The Seventh Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) (8-29 March)
Rawabet Theatre 3 Hussien El Meaamar St. ext. of Mahmoud Basiouny St., from Talaat Harb Square, Downtown Before the Revolution theatrical show places audiences in that emotional and intellectual moment by portraying the stagnation before an inevitable eruption. It was premiered October, 2017 in France, Belgium, and Switzerland, and toured several festivals, and theatres. The Egyptian revolution was not just about a desire to change the political system. It was–most importantly– an expression of the accumulation of decades of oppression, deception, insecurity, violence, inefficiency, and depression. It casts Ramsi Lehner and Nanda Mohamed, music by Hassan Khan, set and costume design by Hussein Baydoun, the light design by Charlie Aström, written and directed by Ahmed El-Attar, produced by Henri Jules Julien (Sat 24 March (5 to 5:40pm), Sun 25 March (5 to 5:40pm).
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).
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 a middle class couple. It casts among many others Heba Tawfik, Sherif Awaad, Khedr Zanoon, Ahmed Nabil and others, written by Sameh Mahran and directed by Galal Othman (Performances run daily except Mondays, 9pm). 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 Salaheddin 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, décor by Mustafa Hamed, costumes by Heba Tantawy, written by Salah Araby, directed by Mohamed Gomaa (Performances run Thursdays and Fridays, 8.30pm).
Sama Sonbol City Giza, for tickets and reservation call 16826 or flock to www.ticketsmarche.com Ghazal Al Banat (Flirtation of The Girls), a big comedy and musical show from the theatrical heritage of theatre icon Naguib Al-Rihany, through which comedian Mohamed Sobhy is back on stage. It is written and directed by Mohamed Sobhy casting Abdel-Rahim Hassan, Arkan Fouad, budding artists Nada, Mustafa Youssef, Syrian singer Ammar and many more (Performances run on Thursday 29 March (7.30) and Friday 30 March (6.30pm). 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 Saat Shitan (A Moment of Anger), an independent theatrical production by Yorka company, written and directed by Yehia Mahmoud (Monday 26 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 Abou-Bakr and others, music arranged by Sadek Rabiaa, décor and costumes by Mahmoud Al-Gharib, adaptation and poems by Sameh Othman and directed by Al-Said Mansy (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 6pm). 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, 7.30pm).
