The cultural activities have started gradually to reopen in the country.The reopening has included theatres, museums, galleries, national circus, which operate under the culture ministry. In its first stage, the resumption of activities will be open at only 25 percent audience capacity across all venues. The ministry applies all precautionary and preventive measures with daily sterilization of the theatres in order to ensure the safety of the public, artists and workers.
The Cairo Puppet Theatre Next to the Al-Attaba Metro Station, Tel 02 2591 0954 Farkash Lashkash, Misr Station and Rehlat Al-Zaman Al-Gamil (A Journey to the Good Time), a children play about some children who travel to the Pharaonic era written by Yehia Zakaria, puppets and costumes by Nagui Shaker, décor by Mohamed Saad and directed by Mohamed Nour (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, 6.30pm).
Al-Hanager Arts Centre Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Zamalek, Tel 02 2735 6861 Al-Hanager Centre Square Otrouk Anfy Min Fadlak(Please Leave My Nose),play produced by Al-Hanager Centrecasts Hanan Adel, Salah Aldaly, Tamer Alkashef, Mohamed Khaled, Hussein Gomaa, décor and lighting by AmrAbdallah, costumes by Marwa Aouda, co-directed by Mohamed Atefand directed by Eslam Emam(Performances run daily except Mondays, 7pm).
The International Park Madinet Nasr District Hakawi Arayas Alqofaz (Tales of the Gloved Puppets), a play performed by Al-Shams (The Sun) Theatre Company for those with special abilities starring Heba Asaad, Ahmed Mohamed and directed by Rahma Mahgoub (Performances run on Sundays, 5pm).
Malak Opera Theatre 9 A Khalig Al-Khour St, Azbekiya district, Ramses, Tel 0122 3417152 Albakheel(The Miser), a play based on Molière's outstanding modern classic The Miser. It casts Ashraf Tolba, Mahmoud Metwali, Suzanne Medhat, Noran Abdel-Hamid and many more. Décor by Rania Al-Dakhakhny, costumes designed by Nardeen Emad, shows choreographed by Sherly Ahmed, and directed by Khaled Hassouna (Performances run daily, 7pm).
Metropol (The Children's National) Theatre 6 Halim St, the beginning of 26th July, Attaba, Downtown, Tel 02 2593 3334 Al Qatat (The Cats), a play for children casts Merna Walid, Sayed Ragab, Mahmoud Hassan written by Safwat Zeinhom and directed by Safwat Sobhy and the Araguz Tales play (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, 7pm).
Al-Qawmi (The National) Theatre Al Attaba Square, in front of Attab Post Office, Cairo, Tel, 02 25917783 The Optimist, a play revolves around the story of a person who overcomes obstacles and social illnesses to reach his goal through the merit of optimism. It casts Sameh Hussein, Sahar Al-Saygh, AhmedSiyam, Ayat Magdy. The play is an adaptation of Candide Voltaire's The Optimist, directed by Islam Imam (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, 7.30pm).
Taliaa Theatre Attaba Square, Tel 02 2593 7948 Salah Abdel-Sabour Hall Kaanak Tarah (As If You See Him), a play casts Mohamed Younis, Sameh Fekri, Maher Mahmoudamong others, together with a group of religious chanters, writtenby Nesma Samir and directed by Maher Mahmoud (Performances run on Fridays, Sundays and Wednesdays, 7pm). Zaki Tolaimat Hall Hareem Alnar (Women of Fire), a play produced by Taliaa Theatre Company. It's an adaptation of Spanish dramatist Federico Garcia Lorca's The House of Bernarda Alba. The play is about the life of women in Upper Egypt telling the story of a mother and her daughters. It casts Aida Fahmy, Manal Zaki, Abeer Lotfy, Nashwa Ismail among others with décor by Mohamed Saad, costumes designed by Shaimaa Mahmoud and music composed by Mohamed Hosny. It's written by Shazli Farah and directed by Mohamed Mekki. (Performances run on Thursdays, Saturdays and Mondays, 7.30pm). The Ministry of Culture's electronic initiative “Stay at Home: Culture in Your Hands” continues the theatrical initiative, “Laugh, Think, Know” held within the framework of the E-initiative “Stay at Home: Culture in Your Hands” to be broadcast every Thursday at 11pm on the ministry's YouTube channel.The initiative rediscovers the international masterpieces with the participation of some Egyptian theatre icons including stage directors Galal Al Sharqawi, Samir Alasfoury, Sanaa Shafei, Essam Alsayed, Fahmy Alkhouly. The initiative aims at presenting ten recorded plays as a first stage photographed by Ayman Mustafa, the plays are inspired by the short stories of the Russian playwright Anton Chekhov. Eachplay is between 20 to 50 minutes. The shows contain an explanation of the principles of Chekhovand analysis of the significance of the plays in order to achieve the goal of the initiative. The Ministry of Culture website is at http://www.moc.gov.eg Its YouTube channel is at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8McPibRT36QSjnt4eGucNw And its Facebook account is Egyptian MOC The National Theatre Facebook account is https://www.facebook.com/national.theater.eg/
ALEXANDRIA Abdel-Moneim Gaber Theatre El-Gaish road, Al Ibrahimeyah Bahri and Sidi Gaber, Tel 03 5908380 The Alchemistplay is an adaptation of Paulo Coelho's The Alchemistperformed by Fan Mahawag Theatre Company(Friday 14, 5-7pm).
*A version of this article appears in print in the 13 August, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
