All performances—opera, ballet, music events, theatre events—will begin at 6:30pm, marking a notable shift from the usual evening schedule, where shows in Alexandria Opera typically start around 7 or 8pm, and performances in Cairo and Damanhour Opera often begin at 8pm or later.
Opera's management stressed that the adjustment seeks to balance commitment with enjoyment of creative performances, maintaining quality even as schedules shift.
This change follows the instructions from the cabinet and is aimed at addressing the national energy pressures.
On 18 March, Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced a package of urgent measures to rationalize electricity consumption, including early business closures and a potential shift toward remote work for some government employees, as Egypt seeks to mitigate regional energy pressures.
The measures include shutting shops, malls, restaurants, and cafes at 9pm—extended to 10 pm on Fridays and Saturdays—starting 28 March for one month, Madbouly said at a cabinet briefing.
Street lighting will be reduced to minimum levels, and all roadside advertising lights switched off.
Government offices will close at 6 pm after the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, with the remaining administrative work carried out remotely.
Madbouly said the steps are aimed at easing pressure on the power grid amid volatility in global energy markets linked to escalating tensions due to the US-Israeli war on Iran.
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