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 run on Thursdays and Fridays, 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 Main Theatre Aalet Alfaare (the family of the unlucky guy) play is produced by the Comedy Theatre Company. It casts Mohamed Alsawy, Fatema Alkashef, Nehad Said, Ahmed Shams and many more. Décor by Mohamed Hashem, lighting by Ezz Helmy, music composed by Ahmed Alnasser. It is written by Ahmed Almalwany and directed by Mohamed Metwali (Performances run on Thursdays and Saturdays, 9pm). Small Theatre Afrah Alqoba, play produced by the Youth Theatre Company is based on Naguib Mahfouz novel bearing the same name. It casts Abdel-Moneim Riyad, Mohamed Tamer, 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 Fridays and Saturdays, 7pm).
Al-Ghad (Tomorrow) Theatre Next to Balloon Theatre, Al-Agouza, Tel 02 3304 3187 Gana Hena play is produced by Al-Ghad Theatre. It casts Abeer Altokhy, Hala Sorour, Ahmed Alsherif, lyrics written by Masa'oud Shoman, music by Ahmed Alnasser, décor and costumes designed by Maye Zohdy, written by Safaa Albialy and directed by Mohamed Saber (Performances run on Thursdays, 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 (18 December, 8pm).
Al-Hanager Arts Centre Cairo Opera Complex, Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Zamalek, Tel Tel 02 2735 6861 Déjà vu, critically-acclaimed theatre comedy show is performed by Sufi Performing Arts Company (until Sunday 20 December, 7pm).
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).
Metropol (The Children's National) Theatre 6 Halim St, the beginning of 26th July, Attaba, Downtown, Tel 02 2593 3334 Zahret Al-Lotus (The Lotus Flower), a play for children about the disappearance of the Lotus flower, then Princess Lotus, the king's daughter, started searching for it. It casts Sayyed Ragab, Inas Nour, Hamdy Alaraby, written by Tarek Moursi and directed by Mohamed Haggag (Performances run on Thursdays and Fridays, 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 (18 December, 8.30pm and 25 December, 9pm).
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 (17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26 December, 8.30pm).
Al-Qawmi (The National) Theatre Al Attaba Square, in front of Attab Post Office, Cairo, Tel, 02 25917783 Alwasia (The Commandment), a play based on the true story of the martyr Mohamed Moaataz Rashad, one of the armed forces soldiers who passed away in Rafah in 2015. The play casts Ahmed Fouad Selim, Samira Abdel-Aziz, Mido Adel, Bassant Syam with music composed by Ahmed Kikar, and choreography by Magdy Saber. The play is written by Ayman Salama, and directed by Khaled Galal (Performances run on Thursdays and Saturdays, 8pm).
Al-Salam Theatre 101 Qasr Al-Aini St, Tel 02 2795 2484/2794 3016/010 21521501 Aby Taht Alshagara (My Father is Under the Tree) play is the latest production of the Modern Theatre Company. It is starring Hany Kamal, Lobna Alsheikh, Mounir Karam, Shady Asaad and many more with music by Mohamed Khaled, décor by Yehia Sobeih, written by Tarek Ramadan and directed by Islam Imam (Performances run on Thursdays and Saturdays, 7pm).
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 on Thursdays and Fridays, 7pm).
*A version of this article appears in print in the 17 December, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
