winner Stories Novels & Drama
First Circle 1988-1989

• Born in Husainal-Bahar, Tartuse, Syria, 1941.
• Graduated from high school in his village.
• At the age of 12 he read the first book, Joubran’s Tear and Smile; other writers followed: Taha Hussain, Mahmoud Al Aqad, Mikhail Nou’aima, Nageeb Mahfooz, Yousef Al Siba’e, Ehsan Abdul Qudous, etc.
• Attained his secondary education certificate in 1959 and got a scholarship to study journalism in Cairo University.
• The end of the union of Syria and Egypt in 1961 was a personal earthquake for him which produced his play Life Forever.
• He wrote an article about union and secession in the Adab Magazine and other articles in Damascus’ Al Nasr in 1962.
• Did his BA and produced a huge critical study of the novel Boredom in 1963.
• Delivered a series of lectures under the title In Search of Arabic Theatre in Damascus’s Higher Institution of Theatre.

Decision of the General Secretariat

Sa'ad Allah Wannous is a given the award for all his plays, with a special mention of An Evening for June 5, An Evening with Abu Khalil Al Qabbani, Adventure of Mamluk Jaber’s Head, and The King is the King.

These works reveal aspects of Arabic drama and reflect the Arab nation’s culture, myths, or stories, as well as the dramatic culture, old and new. They make special use of the epical theatrical style, with a dramatic rhythm aiming at creating a new Arabic theatre. They deal with the present in a clear vision, both theoretically and practically, with a complete understanding of the role drama plays in deepening the collective feeling of destiny.

Famous Works    

• Bloodletting
• Stories of Statues’ Chorus, 1965
• When Men Play, 1968
• The Elephant, Oh, King of Kings, 1969
• About Theatre Traditions, translation, 1976
• An Evening for June 5
• The King is the King
• Adventure of Mamluk Jaber’s Head
•  Hanzala’s Journey

Died on May 15, 1997