(4-16 March) This year, the festival comes to the audiences in three cities, Cairo (7-15 March), Alexandria (4-5 March) and Menya (16 March), presenting shows that incorporate object, puppet, black, physical, musical theatres and modern dance across nine venues (Al-Hanager Arts Centre, Tahrir Culture Centre, Historic Cairo, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Jesuit Cultural Centre, AUEED Centre in Menya, etc). Hakawy's 9th edition includes eight international shows from UK, Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, France and USA in addition to nine Egyptian performances. The festival includes a Dutch focus with three performances, in addition to the master-classes, workshops and talks led by the Dutch artists. Among this edition's highlights is Storm, by the Bamboozle Theatre (UK) accessible to the children who are on the autistic spectrum. A number of workshops and additional activities will take place in parallel to the shows on stage. For the third consecutive year, the Mobile Library “Stories on 4 Wheels” will provide story-telling to the young audience.
Bibliotheca Alexandrina Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999 Main Hall Mon 4, 11-11.40am: HiHaHuttenBouwers (Netherlands). Tues 5, 9.30-11am: ZooZoo (USA). Small Hall Mon 4, 6-6.40pm: El Leila El-Kebira (Egypt). Tues 5, 10-10.45am and 11.45am, 12.30pm: Storm by Bamboozle Theatre (UK), the show is about the sea and ships, islands and magic, as well as using Shakespeare's language.
Al-Hanager Arts Centre Cairo Opera Complex, Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Zamalek, Tel 02 2735 6861 Thurs 7, 9am-12pm: Bibliotheksbus (Egypt). Thurs 7, 10.45-11.25am: HiHaHuttenBouwers (Netherlands).
Al-Hanager Gallery Thurs 7, 11.30am, 12pm: H2o (Germany). Thurs 7, 10.30-11.15am, 12.30-1.15 pm and 2.30-3.15pm: Storm by Bamboozle Theatre (UK).
Tahrir Cultural Centre (TCC) AUC's Tahrir Campus Falaki Theatre American University in Cairo, Downtown Campus, 24 Falaki St, Downtown Cairo, Tel 012 88721446 Thurs 7, 9.30-11am: ZooZoo (USA). ________________________________________________
The American University in Cairo AUC Tahrir Square Campus Ewart Memorial Hall Fri 1, 8-10pm: AUC alumna and international mezzo-soprano Gala El- Hadidi will give a concert, conducted by director of the AUC Music Programme John Baboukis, as part of AUC's centennial celebrations. She will perform a selection of arias and songs from renowned operas, operettas, and musicals, which includes musical creations of Rossini, Mozart, Bizet, Strauss, Lehár, Bernstein and Loewe. El-Hadidi will be accompanied by the Cairo Festival Orchestra.
New Cairo Campus Malak Gabr Arts Theatre Sat 2, 7.30pm: Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment opera will be aired live in HD from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Amir Bashtak Palace Al-Muaaz St, Tel 02 2787 9187 Thurs 28, 7pm: The Arab Youth for Singing Group, conducted by Walid Hedar features the voices of Amira Dahy and Batoul Al-Abd.
Arab Music Institute 22 Ramsis St, Tel 02 2574 3373 Sat 2, 8pm: The Talents Development Centre's concert. Sun 3, 8pm: The Arab Music Heritage Ensemble performs classical Arab songs.
Beit Al-Seheimi Al-Muaaz St, Al-Darb Al-Asfar Alley, Al-Gamalya District, Tel 02 2787 8865 Every Sunday, 7.30pm: The Nile Troupe for Folk Instruments, conducted by Abdel-Rahman Al-Shafaai, performs dances and songs from Upper Egypt on mizmar, tabla and other traditional musical instruments. Every Friday, 8.30pm: “Al-Aragouz wa Khayal Al-Zel” (The Shadow Puppet), a free public performance by clowns in Al-Muaaz Street, presented by Wamda and directed by Nabil Bahgat.
Cairo Opera House Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Tel 02 2737 0602/2736 0361, box office 02 2739 0132/0144 Main Hall Thurs 28 February and Fri 1 March, 8pm: The Cairo Opera Ballet Company and the Cairo Opera Orchestra, conducted by maestro Nayer Nagui perform Ludwig Minkus's “La Bayadère” ballet, with choreography by Valentin Bartes, and Marius Petipa, lighting design by Yasser Shaalan, set design by Mohamed El Gharabawy, Costume Design by Gianluca Saitto, Carlo Meregalli and artistic director Erminia Kamel. Sat 2, 8pm: On the Occasion of his 150th Death Anniversary of French composer Hector Berlioz, the Cairo Symphony Orchestra, conducted by maestro Ahmed El-Saedi and A Cappella Choir, mastered by Maya Gvineria and featuring pianist Rosalía Gómez Lasheras, mezzo soprano Anna Maria Chiuri, tenor Amr Medhat, bass Reda El Wakil, presents L. v. Beethoven: Concerto for Piano & Orchestra No. 4 in G major, Op. 58, H. Berlioz: Roméo et Juliette (Selections). Sun 3, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble honours the memory of singer and composer Mohamed Abdel-Wahab. Wed 6 and Thurs 7, 8pm: Part of Egypt-France Cultural Year 2019, the Modern Dance Theatre Company, directed by choreographer Walid Aouni, performs Tears of Hadid dance show that honours the memory of world-renowned Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid. Open-Air Theatre Fri 1, 8pm: Sahr Al-Sharq troupe features singer Bilal El-Sheikh. Thurs 7, 8pm: Mustafa Hussein and his Al-Haky band. Small Hall Thurs 28, 8pm: A harp recital by Mona Wassef. Fri 1, 8pm: Violin recital by Samy Ibrahim. Sat 2, 8pm: Donizetti's La Fille du Régiment opera will be aired live in HD from the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Sun 3, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Chamber Orchestra features the Cairo Opera stars, supervised by artist Iman Mustafa, in a concert conducted by Hassan Sharara. Thurs 7, 8pm: Harp recital by Sama Suleiman.
Darb 1718 Kasr El Shamaa St, Al Fakhareen, Old Cairo, near Mar Girgis Metro Station, Tel 02 2741 3053/ 0109 3766188 Thurs 28, 8pm: RT Nuba band was founded to revive the Nubian music and to preserve the old heritage of the Nubian art.
Al-Ghouri Caravansary Mohamed Abdou St, off Al-Muaaz St and Al-Azhar St, Tel 02 2514 7475 Al-Tanoura whirling dervishes perform to live Sufi music (Performances every Sat, Mon, and Wed, 7.30pm).
Al-Gumhouriya Theatre 12 Al-Gumhouriya St, Abdin, Tel 02 2390 7707 Fri 1, 8pm: The National Arab Music Ensemble Wed 6, 8pm: Classical Arab songs by the Arab Takht for Arab Music and Singing, conducted by Yasser Moawad. Thurs 7, 8pm: Religious songs performed by Al-Enshad Al-Dini Troupe.
Makan Saad Zaghloul St, Al-Mounira, Cairo, Tel 02 2792 0878 Every Monday, 7pm: (fixed event) Zikr and Sufi night. Every Tuesday, 8pm (doors open at 7.30pm and reservations is canceled at 7.30pm): Mawawil and Gamalat Shiha present traditional music of the Nile Delta; Nubian Fadeka music and songs with Aragid, featuring Saleh Abbass and Farah Al-Masri; traditional Sudanese music and songs performed by Queen of Henna Settouna; Al-Jaafra music played by musicians from Aswan; Nass Makan (People from Makan) and Sanet perform traditional music from Eritrea. Every Wednesday, 8pm: Zar music and songs by Mazaher, featuring Umm Sameh, Umm Hassan and Nour Al-Sab. El Mastaba Centre for Egyptian Folk Music 30 A El-Balaqsa St, Abdeen, Downtown, Tel 011 50995354 Al Dammah Theatre for Free Arts Thurs 28, 8pm: NubaNour band presents traditional Nubian music, dances, and songs.
El-Sawy Culturewheel End of 26th of July St, under the 15th of May Bridge, Zamalek, Tel 02 2736 8881/6178/2737 4448 River Hall Fri 1, 7.30pm: Progressive rock music by Andromeda band. Sun 3, 7pm: Religious chanting by Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Hedewy. Wisdom Hall Fri 1, 7pm: “The Table” is a mini musical show produced as one of the shows of “Muzikanti” project which includes some of the most brilliant young talents in Egypt. Sun 3, 7.30pm: The Sinatras band performs Frank Sinatra's songs to praise his memory. Tues 5, 7pm: singing recital by Iman Al-Assaly. Thurs 7, 6 & 8pm: El-Sawy Culturewheel Puppet Theatre show revives the concerts of late diva Umm Kolthoum performing two of her best songs.
ALEXANDRIA
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre) 22 Fouad St, Mahatat Al-Raml, Al-Horiyya Road, Alexandria, Tel 03/486 5106 Thurs 28, 8pm: Ala Mar Alagyal (over generations) band. Fri 1, 8pm: Classical Arab songs by singer Mohamed Mohsen. Sat 2, 8pm: Alexandria Opera Chamber Orchestra features the Cairo Opera stars, supervised by artist Iman Mustafa, in a concert conducted by Hassan Sharara. Sun 3, 8pm: Sound Track band.
French Cultural Institute 30 Al Nabi Danial St, Mahatet Misr, Alexandria, Tel 03 3913435/03 3918952 Wed 6, 7pm: On of the occasion of celebrating La Francophonie Month by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina Francophone Activity Centre (CAF), French-Russian pianist Natalia Kadyrova will give a concert .