Following extensive restoration the Sayed Darwish Theatre reopens as the Alexandria Opera House, reports Nevine El-Aref Against a blue, star-spangled backdrop the Arab Music Troupe joined with the Cairo Opera Orchestra to perform a selection of Sayed Darwish's most celebrated songs in a gala concert, arranged to celebrate the opening of the newly restored Sayed Darwish Theatre and attended by President and Mrs Hosni Mubarak and a host of senior government officials. They toured the theatre, carefully restored to its original splendour, and watched a specially commissioned documentary on the history and refurbishment of Alexandria's most famous theatrical landmark. The president, said Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni, had supported the project throughout and had cleared space in a heavy schedule to attend the inauguration. Delighted with the results, Hosni revealed that Mubarak had given the go-ahead for three similar restoration projects in the Delta towns of Damanhour, Tanta and Mansoura. The Sayed Darwish Theatre was built in 1921 to designs by the French architect Georges Barque. It is housed in a 2,568-square metre, three storey structure that is decorated with portraits of celebrated musicians. Barque's designs fused elements from the Vienna State Opera and the Odeon Theatre in Paris. Originally named the Mohamed Ali Theatre, the edifice on Fouad Street quickly established itself as the city's leading venue, hosting many of the era's most celebrated performers. In 1962 it was renamed the Sayed Darwish Theatre, honouring the doyen of Egypt's early 20th century musical pioneers. "The restoration represents a massive achievement," said Farouk Abdel-Salam, first under-secretary at the Ministry of Culture. "It has been a major project restoring the theatre to its original state," said Zahi Hawass, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Not only was the building suffering from decades of neglect, it had been subjected to earlier, cack-handed attempts at restoration, Hawass explained. The walls were cracked and what little of the original decorative scheme remained was so faded as to be unrecognisable. The restoration involved an extensive search in European theatres and opera houses designed by the same architect for original designs that might furnish clues as to the theatre's interior furnishings and decoration. "Restoring the theatre was as challenging as it was exciting," said Ayman Abdel-Moneim, the archaeologist heading the restoration team. The LE25 million restoration progressed in three phases. First the walls and foundations of the structure had to be stabilised by the injection of concrete. All internal and external additions to the original design were then removed, including the wooden kiosks that obstructed access to the main entrance. Their removal has cleared space that will now be used for open air exhibitions. The second phase involved reconstructing the original decorative scheme and was, says Abdel-Moneim, the most crucial phase of the project. It was a delicate operation. The decorative architectural features on walls and ceiling were all constructed from fragile plaster and their refurbishment took a "great deal of patience", said Abdel-Moneim. The third and final phase included installing the kind of facilities and equipment that a world-class opera house demands without impinging on the character of the original building. Ventilation, lighting and sound systems all had to be slotted unobtrusively next to the original features of the building. The stage itself presented yet another challenge. The original structure was too flimsy to withstand the heavy stage equipment which is de rigeur for modern productions. "To handle this problem a new wooden stage has been constructed on top of the original one, but with separate foundations," said Abdel Moneim. During cleaning and restoration work an assortment of miscellaneous objects have come to light, among them golden coins dating from 1917, a cigarette box, and old tickets and advertisements for the theatre's productions. "All these items are now in storage and will eventually be put on display within the theatre, affording audiences a glimpse into the building's past," said Abdel-Moneim.
