A historic Ottoman-era theatre in Tripoli’s old city reopened Sunday as the Libya National Children’s Theatre, blending heritage with contemporary cultural purpose.
The landmark, dormant for years, was restored by Türkiye’s aid agency TIKA, according to Libyan Culture Minister Mebruke Tugi.
Tugi said the project reflects cultural cooperation under a memorandum signed with Türkiye’s Culture and Tourism Ministry, calling it a tangible diplomatic outcome.
Built in the early 1900s during Sultan Abdul Hamid II’s reign, the theatre once stood as a symbol of Ottoman cultural presence.
TIKA’s Tripoli coordinator Ali Suha Bacanakgil said the structure had fallen into disrepair and was unusable before reconstruction began.
He added the restoration was completed within six months, returning life to a space long silenced by neglect.
The reopening marks a renewed commitment to arts, children’s culture, and shared history in Libya’s capital.