The 11 Arab Theatre Festival (10-16 January) (All shows are for free)
Cairo Opera House Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144 Main Hall Thurs 10, 8pm: The opening ceremony of the festival. Wed 16, 8pm: The closing ceremony of the festival.
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 The Window (Friday 11 January, 7pm). Shabka (Saturday 12 January, 7pm). Al-Rahma (The Mercy) (Sunday 13 January, 7pm). Aabas (Absurdity) (Monday 14 January, 7pm). Lailak Doha (Your Night is Morning) (Tuesday 15 January, 7pm).
Al-Hanager Arts Centre Cairo Opera Complex, Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Zamalek, Tel 02 2735 6861 Mosafer Lail (A Night Traveler) (Thurs 10-Tues 15 January, 6pm). The Accident (Wednesday 16 January, 6pm).
Al Balloon Theatre Agouza, across the street from the Nile, by the 26 July Bridge, Tel 02 3347 1718 Al Tok wa Al Eswera (The Necklace and the Bracelet), an adaptation of Yehia Al-Taher Abdallah's novel. It casts Fatemah Mohamed Ali, Martina Adel, Mahmoud Al-Zayat and many more, dramaturgy by Sameh Mahran, singing by Karam Mourad, décor by Mohie Fahmy, costumes designed by Naaima Agami and directed by Nasser Abdel-Moneim (Friday 11 and Saturday 12 January, 5pm). Al-Magnoun (The Crazy) (Monday 14 and Tuesday 15, 6pm).
Al-Salam Theatre 101 Qasr Al-Aini St, Tel 02 2795 2484/2794 3016/010 21521501 Sabah, Mesa (Morning Night), Sat 12, 5pm Taqaseem Ala Alhaya (Divisions on Life) (Sunday 13 January, 5pm). Qasra (Monday 14 January, 5pm). Gononstan (Tuesday 15 January, 6pm).
Al-Qawmi (The National) Theatre Al Attaba Square, in front of Attab Post Office, Cairo, Tel, 02 25917783 Almaagana (The Confusion) (Friday 11 January, 9pm). Zahera Qassera (Short Memory) (Saturday 12 January, 9pm). Nesaa Bela Malameh (Women without Features) (Sunday 13 January, 9pm). Salalem Yacoub (Yacoub Stairs) (Tuesday 15, 9pm). 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Grand Nile Tower Corniche Al-Nil, Garden City, Tel 16826 Misr Theatre Season four is here! Come watch your loved stars Ashraf Abdel-Baki, Ali Rabeia, Mohamed Anwar, Hamdi Al-Merghany, Wizzo, Mustafa Khater on stage in a new play every two weeks (10, 11, 12 January, 8pm, and each buyer is allowed a maximum of five tickets per purchase).
Malak Opera Theatre 9 A Khalig Al-Khour St, Azbekiya district, Ramses, Tel 0122 3417152 Gary Altahmeel (It is being downloaded), a play performed by The Youth Theatre Company. The actions of the play take place in an internet café and it is about the control of the social media networks over our present life. It casts Yasser Sadek, Ramy Nader, Mohamed Amin, Nermine Nabil, music composed by Mohamed Shehata, costumes designed by Rabab Al-Brince, lighting by Ibrahim Al-Forn, décor by Hamdi Attia, written by Sameh Osman and directed by Sameh Al-Hadary (Performances run daily, 7pm).
Metropol (The Children's National) Theatre 6 Halim St, the beginning of 26th July, Attaba, Downtown, Tel 02 2593 3334 Kawkab Sika (The Planet of Sika), a comic musical starring among others Inas Nour, Sayed Gabr, Hanaa Said and Mohamed Khalil, written by Abdou Al-Zaraa and directed by Sayed Gabr (Performances run daily, 7.30pm).
Miami Theatre Maarouf, Qasr Al-Nile, Downtown, Tel 02 2574 5651 Farhat Shaab (Delight of a Nation), a musical produced by the Comedy Theatre Company celebrating the Sixth of October victory. The show casts actors Azza Al-Sayed, Mohamed Ali, Zeinab Khaled and many more, written and directed by Mohamed Mustafa (Performances run daily, 8pm).
Movenpick Hotel Media City, 6 October City, Cairo Three Days in Sahel, starring comedian Mohamed Heniedy with a number of rising stars, directed by Magdy Al-Hawary (10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 24, 25, 26, 31 January, 9pm).
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).
Naguib Al-Rehani Theatre 17 Emad Al Din Street, downtown, Cairo, near cosmos cinema Tel, 02 25913697, 02 25892103 Garima Fel Maadi (A Crime in Maadi), a play performed by a group of budding actors trained by comedian Ashraf Abdel-Baki, who is also the director. You'll enjoy two hours of nonstop laughing (10, 11, 12 January, 8pm).
Al-Salam Theatre 101 Qasr Al-Aini St, Tel 02 2795 2484/2794 3016/010 21521501 Shahd Al-Sabar (Honey of The Cactus), a play produced by the Modern Theatre Company, starring among many others Falak Nour, Tarek Kamel, Mohamed Samir, Rana Ragab, singers Hasnaa Kamal and Bassam Abdel-Aziz, décor and costumes designed by Wael Abdallah, music composed by Bassam Abdel-Aziz, choreography by Sherif Radi, written by Ali Abu-Salem and directed by Walid Al-Wali. The play revolves around the ancient social tradition of taking revenge in Upper Egypt and the means of combatting it with knowledge and culture (Performances run daily, 8pm).
Sama Sonbol City Giza, for tickets reservation call 16826 or flock to www.ticketsmarche.com Khebatna (Our Failure) sarcastic theatrical performance is back upon the fan's requests. It is casting actors Mohamed Sobhy, Aida Abdel-Aziz, as well as a number of budding artists, written and directed by Mohamed Sobhy (Performances run on 11, 18 January (6pm) and 12, 17, 19 January (7pm).
ALEXANDRIA
Beram Al-Tunsi Theatre Al-Gaish St, Al Azaritah, Qesm Bab Sharqi, Alexandria, Tel (03) 5929960/5913835 Abu-Kabsula (The Capsule Inventor) a social comedy tells the story of an inventor who invented a pill that when taken makes any one feels completely full. The play casts Mustafa Abu-Sria'a, Hassan Abdel-Fattah, Alaa Zeinhom, Noureen Karim among others, with music composed by Karim Arafa, décor and costumes designed by Wael Abdallah, choreography by Mohamed Mezzo, written by Mohamed Al-Sawaf and directed by Mohamed Moursi (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 7.30pm).
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999 Main Hall The Just, a theatrical performance written by Albert Camus and directed by Mohamed Atta (Wednesday 16 January, 7pm).