Khaled El Sawy Brings the Art of Authentic Performance to Sharjah’s Literary Stage

The acclaimed Egyptian actor and director distils the essence of professional performance for audiences at SIBF 2026, revealing how discipline, character and genuine human connection transform a moment on stage into something unforgettable.

There is a particular alchemy that separates the skilled performer from the merely confident one, and during an intimate workshop at the 45th Sharjah International Book Fair, Egyptian actor and director Khaled El Sawy articulated this distinction with clarity and warmth. His three-hour session, titled ‘Acting Studio: From Training to the Stage’, unfolded as a masterclass in the deliberate craft of acting: the disciplines of voice control, spatial awareness and the subtle art of commanding an audience’s attention not through spectacle but through authenticity.

El Sawy spoke with the conviction of someone who has spent a lifetime understanding how human beings communicate. He drew unexpected parallels between acting and professions beyond the theatre: the lawyer constructing a persuasive argument, the street vendor engaging a passing customer, even the con artist weaving a narrative. Each, he suggested, adopts a distinct persona to engage and persuade. Yet beneath this observation lay a more profound truth. “Being good-looking is not enough; it is important to have character,” he emphasised, a reminder that the camera and the stage reveal not merely appearance but the substance beneath.

The workshop, part of SIBF 2026’s expansive cultural programme, explored the practical mechanics of performance with particular attention to the relationship between body and voice. El Sawy explained that effective vocal power does not emanate from the throat alone but derives from the support and engagement of the entire body. To speak with clarity, confidence and resonance requires full-body commitment, ensuring that a performer’s message is not merely heard but understood and remembered.

Central to his teaching was the question of resilience. Performance, by its nature, invites the possibility of error. “We will make mistakes; there is no way around it,” El Sawy acknowledged. “The real skill is not letting those mistakes throw us off balance but recovering from them without losing control.” This philosophy transcends the stage, speaking to a deeper professional and personal discipline. He emphasised equally the importance of respect for fellow performers, consideration for the venue and attention to time, treating these seemingly mundane courtesies as fundamental to the craft itself.

The workshop moved beyond theory when El Sawy invited participants onto the stage to perform scenes and explore a range of emotions. Known for films including The Blue Elephant and El Deif (The Guest), he brought to this moment the authority of lived experience, guiding audiences through the practical application of the techniques he had shared. SIBF 2026 continues to host such distinctive cultural offerings, drawing together 3,212 publishers and exhibitors from 126 countries with more than 1.7 million titles, whilst the fair’s 1,500 cultural, creative and artistic activities ensure that conversations about craft and creativity remain at the heart of this celebration of the written and performed word.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

The presence of internationally recognised figures such as El Sawy at Sharjah’s literary festival reinforces the region’s position as a hub for cultural discourse and artistic excellence. His workshop exemplifies the calibre of talent and expertise drawn to the Emirates through events of this scale and significance, enriching the creative landscape across the region.

For emerging performers and artists within Abu Dhabi and the wider emirate, such intimate engagement with established masters of the craft offers invaluable insight into professional discipline, resilience and the philosophical underpinnings of performance. These conversations, woven into the fabric of the fair’s programming, contribute to a cultural environment in which artistic excellence is not merely celebrated but actively cultivated and transmitted to new generations.

Source: WAM