Directed by Sanjoy Roy and choreographed by Gilles Chuyen, the musical 'Bollywood Love Story' will be staged at the Cairo Opera House Main Hall between 26 and 29 April and on 3 and 4 May in Alexandria.

The show is part of the multi-disciplinary arts festival India by the Nile 2016 — the 4th edition of the festival, scheduled to take place from 23 April to 7 May. The festival aims at presenting India’s cultural diversity through various art forms and to encourage cultural exchange between India and Egypt.

The dramaturgical line of Bollywood Love Story is simple: it presents two protagonists in love whose happiness is obstructed by a villain. But as is always the case in such stage productions, the storyline is but a backbone for an extravaganza expressed through dance, with rich choreography and vibrant costumes. As the narrator walks us through the scenes, we reach a predictable happy ending.

The musical has been touring for several years, by 2014, putting on more than 150 shows across the world, including South Africa, Japan and China.

It was performed in Egypt back in 2014, during the 2nd edition of India by the Nile.

"Though the show returns with the same story line, it has a different cast, modified costumes and stage setup," Rakesh Kawra, second secretary (culture) and acting director of the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture in Cairo, explained to Ahram Online.

"The musical carries an important message about the autonomy of women and their right to choose their own life path. Bollywood Love Story affirms that life should be celebrated. It displays an array of artistic skill from international artists merging dance styles from around the world, and yet it still manages to achieve an overall atmosphere of familiarity, connecting people and places," writes Emma Townsend, reviewing the musical for Ahram Online back in 2014.

Programme:
26, 27, 28, 29 April at 8pm
27, 28 April at 12pm
Cairo Opera House, Main Hall, Zamalek, Cairo

3, 4 May at 8pm
4 May at 12pm
Alexandria Opera House (Sayed Darwish Theatre), Alexandria

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