حسام العسال

Jordan’s Jerash Festival has transformed the ancient Roman city of Gerasa into a recurring open-air venue for music, theatre, poetry, dance, crafts and other cultural events. Launched by Yarmouk University in 1980 and formally inaugurated in 1981, the festival has continued almost annually, using sites including the South and North Theatres, the Oval Plaza, the Colonnaded Street and the recently added Hippodrome. The Roman theatres’ architecture and acoustics remain well suited to contemporary performances, while the setting creates a direct connection between ancient heritage and modern cultural life. Visitors and tourism officials describe the festival as an immersive experience that revives archaeological spaces rather than leaving them as static monuments. Jerash is presented alongside similar festivals held at historic sites in Tunisia, Lebanon, Syria, Algeria, France and Greece.