Hakawy International Arts Festival for Children, the brainchild of AFCA for Arts and Culture, is entering its fifth year.

Hakawy (Arabic for "stories") is composed of a series of storytelling performances for children through a range of artistic forms.

For the past four years, each edition has focused on one art form. The first edition in 2011 focused on storytelling, the second highlighted the importance of language and education, the third introduced music and rhythm, while the fourth focused on movement and dance. 

This year, the festival plans to capture all four elements through performances held from 9 to 17 March in Cairo, and from 18 to19 March in Alexandria.

Here is the Cairo programme.

Monday 9 March 

Tiger Tale (Dance, UK)
10-11am
7-8pm
 
Tetris (Dance, Netherlands)
11-12pm
6-7pm

Opening of the exhibition on the Charter of Children's Rights to Art and Culture (Egypt/Italy)
5:30pm

Tuesday 10 March 

Tiger Tale (Dance, UK)
10-11am
6-7pm
 
Tetris (Dance, Netherlands)
11-12pm
7-8pm

Wednesday 11 March 

Tiger Tale (Dance, UK)
10-11am
6-7pm

IN'Tents (Clownesque, US)
11-12pm
7-8pm

Thursday 12 March 

Tiger Tale (Dance, UK)
10-11am
6-7pm

IN'Tents (Clownesque, US)
11-12pm
7-8pm

Friday 13 March 

Tiger Tale (Dance, UK)
1-2pm
5-6pm

IN'Tents (Clownesque, US)
2-3pm
6-7pm

Fringes: Artistic workshops (Egypt)
The whole day

Saturday 14 March 

IN'Tents (Clownesque, US)
10-11am
6-7pm

Fringes: Artistic workshops (Egypt)
The whole day

Sunday 15 March 

IN'Tents (Clownesque, US)
10-11am
6-7pm

500 (Storytelling for 13+, Egypt)
11am-12pm
7-8pm 

Monday 16 March 

IN'Tents (Clownesque, US)
10-11am

11am-12pm
Tuiles (Cirque, France)

500 (Storytelling for 13+, Egypt)
12-1pm

6-7pm
Tuiles (Cirque, France)

500 (Storytelling for 13+, Egypt)
7-8pm

Tuesday 17 March 

Tuiles (Cirque, France)
10-11am

11am-12pm
IN'Tents (Clownesque, US)

Tuiles (Cirque, France)
12-1pm

Venues

All shows will take place in Hanager Arts Centre located at the Cairo Opera House grounds, Zamalek. 

Tiger Tale: Hanager Theatre 
Tetris: Hanager Gallery 
IN'Tents: Hanager Gallery 
Fringes: Artistic workshops: At the entrace of Hanager 
Tuiles: Theatre
500: Gallery

Hakawy's performances in Alexandria will take place from 18 to19 March. We will be announcing the programme separately.  

Ahram Online is the official media sponsor for the fifth edition of Hakawy International Festival for Children.