Saudi Play 'The Hoop' Shines on Global Stage in Edinburgh

The Saudi play The Hoop, featured at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, successfully concluded its run in the Scottish capital, drawing large and enthusiastic audiences.

 This participation in the festival—the largest of its kind in the world—came under the theme “Voices of the World Stage,” a celebration of cultural diversity. More than 2,000 artists from 256 countries participated, presenting over 3,350 performances.

 The play received widespread acclaim from audiences and critics, who praised the strength of its script and direction, as well as the depth of its intellectual messages. It served as a contemporary window through which Saudi and Arab culture was presented in a global artistic language.

 The Hoop was performed at the historic Bedlam Theatre, one of Edinburgh's most prominent venues. The performances offered European audiences an opportunity to engage with an Arab dramatic vision that explored human and existential issues in a modern, symbolic style—addressing routine, repetition, and the search for meaning in life.

 The play's participation, supported by the Theater and Performing Arts Commission, is part of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's efforts to strengthen the global presence of Saudi creativity and convey the local cultural voice to international platforms, in line with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 in the cultural sector.

 It is worth noting that The Hoop won the Best Contemporary Performance Award at the 2024 Riyadh Theater Festival and also participated in the 79th Avignon Festival. Its run in Edinburgh further highlighted the excellence of Saudi theater and its ability to deliver compelling, high-quality performances on the world stage.