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 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 starts Thursdays 5 November, 7pm).
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).
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 (5, 6, 7 November, 9pm).
Al-Hanager Arts Centre Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Zamalek, Tel 02 2735 6861 Al-Hanager Centre Square 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 (Thursday 5 November, 6pm). 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 (Thursday 5 November, 8pm).
The International Park Madinet Nasr District Layaly Sayed Darwish (Sayed Darwish Nights), play features singers Rahma Mamdouh, Mohamed Naser, Farah Islam, Kholoud, trained by Mohsen Sadek (Performances run on Thursdays and Fridays, 7pm).
Naguib Al-Rehani Theatre 17 Emad Al Din Street, downtown, Cairo, near cosmos cinema Tel, 02 25913697, 02 25892103 El Locanda (The Hotel) is the first Sitcom to come to a stage with star comedians Ashraf Abdel-Baki, Hamdy Almarghani, Wizzo, Diab, and a group of stars. Costumes by Hala Zahwi, music by Ahmed Elmogui, décor Mahmoud Sami, lighting by Mustafa Ezzeddin, idea and directed by Ashraf Abdel-Baki (5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 November, 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. The play 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)
El-Sawy Culturewheel End of 26th of July St, under the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448 Wisdom Hall (No entry without a mask and the hall will be open at only 25 percent audience capacity) Moma and The Soup and It's 5:05, puppet shows for kids performed by El-Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre, written and directed by Mohamed Abdel-Moneim El-Sawy (Friday 6 November, 3 and 5pm).
Taliaa Theatre Attaba Square, Tel 02 2593 7948 Zaki Tolaimat Hall Recycle, an improvisation show tackles the idea of the possibility of recycling the expired man to restore humanity through a group of sketches about social issues like marriage, education, and sexual harassment. Its directed by Mohamed El-Sagheir with Ahmed Raouf's music, Monadel Antar's choreography and Abeer El-Badrawy's styling (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 8.30pm). Salah Abdel-Sabour Hall Al-Touq wa Al-Aswara (The Necklace and the Bracelet), a play produced by Taliaa Theatre Company starring Fatema Mohamed Ali, Martina Adel, Mahmoud Al-Zayat and many more. It is an adaptation of Yehia Al-Taher Abdullah's novel with dramaturgy by Sameh Mahran and directed by Nasser Abdel-Moneim (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 7pm).
ALEXANDRIA Beram Al-Tunsi Theatre Al-Gaish St, Al Azaritah, Qesm Bab Sharqi, Alexandria, Tel (03) 5929960/5913835 Sebouny Lwahdy (Leave me Alone) play casts Ramy Nader, Islam Abdel-Shafiaa, Salma Gaber, Kirolous Ashraf with music composed by Mohamed Hosny, décor by Radwa Zayed, written by Osama Alhawary and directed by Mohamed Alzeiny. The play is presented as part of “The Egyptian Writer” initiative (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7.30pm).
*A version of this article appears in print in the 5 November, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
