The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has completed the restoration of an Ottoman-era historic theater located in Tripoli’s old city, reopening the structure as the Libyan National Children’s Theater.
The project was carried out in cooperation with the Libyan Ministry of Culture. After years of neglect, the theater has been restored and modernized while preserving its historical character and has now resumed operations under its new name.
The opening ceremony was attended by Libyan Culture Minister Mebruke Tugi, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Tripoli Güven Begeç, TİKA Tripoli Coordinator Ali Suha Bacanakgil, as well as Libyan officials and children. The event began with a recitation from the Quran and the national anthems of both countries, followed by speeches and performances by Libyan children.
Tugi said the theater had remained closed for many years and has now been brought back into use as a national children’s theater. She described the project as one of the outcomes of the memorandum of understanding signed between the Libyan and Turkish culture ministries, along with TİKA’s efforts. Tugi added that the venue will host theater and artistic activities for Libyan children in the future.
Ambassador Begeç underlined the strategic nature of relations between Türkiye and Libya, thanking both the Libyan Culture Ministry and TİKA for the project. He said the restoration of a historical structure inherited from the Ottoman period and its dedication to children made it one of the most meaningful projects implemented by TİKA.
Bacanakgil noted that the historical ties between the two countries date back nearly 500 years. He said the theater was built in the early 1900s during the reign of Sultan Abdulhamit and formed part of the Ottoman legacy in Libya.
The theater had fallen into disuse over the years and remained derelict, Bacanakgil said, adding that the restoration was completed within six months under a cooperation protocol between the two ministries. He noted that the venue has a seating capacity of 110, features renewed interiors with traditional Ottoman motifs and includes a stage designed to be raised and lowered as needed.
