In early January, the Cairo National Theatre celebrated the 100th performance of King Lear, marking a milestone in both Yehia El-Fakharany’s career and the theatre’s legacy.
The final run will bring the total number of performances to between 122 and 126, underlining the exceptional success of the production.
The play first opened in July 2025, marking El-Fakharany’s return to the role, which he first performed in 2001 on the same stage.
The 2001 production featured Sawsan Badr, Salwa Mohamed Ali, Rania Farid Shawky, and Ahmed Fouad Selim, alongside the late actors Farouk El-Fishawy (1952–2019) and Ashraf Abdel-Ghafour (1942–2023).
The current production is directed by Shady Sorour and stars Tarek El-Desouky, Hassan Youssef, Mohamed El-Ezayzi, Eman Ragaa, Amal Abdallah, Ahmed El-Nasser, Islam Abbas, Diaa Shafik, and Hamdy Attia.
“When I first performed King Lear in 2001, it was difficult because I had to play an old man and physically bend over, which left my back in severe pain every day. But now, at 80, I truly am an old man, so I don’t need to make any special effort to feel the character, ” El-Fakharany said at a press conference ahead of the July premiere of the Shakespearean tragedy.
The play will be staged for four final nights. Performances on 12 and 13 February will begin at 9 pm, while those on 14 and 15 February will start at 8 pm.
Yehia El-Fakharany
El-Fakharany is one of Egypt’s most celebrated actors, renowned for his work in theatre, film, and television.
Born in 1945, he began his stage career in the late 1960s and rose to prominence through memorable performances in both classical and contemporary works.
He is particularly known for his versatility, depth of expression, and long-standing dedication to the National Theatre.
Over his career, he has become an iconic figure in Egyptian performing arts, earning critical acclaim for roles ranging from Shakespearean classics such as King Lear to popular television dramas.
In addition to King Lear, El-Fakharany has appeared in numerous stage productions, many of them originally produced in the 1960s and throughout the 1990s.
In 2015, he starred in Mohsen Helmy’s adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights.
Alongside his theatre work, El-Fakharany has appeared in more than 50 films and around 70 television series to date.
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