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 opens 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 Mahatet Masr (Egypt Station), a child play written by Mohamed Alzenaty and directed by Reda Hassanien (Performances run on Thursdays and Fridays, 7.30pm).
The Floating Theatre Abdel-Aziz Al-Saoud St, in front of Salaheddin Mosque, Al Manial, Tel 02 2368 4047, 012 8531 1358/ 0100 5233623 Small Theatre Afrah Alqoba, play produced by the Youth Theatre Company is based on Naguib Mahfouz novel bearing the same name. It casts Mohamed Youssef, Samar Allam, Fatema Adel, Mena Nabil and many more. Décor and lighting by Amr Al-Ashraf, costumes designed by Abeer Badrawi, movement designs by Monadel Antar. It is written and directed by Mohamed Youssef Almansour (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7pm).
Al-Ghad (Tomorrow) Theatre Next to Balloon Theatre, Al-Agouza, Tel 02 3304 3187 The Accident, a comic play about a young man who kidnapped a girl and locked her at his house trying to force her to love him back. It casts Mido Abdel-Qader, Shaimaa Abdel-Nasser, costumes by Ahmed Farag, décor by Mohamed Fathi, written by Lenin Al-Ramly and directed by Amr Hassan (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7pm).
Grand Nile Tower Corniche Al-Nil, Garden City, Tel 16826 Sabaheya Mubaraka, is a new type of plays with two acts representing a different form of comedy starring Ali Rabeia, Os Os, Seliman Eid and directed by Ashraf Abdel-Baqi (24, 25, 26 September, 9pm).
Al-Hanager Arts Centre Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Zamalek, Tel 02 2735 6861 Otrouk Anfy Min Fadlak (Please Leave My Nose), play produced by Al-Hanager Centre casts Hanan Adel, Salah Aldaly, Tamer Alkashef, Mohamed Khaled, Hussein Gomaa, décor and lighting by Amr Abdallah, costumes by Marwa Aouda, co-directed by Mohamed Atef and directed by Eslam Emam (Performances run daily except Mondays, 7pm). Al-Hanager Centre Outer Square Al-Leila Alkebira (The Big Night) puppet theatre show, written by the late Salah Jahin, music composed by the late Sayed Mekkawi, décor by Mustafa Kamel, puppets by the late Nagui Shaker and directed by the late Salah Al-Sakka. Al-Sira Al-Holamiya (The Gelatinous Epic), show revolves around the concept of revenge for Hamlet but in an Upper Egyptian style starring Mohamed Ibrahim, Rafaat Said, written by Al-Hassan Mohamed and directed by Mohamed Al-Sagheir (Performances run on Fridays and Saturdays, 7.30pm).
The International Park Madinet Nasr District Amm Yaqout (Uncle Yaqout), a play performed by Al-Shams (The Sun) Theatre Company for talents with special abilities starring Heba Asaad, Rahma Mahgoub, Ahmed Mohamed, idea by Wafaa Alhakim, written by Rahma Mahgoub and directed by Youssef Abu-Zeid (Performances run on Sundays, Thursdays, Fridays, 7pm).
Malak Opera Theatre 9 A Khalig Al-Khour St, Azbekiya district, Ramses, Tel 0122 3417152 Ahwal Shakhsiya (Personal Affairs) play is produced by The Youth Theatre. The play tells female stories through actresses who explain their sufferings that caused them to become statues. It casts Lamiaa Gaafar, Nada Afifi, décor and costumes by Ahmed Aslaman, lighting by Ezz Helmy and directed by Ashraf Hosny (Performances run on Thursday 24, Friday 25, Saturday 26, and Sunday 27 September, 8pm).
Metropol (The Children's National) Theatre 6 Halim St, the beginning of 26th July, Attaba, Downtown, Tel 02 2593 3334 Hawadeet Alaragouz (The Clown's Tales), a play for children casts Randa Kotb, Adel Alkomy, Mahmoud Amer, written by Randa Ibrahim and directed by Mohsen Alazab (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, 7pm).
Movenpick Hotel Media City, 6 October City, Cairo Aladdin, A musical comedy show starring Ahmed Ezz, Tara Emad, directed by Magdy El-Hawary and written by a group of young Egyptians writers with an Egyptian comedy twist. The show is based on the story of Aladdin, a folk tale of Middle Eastern origin. It is one of the tales in the book of One Thousand Nights and One Night AKA (The Arabian Nights), and one of the best known internationally. The show fits all ages and is a one that all the family can enjoy together. It includes comedy, dance, music and impressive high-tech video technologies and fly effects (25 September, 8.30pm).
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, Ahmed Siyam, Ayat Magdy. The play is an adaptation of Candide Voltaire's The Optimist, directed by Islam Imam (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8pm)
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 Mahmoud among others, together with a group of religious chanters, written by Nesma Samir and directed by Maher Mahmoud (Performances run on Fridays, Sundays and Wednesdays, 7pm). Zaki Tolaimat Hall Yaoum An Qatalu Al-Ghenaa (The Day They Killed Singing) a play on the struggle between two brothers in their journey of searching for the secret of existence and the secret of universe, starring Yasser Sadek, Alaa Qouta, Hend Abdel-Halim, directed by Tamer Karam with décor by Mohamed Saad, and costumes designed by Marwa Mounir (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 7pm).
ALEXANDRIA
Beram Al-Tunsi Theatre Al-Gaish St, Al Azaritah, Qesm Bab Sharqi, Alexandria, Tel (03) 5929960/5913835 Zahab Allail (The night is gone) play is written by Ahmed Askar and directed by Said Qabeel presented as part of “The Egyptian Writer” initiative (Performances run on 17, 18 and 19 September, 7.30pm). Hekayat Al-Sayyad wa Amir Albehar (The story of the fisherman and the prince of seas), written and directed by Ehab Mabrouk and presented as part of “The Egyptian Writer” initiative (Performances run on 24, 25 and 26 September, 7.30pm).
*A version of this article appears in print in the 24 September, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
