The Eighth Hakawy International Arts Festival for Children (8-13 March) Al-Hanager Arts Centre Cairo Opera House Grounds, El Gezira, Zamalek, Tel 02 2735 6861 This year's festival will feature events for university students and parents as well Kite Without String, (The Netherlands) (Performances run Thursday 8, 10.30am and 6.15pm, Friday 9, 2pm and 4.30pm). The Secret Life of Suitcases, (The United Kingdom) (Performances run Thursday 8, 10.30am and 8.15pm, Friday 9, 3.30pm and 6.45pm,Saturday 10,11am and 5pm, Sunday 11,Monday 12 and Tuesday 13, 9.30am and 11.15am). H2ommes, (France) (Performances run Thursday 8, 11.45am and 5.30pm, Friday 9, 9am and 5.45pm). Yohka Anna (Once Upon a time), (Egypt) (Performance runs Saturday 10, 9.45am). Lula Del Ray, (USA) (Performances run Saturday 10, 12 and 6pm, Saturday 11, Sunday 12 and Monday 13, 9.45am and 12pm). Hadoutet Rania (Rania's Tale), (Egypt) (Performance runs Saturday 10, 2.30pm). Artistic Creativity Centre Theatre Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Zamalek Sallem Nafsak (Surrender), a play about the future version of Egypt which turned into a Utopia visited by someone with foul values, Stars number of young talents, Adapted and directed by Khaled Galal (Performances run daily except Wednesdays, 7pm).
Al Balloon Theatre Agouza, across the street from the Nile, by the 26 July Bridge, Tel 02 3347 1718 Salah Jahin Hall Ayoub wa Na'sa (Ayoub and Na'sa), a musical comedy of the Egyptian folklore ballad starring Marwa Nagui, Sayed Gabr, Sherif Abdel- Wahab and Loubna Al-Sheikh, written by Ayman Al-Nimr, music by Ahmed Al-Haggar, décor by Wahid Al-Saadany and directed by Ashraf Azaab (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 8pm).
The Cairo Puppet Theatre Next to the Al-Attaba Metro Station, Tel 02 2591 0954 Rehla Ela 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, 6.30pm).
Falaki Theatre American University in Cairo, Downtown Campus, 24 Falaki St, Downtown Cairo, Tel 012 8872 1446 Alors, est-ce que c'est là? (So, is it here?), a theatre piece about the absence of a loved one and the abyss that opens within the person who is left behind, music and sound by Alexandre Meyer, lighting by Philippe Gladieux written, performed and directed by Clémentine Baert (the show is in French with Arabic subtitles) (Performances run on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15, 8.30pm).
Al-Ghad (Tomorrow) Theatre Next to Balloon Theatre, Al-Agouza, Tel 02 3304 3187 Sha'et Am Naguib (Uncle Naguib's Apartment), a play recalls the world of Naguib Mahfouz's novels as ghosts of Mahfouz's famous characters appear to the middle class couple. It casts among many others Heba Tawfiq, Sherif Awaad, Khedr Zanoon, Ahmed Nabil and others, written by Sameh Mahran and directed by Galal Othman (Performances start Thursday 8 March, 9pm). Grand Nile Tower Corniche Al-Nil, Garden City for tickets and reservation call 16826 or flock to www.ticketsmarche.com Misr Theatre Kids presents Sayyad AL-Afareet (Ghost Buster), a Play for Kids written and directed by Gamal Yaqout. (Performances run on Monday 12 and Tuesday 13 March, 10.30am). Malak Opera Theatre 9 A Khalig Al-Khour St, Azbekiya district, Ramses, Tel 0122 3417152 Ahwal Shakhseya (Personal Affairs), a tale telling fictional play about four women telling their stories and how they suffered hence transformed into statues, impressive youth drama produced by Youth Theatre Company. It casts Abeer Al-Toukhy, Nada Afifi, Lamiaa Gaafar, Ramaj, décor and costumes by Ahmed Aslman, music by Hazem Al-Kafrawy, written by Maysara Salahel-Din and directed by Ashraf Hosny (Performances run daily except Mondays, 7pm).
Metropol (The Children's National) Theatre 6 Halim St, the beginning of 26th July, Attaba, Downtown, Tel 02 2593 3334 Shams wa Amar, a musical play for children starring Sameh Yousry, Inas Nour, Mahmoud Abdel-Ghaffar written by FatmaYoussef music by Attiya Mahmoud, choreography by Atef Awad, costumes by Mohamed Abdel Meneim and directed by Mahmoud Al-Alfy (Performances run Thursdays and Fridays, 7pm).
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 Edhak Lama Tmout (Die Laughing), a political satirical comedy of two friends living in modern Cairo starring Nabil Al-Halafawi, Mahmoud Al-Guindy, Salwa Othman and others, décor by Mahmoud Al-Gharib, music by Hisham Gabr written by the great Egyptian playwright Lenin Al-Ramly and directed by Esam Al-Sayed (Performances run Saturdays, Mondays and Thursdays, 9pm and Sundays and Fridays, 7.30pm).
Al-Salam Theatre 101 Qasr Al-Aini St, Tel 02 2795 2484/2794 3016 Forsa Sa'eda (Nice to Meet You), a play about a 79 year old man living alone finds himself alone then has his life surprisingly changed, starring Ahmed Bedeir, Fatouh Ahmed, Iman Abou-Taleb, Mohamed Al-Sawy, Amr Al-Dimerdash and others music composing and arrangement by Ihab Hamdy, décore by Moustafa Hamed, costumes by Heba Tantawy, written by Salah Araby, directed by Mohamed Gomaa (Performances run Thursdays and Fridays, 8.30pm).
El-Sawy Culturewheel End of 26th of July St, under the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448 Akher Helm (The Last Dream), an independent theatrical production by Yalla Masrah company, written by Moamen Abdou, directed by Mohamed Zakareya (Monday 12 March, 7pm).
Taliaa Theatre Attaba Square, next to the Metro Station, Tel 02 2593 7948/2592 0522 Salah Abdel-Sabour Hall U Turn, a play based on Thornton Wilder's play, The Skins of Our Teeth, depicting that the end of the world started with the first sin, starring Sherif Khairallah, Haidy Abdel-Khaleq, Reham Abo Bakr and others, music arranged by Sadiq Rabiaa, décor and costumres by Mahmoud Al-Gharib, adaptation and poems by Sameh Othman and directed by Al-Said Mansy (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 6.30pm). Zaki Tolaimat Hall Al-Seera Al-Holameya, a play based on William Shakespeare's most celebrated play Hamlet where revenge is re-approached in an upper Egyptian climate, starring Mohamed Ibrahim, Rafaat Said, Hassan Abdallah and others, music arranged by Mahmoud Wahid, décor by Mostafa Hamed and costumes designed by Heba Magdy, written by Al-Hassan Mohamed and directed by Mohamed Al-Saghir (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 8.30pm).
