The kick off of the 7th National Festival of Professional Theater took place on Saturday in Algiers by the president of the 2012 edition, actress Sonia. This was in the presence of the Minister of Culture Khalida Toumi. To mark the 50th anniversary of Algeria’s independence, the event selected the slogan “50 years of Independence, 50 years of theatre.” The festival will run until September 27 at the National Theatre Mahieddine Bachtarzi. The President of the 7th edition declared opening the festival during a ceremony which was distinguished by the presentation of a poetic combination by the poet Toufik Ouamane. The characters were praised before the opening of Oran’s regional theatre troop which launched the competition among 17 troops from different parts of the nation. Director of the Regional Theatre of Annaba said in her opening speech that the 7th edition of the National Festival of Professional Theater coincides with the 50th anniversary of Algeria’s independence indicating the fruitful transition between generations of actors in 50 years of Algerian theatre. During the opening ceremony, the artistic advisor of the festival Ibrahim Nawal told Arabstoday that on the occasion of the festival’s coinciding with the anniversary of the Algerian independence, the organisers chose the slogan of the scientific forum '50 years of independence, 50 years of theatre... documenting and archiving.' This will be outlined by professors from inside and outside the nation. He added that the event will see 11 training workshops in various theatre branches for the benefit of the students and those interested in art and media. Nawal added :“The participation in the competition will be at the rate of two shows a day and will be overseen by a jury of eight members, headed by Mr Mohamed Khodji. ” This indicates that the programme will include cultural and literature activities of which poetry novels hosted by the theatre will take place in several halls present in the capital. Algerian and foreign troops will perform on the sidelines of the competition in the capital in addition to Tlemcen, Tizi-Ouzou, Medea and Annaba.