Theaterical performances are ongoing across Jeddah during Eid courtesy of the creativity of Saudi artists.

The festival is held under the slogan “Eidna kidda” (Arabic for “this is how we celebrate Eid”) in Jeddah’s downtown historical area, slated to enter into UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites.

Four shows debut every day for four days, with special selected plays for families, children and even for young Saudi men.

Three comedy plays are also being performed at the Abruq Al-Rughama Cultural Center in the Sulaimania district, a four-day theater at an arts and cultural center near the Corniche and performances at the Ismail Abu Dawood Hall in the Jeddah Chamber Of Commerce and Industry (JCCI).

Jeddah Mayor Hani Abu Ras, Ali Al-Ghamdi, the mayor’s secretary, Mohammed Al-Yami, the festival’s official spokesman and social responsibility director at the Jeddah Municipality, and Faisal Yamani, Eid festival director, visited the sites, in addition to north Obhur and the downtown area, to ensure festivities are going smoothly.

“We try and improve festivities every year by introducing more events,” said Abu Ras. “We hope that these events contribute in enriching the cultural, tourism, economic fronts.”

The Jeddah Municipality, the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) and the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities (SCTA) organized the entertainment festival for four days under the patronage of Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal Bin Abdullah and Jeddah Gov. Mishaal bin Majed.

Several plays satirized social issues, such as the “Abbas clinic” segment depicting a doctor who botched a cosmetic surgery. The play was performed at the cultural center in the Sulaimania area.

The play was written and conceived of by Imad Yousef, Mohammed Haji , artists Imad Yousef, Mohammed Al-Haji, Jamil Ali, Mohammed Bakar, Hassan Touati and Mohammed Baqahom and directed by Mohammed Al-Sharekh.

“Discounted marriage,” the second play, is showing at the waterfront’s cultural center between the second and fourth day of Eid.

The play is written by female writer Sara Mohamed, starring Agadir Al-Sayeed, Rania Mohammed, Sarah Yafei and Mervat Mansouri and directed by Farouq Shouaibi.

The plot revolves around two sisters who are trying to land the men of their dreams as they get older.

The JCCI hall, meanwhile, will feature a comedy theater entitled “guests on the sidewalk” from the third to the fifth day of Eid depicting issues facing foreign workers, including their problems with the Labor Ministry.

The comedy play is written and directed by Fahd Al-Asmari, starring Omar Al-Deini, Mohammed Al-Zahrani, Magdy Qazi, Badr Mautari and Mohammed Al-Faifi.

Al-Yami said that the municipality was keen on giving these performances a platform to educate members of the public on social issues.