“Fresco, Memory of Theatre”: Agadir Paints Its History at the 6th Edition of the International Performing Arts Festival of Agadir at the Faculty of Letters

The Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences in Agadir has unveiled the programme for the sixth edition of the Agadir International Performance Arts Festival, which will open on Thursday, November 12, 2026, at the faculty’s facilities. The unique event brings together theatre, culture, art and visual arts under the theme “Mural, Memory of Theatre.”

The event affirms that theatre is not merely a fleeting spectacle, but a collective memory painted on walls to preserve the city’s identity, kept alive in books and passed on through scholarly debate and education. It will be supervised by a distinguished group of teacher-researchers, writers and artists from Morocco and abroad, in a cultural journey combining visual arts, performance, academic conferences, book presentations and signings, and training workshops.

The programme will begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday, November 12, 2026, with the launch of the mural by artist Said Nejima, which will accompany the festival throughout its three days. At 4 p.m., the festival address will be delivered, followed at 4:30 p.m. by a performance from the “Bang Bang Family” troupe entitled “El Hal.” The first day will conclude at 5 p.m. with the presentation and signing of Dr Azeddine Bounit’s book “Nassij Al Akhila” (The Fabric of Imaginations).

Work on the mural will continue from 9 a.m. on Friday, November 13, 2026, alongside a cultural discussion devoted to the experience of Moroccan writer Mohamed Kaouti and the signing of his latest book, “Jira” (Neighbourhood). Participants will include Drs Hassan Youssefi, Azeddine Bounit, Khalid Amine, Rachid Douani and Mohamed Laaziz, as well as Mr Lahcen Chaabi.

In the afternoon, at 3 p.m., the first session of the academic conference will be held on the theme “Theatre and the Sacred.” It will be moderated by Dr Mohamed Achhab, with the participation of Drs Hassan Youssefi, Rachid Douani and Ismail El Ouarabi, as well as Mr Karim Bellad.

At the same time, Dr Ghizlane El Idrissi will lead a training workshop on “Developing Cultural Projects.” The day will conclude at 5 p.m. with the presentation and signing of Dr Mohamed Laaziz’s book “The Body in Popular Performance.”

The final day will begin at 9 a.m. with the continuation of work on the mural, alongside the second session of the academic conference on “Theatre and the Sacred.” Moderated by Dr Mohamed Hammam, the session will feature Drs Azeddine Bounit and Mohamed Laaziz, as well as Mr Said Abou Anan and Mr Mohamed Ait Lahssaine.

At 11 a.m., Dr Hassan Youssefi’s book “The Invisible Spectacle” will be presented and signed, followed at noon by the presentation and signing of Dr Mohamed Jalal Aarab’s book “Social Theatre.” The festival will close at 1 p.m. with a visit to the mural, in a festive gathering bringing together artists, researchers and members of the public.

Open to all, the event offers teachers, students, researchers, artists, cultural figures, and the local and national press an opportunity to take part in its activities and help make the city of Agadir a space open to dialogue between theatre, memory and the mural.