The 24th Cairo International Festival for Contemporary and Experimental Theatre (19-29 September) Cairo Opera House Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144 Artistic Creativity Centre Thurs 21 & Fri 22, 6pm: Mayakovsky Top Secret (Russia). Sun 24 & Mon 25, 6pm: Hot Spot (Sweden). Thurs 28 & Fri 29, 6pm: Women without a Future (Egypt).
Al Balloon Theatre Agouza, across the street from the Nile, by the 26 July Bridge, Tel 02 3347 1718 Thurs 21, 8pm: Bela somia (Morocco). Sat 23 & Sun 24, 8pm: Nine and Half Love (China). Tues 26 & Wed 27, 8pm: Othello (Belgium).
The Cairo Puppet Theatre Next to the Al-Attaba Metro Station, Tel 02 2591 0954 Fri 22 & Sat 23, 6pm: Autumn (Morocco). Mon 25 & Tues 26, 6pm: Anfrady (Iraq). Wed 27 & Thurs 28, 6pm: Qawaaid Al-Ashq Al-Arbaain (The Forty Rules of Adoration) (Egypt).
Al-Ghad (Tomorrow) Theatre Next to Balloon Theatre, Al-Agouza, Tel 02 3304 3187 Thurs 21, 6pm: Shamman (Egypt). Mon 25 & Tues 26, 6pm: The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives (Kenya).
Al-Hanager Arts Centre Thurs 21, 6pm: A Female's Shadow (Jordan). Sat 23 & Sun 24, 8pm: Medea (Armenia). Wed 27 & Thurs 28, 8pm: Death of A Sales Man (USA). Al-Hanager Arts Centre gallery Wed 27 & Thurs 28, 10pm: Go Forth (USA).
Metropol (The Children's National) Theatre 6 Halim St, the beginning of 26th July, Attaba, Downtown, Tel 02 2593 3334 Fri 22 & Sat 23, 8pm: Arbana (Iraq). Mon 25 & Tues 26, 8pm: Women in Love and Resistance (Tunisia).
Miami Theatre Maarouf St, Qasr Al-Nile, Downtown, Tel 02 2574 5651 Wed 20 & Thurs 21, 10pm: The Ambassador (Egypt). Sun 24 & Mon 25, 10pm: Privatopia (USA). Tues 26 & Wed 27, 8pm: Fight Over the City (Armenia).
Al-Salam Theatre 101 Qasr Al-Aini St, Tel 02 2795 2484/2794 3016 Fri 22 & Sat 23, 10pm: Cage One Bird Two (Chile). Sun 24 & Mon 25, 10pm: Mascara Vs Cabellera (Mexico). Thurs 28 & Fri 29, 10pm: A Night in Autumn (Tunisia).
Taliaa Theatre Attaba Square, next to the Metro Station, Tel 02 2593 7948/2592 0522 Zaki Tolimat Hall Thurs 21, 8pm: The Bridge (Egypt). Sat 23 & Sun 24, 8pm: Yaoum An Qatalu Al-Ghenaa (Egypt).
Falaki Theatre American University in Cairo, Downtown Campus, 24 Falaki St, Downtown Cairo, Tel 012 88721446 The Danish Experience, is an hour and a half comic play performed by A Parallel World Theatre Company written and directed by Salah Ehab (Thursday 21, 8pm, Friday 22, Saturday 23 September, 7pm).
Grand Nile Tower Corniche Al-Nil, Garden City, Tel 16826 The third season of Misr Theatre Company presents plays six, seven and eight casting Ashraf Abdel-Baqi, Ali Rabiaa, Hamdy Al-Merghany, Mustafa Khater, Dina among others (plays seven and eight on Thursday 21, Friday 22 and Saturday 23, Friday 29, Saturday 30 September, 8pm).
Hosapeer Theatre Galaa Street, in front of Ahmed Orabi Metro Station, Ramses, Downtown, Tel 010 1737 7044 / 01124416765/ 01116638193 Gawazny Bantak (I want to Marry Your Daughter), a comic play about the marriage life dilemma performed by Al-Moshaghbeen (The Rioters) Company, written and directed by Mohamed Maher (Tuesday 26 September, 9.30pm).
Malak Opera Theatre 9 A Khalig Al-Khour St, Azbekiya district, Ramses, Tel 0122 3417152 Abn Alaih (The Son of ….), an impressive youth musical produced by Malak Theatre Company, and is based on Charles Dickens's novel Oliver Twist. It casts Nasser Shahin, the Voice Kids talents programme star Youssef Farag, Mohamed Yehia, Ahmed Nasser, Ahmed Hisham, Mariam Sami, dance shows choreographed by Mohamed Ashri, who is also the director of the play (Performances run daily, 8.30pm).
Miami Theatre Maarouf St, Qasr Al-Nile, Downtown, Tel 02 2574 5651 Mayteen Men Al-Dahk (Dying out of Laughter), a play starring Monia, Ashraf Farouk, Rasha Fouad and many more, written and directed by Fatema Bayoumi (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 7.30pm). Al Asal Asal (Honey is Honey), a play starring Ola Ramy, Hassan Al-Arabi, Fatmah Mohamed Ali, written by Samir Al-Asfoury and directed by Emile Shawqi (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 9.30pm).
The National Circus 27 Abdel-Khaleq Tharwat, Cairo, Tel 02 3347 0503 Offering a number of entertaining performances, including clowns, trained dogs, lions and horses (Performances run daily except Wednesdays, 9.30pm).
Al-Qawmi (The National) Theatre Al-Attaba Square, in front of Attaba Post Office, Cairo, Tel 02 2591 7783/1267/7561 Layla Min Alf Layla, a play starring Egyptian actor Yehia Al-Fakharani, Lotfi Labib, singer Mohamed Mohsen, written by Beram Al-Tonsi and directed by Mohsen Helmi. (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 9pm).
Al-Salam Theatre 101 Qasr Al-Aini St, Tel 02 2795 2484/2794 3016 La Mascherata (The Fancy Dress Party), a play based on Alberto Moravia's novel starring Mohamed Riyad, Leqaa Swedan, Ahmed Youssef, Khaled Mahmoud and Gihan Salama with music by Walid Al-Shahawi, choreography by Farouk Gaafar, poems by Farghali Al-Arabi, décor by Mohamed Hashem and costumes by Maha Abdel-Rahman. It is written by Saad Ardash and directed by Hisham Gomaa (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 9pm).
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 Al Masoura Al Kabeera (The Big Tube) Mozakerat Batatsaya (A Potato's Diary), two theatre shows for kids and adults presented by the Culturewheel Puppet Theatre for Kids (Friday 22 September, 3pm). Bay Wifi (Bye Wifi), a theatrical play performed by Al Noujoum (the stars) Theatre Company (Monday 22 September, 7.30pm).
Taliaa Theatre Attaba Square, next to the Metro Station, Tel 02 2593 7948/2592 0522 Salah Abdel-Sabour Hall Kaanak Tarah (As if You See Him), play starring Mohamed Younis, Maher Mahmoud, Ola Al-Naquib, written by Nesma Samir and directed by Maher Mahmoud (Performances run daily, 6pm).
ALEXANDRIA
Beram Al-Tunsi Theatre Al-Gaish St, Al Azaritah, Qesm Bab Sharqi, Alexandria, Tel (03) 5929960/5913835 Al-Haram Dah Betaay (This Pyramid is Mine), a play performed by The Comic Theatre Company, casting Maha Ahmed, Mohamed Al-Sawy, Safaa Galal, written by Mohamed Mabrouk and directed by Yasser Sadek (Performances run daily, 10pm).
