D-CAF's Face À La Mère theatre show at Falaki Theatre is not to be missed

Reham El-Adawi , Tuesday 22 Oct 2024

Face À La Mère
Face À La Mère

 

The 12th Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF) 

(17 October-10 November)

 

 

The Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF), the largest international contemporary arts festival in the Arab region, is celebrating its 12th edition this year. Presented by 124 artists from 21 countries, the festival will present 26 diverse performances, including performing arts, new media arts, music, and special events. It will feature contemporary art performances, discussions, and visual art exhibitions characterized by creative ideas, technological innovation, and interactive experiences with the audience. Additionally, there will be nine workshops covering various fields. This year's festival will also include the "Cairo Calling" programme, hosting 13 directors and choreographers from the Arab region and Arab expatriates. Moreover, a training programme supported by the MBC Academy in Saudi Arabia, in partnership with Wasla for Arts, will offer training for 10 emerging cultural managers in festival management.

 

 

Falaki Theatre

AUC Tahrir Campus, 24 Falaki St, Downtown, Cairo, Tel 012 88721446

Face À La Mère (Facing Mother) theatre production is directed by Guy Cassiers, with text written by Jean-René Lemoine, performed by Jean-René Lemoine, set design by Guy Cassiers, Light design by Zélie Champeau, Sound design by Jeroen Kenens, and Video design by Stéphane Rimasauskas.  

A mother dies tragically, in a far-off country beset by violence and madness. Several years later, her son decides to set a meeting with her, beyond death, to confess to her all that he never dared to tell her.

Over the course of this love song, the son retraces the tumult of a forty-year relationship. Buried images of the mother resurface, fade into each other and overlap with snapshots of continents, countries and

cities. There will be a talk with the artists following the first night of the performance (French with Arabic subtitle, 25 and 26 October, 8pm). 

 

 

Kodak Corner Shop

Downtown, Cairo

Table Top Shakespeare video theatre is performed by Robin Arthur, Nicki Hobday, Jerry Killick, Richard Lowdon, Cathy Naden and Terry O’Connor, directed by Tim Etchells, with text by Robin Arthur, Tim Etchells, Jerry Killick, Richard Lowdon, Claire Marshall, Cathy Naden and Terry O’Connor, sound design by Richard Lowdon , light

design by Jim Harrison, produced by Jim Harrison, Eileen

Evans and Forced Entertainment, co-produced by Berliner

Festspiele and Theater festival, with Arabic subtitles translation

by Rana Elbowety. Forced Entertainment performers condense every existing

Shakespeare play into a series of intimate and lovingly-made

miniatures, played out on a one metre table-top using a

collection of un-extraordinary everyday objects. Forced

Entertainment have long had an obsession with virtual or

described performance, exploring the possibilities of conjuring

extraordinary scenes, images and narratives using language

alone (17 October- 5 November, weekdays from 5-10pm and weekends from 2-10pm). 

 

 

Rawabet Art Space

5 Hussien El-Meaamar St. ext. of Mahmoud Bassiouny St, from Talaat Harb Square, Downtown

Created and performed by Viktória Makra, Dávid Remsey, Emőke Dénes, and Márton Nagy, The Book of Neptune (Hungary) is a spectacular puppet theatre form based on music and movements, performed with lit-up sculptures of fishes, allowing marine life to

come alive on stage. Similar to a reverse shadow play, the fishes “swim in a sea”. People’s familiarity with marine life imagery allows them to imagine a dynamic and dreamy landscape. They imagine flying away

and create an ocean-tale of their own. There will be a talk with the artists following the first night of the performance (1and 2 November, 7pm).  

 

_________________________________________________________

 

 

   

The Cairo Puppet Theatre
Next to the Al-Attaba Metro Station, Tel 02 2591 0954
Zat and the Red Dress children play is written Walid Kamal and directed by Nadia El-Shweikh 

(Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 8pm).

 

 

Cervantes Institute 

20 Boulos Hanna St, Dokki, Tel 02 3760 1746

The Trains of Memory theatre show by Uruguayan artist Franklin Rodriguez (27 October, 8pm, free entry).

   

 

The Floating Theatre

Abdel-Aziz Al-Saoud St, in front of Salaheddin Mosque, Al Manial, Tel 02 2368 4047, 012 8531 1358/ 0100 5233623

Main Theatre

Maraya Electra (Electra's Mirrors) play is produced by The Youth Theatre, written by Metwali Hamed and directed by Ayman Mustafa  

(Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 10pm).

Small Theatre

Alsemsemiya play is performed by a group of the theatre budding actors, music composed by Haitham Darwish, decor and costumes designed by Samah Nabil, written and directed by Said Soliman,  

(Performances run on Thursdays and Fridays, 9pm).

 

 

Al-Ghad (Tomorrow) Theatre

Next to Balloon Theatre, Al-Agouza, Tel 02 3304 3187

Alnoqta Alamia (The Blind Spot) play, directed by Ahmed Fouad, is based on a text by the famous Swiss writer Friedrich Dürrenmatt, and produced by the Al-Ghad Theatre company, led by the artist Sameh Megahed, and under the supervision of director Khaled Galal. It casts 

The Blind Spot starring Nour Mahmoud, and it is his first theatrical experience, and it casts Ahmed Al-Salakawi, Ahmed Othman, Hossam Fayyad, Heidi Barakat, and Omar Salah El-Din. The events of the play revolve around a malfunction in the car of Adam, played by Nour Mahmoud, during a severe storm, forcing him to take refuge in the nearest house, to find inside it three law professors playing a strange game called the court, and the elements of the game are completed in his presence. He finds himself involved in the grip of the court trying to find a way to get out of this game (Performances run daily, 8.30pm).

 

 

Grand Nile Tower

Corniche Al-Nil, Garden City, Tel 16826

Mimo play starring comedian Ahmed Helmy, Asmaa Galal, Hamdy El-Merghany, Rahma Farrag, written by Diaa Mohamed and directed by Hisham Atwa (7 and 8 November, 9pm). 

 

 

The International Park

Madinet Nasr District

Candy Crush children play is performed by Al-Shams (The Sun) Theatre Company for those with special abilities written by Said Haggag and directed by Mohamed Metwaly (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7pm).

 

 

Malak Opera Theatre

9 A Khalig Al-Khour St, Azbekiya district, Ramses, Tel 0122 3417152  

Qabl Alkhoroug (before the exit) play starring Sherehan Qotb, Mohamed Abdel-Wahab, Lamiaa Gaafar, is written by Mohamed Zenaty, directed by Hany El-Sayed, with music composed by Mohamed Qabil, decor and costumes designed by Mohamed Hashem 

(Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 8pm).

 

 

Miami Theatre

Talaat Harb St, next to Miami Cinema, Downtown, Tel 02 2574 5651 

Ala'yal Fahmet (the children understood) play is an adaptation of Sound of the Music musical, produced by the Comedy Theatre and directed by Shady Sorour  

(Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 9pm).

 

 

Metropol (The Children’s National) Theatre

6 Halim St, the beginning of 26th July, Attaba, Downtown, Tel 02 2593 3334

Alhelm Halawa (The Dream is Halawa) play for children is written by Yasser Aboul-Anein, and directed by Maye Mohab

(Performances run on Thursdays and Fridays, 7.30pm).

 

 

Al-Qawmi (The National) Theatre

Al Attaba Square, in front of Attab Post Office, Cairo, Tel, 02 25917783

Mish Romeo wa Juliet (Not Romeo and Juliet) play is an adaptation of William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet casting singer Ali El-Haggar, actress Rania Farid Shawqi, poetry by poet Amin Haddad, and directed by Essam El-Sayyed  

(Performances run daily except Wednesdays, 9pm).

 

 

Al-Rehani Theatre

17 Emad Al Din Street, downtown, Cairo, near cosmos cinema

Tel, 02 25913697, 02 25892103

Arees El Bahr (Groom of the sea) an enjoyable journey through time and space, we travel together to experience a dramatic play from the heritage of Upper Egypt. Two brothers from a wealthy family in Upper Egypt were torn apart by greed over their inheritance. The elder brother went against his younger brother. How did greed, love, hatred, and hope affect Masoud and Wajida, who were victims of the greed of their uncle; El-Hareedy? The play is performed by the BUE theatre team, with dramaturge by Mohamed Adel, and directed by Walid Talaat (25 and 26 October, 8.30pm).

 

 

 

Al-Salam Theatre

101 Qasr Al-Aini St, Tel 02 2795 2484/2794 3016/010 21521501  

Youm Assem Gedan play is produced by the Comedy Theatre Company starring Mustafa Mansour, Haidy Refaat, Sherehan El-Shazli, and many more. Décor by Mohamed Fathy, lightening by Ezz Helmy, written by Ayman El-Nemr and directed by Amr Hassaan (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 9pm).

Aageeb wa Aageeba musical theatrical performance is produced by the Modern Theatre Company starring Sayyed El-Roumy, Doaa Ramadan, Ihab Bakir, Reda Tolba, and many more. Décor by Sarah Shoukry, lightening by Abu-Bakr El-Sherif, costumes designed by Samah Nabil, music composed by Mahmoud Wahid, choreography by Ahmed Samir, written by Said Haggag and directed by Mohamed El-Soghair (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 9.30pm).  

Youssef Idrees Hall

Casino play starring Kareem El-Husseiny, Nawal Samir, Shady Asaad, Mohamed Diab, Nesma Adel is produced by the Modern Theatre Company. Décor by Mohamed Abdel-Hamid, lightening by Ezz Helmy, costumes designed by Maha Abdel-Rahman, music composed by Hazem El-Kafrawy, choreography by Hassan Shehata, written by Ayman El-Nemr and directed by Amr Hassaan 

(Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 9pm).

Khetat Cupid (cupid’s plan) play casts actors Abdel-Moneim Riyad, Kareem El-Hosseiny, Nawal Samir, and many more. Décor by Ahmed Amin, lighting by Abu Bakr El-Sherif, music by Tamer Abdel-Meguid, written by Abdallah El-Shaaer, and directed by Ahmed Fouad (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7pm).

 

 

Taliaa Theatre

Attaba Square, Tel 02 2593 7948

Salah Abdel-Sabour Hall

Laabet Alnahaya (Endgame) is an absurdist, tragicomic one-act play by Irish playwright Samuel Beckett, produced by Taliaa Theatre

Starring Mahmoud Zaki and Lamiaa Gaafar, décor by Ahmed Gamal, costumes designed by Maha Abdel-Rahman, prepared and directed by Alsaid Qabil (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 9.30pm).

Zaki Tolaimat Hall

Opera Alataba (Alataba Opera) play is casting Mohamed Abdel-Fattah, Doaa Hamza, décor by Omar Ghayat, costumes          designed by Maye Kamal, written and directed by Hany Afifi    (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 7pm). 

 

 

ALEXANDRIA

 

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Chatby, Alexandria 21526, Tel (03) 4839999 

Small Hall

Women of Fire theatrical performance is based on The House of Bernarda Alba by Federico García Lorca. Written and lyrics are written by Shazly Farah, and directed by Tarek Hassan (26 October, 8pm). 

 

 

Lycee El Horreya Theatre

Qism Bab Sharqi, Alexandria, Tel 03 5913794 

Hazem Hassem Gedan (Hazem is very strict) play is written by Walid Youssef and directed by Mohamed Moursi  

(Performances run on Thursdays and Fridays, 8pm).

An Adventure in the Mythical City children play is produced by Alexandria Theatre Company, written by Ayman Feteha and directed by Monica Joseph

(Performances run on Saturdays and Sundays, 8pm).


* A version of this article appears in print in the 24 October, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

Short link: