recently Et si.
He is also the author of The Kamikaze Actor and the Impossible Theatre, a synthesis of his artistic and theoretical research.
Ali Khemiri
A key figure in the Tunisian artistic scene, Ali Khemiri is an actor, director, and theater educator. He graduated from the Centre d’Art Dramatique de Tunis (now the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts, ISAD).
He has taught theater in various high schools across Jendouba and Kasserine, as well as at the School of Theatre Professions under the Centre Dramatique et Scénique du Kef. Between 1985 and 1990, he directed the Professional Theatre Troupe of Jendouba, creating notable productions such as Bayna al-Horouf (Between the Letters), El Kamiyouna (The Truck), and Al-Sakhra (The Rock).
Alongside his theatrical work, Khemiri has appeared in numerous television and film productions that have left a strong impression on Tunisian audiences.
Lazhari Sebei
Born in 1946 in Kef, Lazhari Sebei began his career performing in school theatre productions before joining, in 1971, the permanent troupe of Kef, then led by Moncef Souissi. He contributed to many of the troupe’s productions, including Houki wa Hraïri, Women at Risk, The Good Ones, Zir Salem, and Rachmon.
His popularity grew thanks to his participation in several television series, particularly the trilogy directed by Noureddine Chouchane: Al-Fakh, Al-Marhoum, and Al-Awda. He also appeared in series such as Awdat El-Minyar, Gamrat Sidi Mahrous, Douroub El-Mouwajaha, and Shar’aa El-Hob. He is recognized as one of the key figures of the permanent troupe of Kef, especially during its golden years.
Hédi Boumaïza
Born on September 10, 1948, in Kasserine, Hédi Boumaïza began his theatrical career within the association Al-Sanabel (“The Ears of Wheat”). In 1967, he joined the Professional Troupe of Kasserine, directed by Moncef Souissi, where he worked as an actor, stage manager, and general manager until 1975.
After a stint with the Municipal Theatre Troupe of Tunis (1976–1980), he returned to Kasserine between 1980 and 1984, before joining the Tunisian National Theatre (TNT), where he remained until his retirement in 2008.
Throughout his long and rich career, Boumaïza contributed to some of the most memorable works in Tunisian theater, including Hamlet, El Hani Bouderbala, Sidi Nadhem, and Rajel wa Mara (A Man and a Woman).
Leila Razgui
Born in 1960 in Tunis, Leila Razgui began her theatre career in 1977 within school and amateur associations. She started with the Al Zaitouna Theatre Association, performing in plays such as The Tempest, Al-Zardab, and The Women’s Plot. She also performed with Al Taliaa Theatre in Sleeping Beauty, with the Tunis Municipal Theatre Company in The Maids and Richard III, and with various private companies in productions like The Gypsies, Our Life Is a Song, and The Singles, as well as several plays for children, teenagers, and adults.
Latefa Ahrrare (Morocco)
She is one of the most prominent female figures on the Moroccan theatre scene and is currently the Director of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art and Cultural Animation in Rabat (Morocco). President of the Moroccan section of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), she was elected in September 2023 as a member of the Executive Board of the International Theatre Institute under UNESCO.
Among her works as a playwright, actress, and director are Kafar Naoum, 1,2,3, and Don Kichouch.
Holding a PhD in documentary theatre and cinéma du réel from Abdelmalek Essaâdi University in Tetouan, she is also known for her award-winning documentary films.
Abdramane Kamaté
Born in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Abdramane Kamaté is a graduate of the Sorbonne University, where he earned dual degrees in cultural strategies and industries as well as in political science. A recognized specialist in the arts and cultural exchanges in Africa, he has served since 2023 as the Director General of MASA, the Abidjan Performing Arts Market.
He previously worked as Director of Programming at the Institut français in Paris, as cultural attaché and Director of the Institut français in Jakarta, and as Executive Director of the Institut français in Chad and Côte d’Ivoire. He has also taught at the Higher Institute of Arts and Culture, strengthening an expertise widely acknowledged across the African continent.
Imed Mohsen Al-Shanfari
Imed Mohsen Al-Shanfari is one of the pioneers of the theatrical movement in the Sultanate of Oman and a key figure in Gulf theater, with more than forty plays to his credit and over thirty productions directed. Most of his works have been recognized with awards both in Oman and across the Gulf region.
He is also the author of several publications combining criticism, theory, and creative writing, including Theatrical Projections Between Tragedy and Comedy, Texts of Omani Theater, and Under the Shadows of the Great House.
Since 2024, he has served as President of the Omani Theatre Association. He also headed the UNESCO International Theatre Organization Office in Oman and has been honored at numerous international festivals. He holds an honorary doctorate in directing.