Public theatres in Egypt go through a democratic transition

Ahram Online, Monday 28 May 2012

Employees, artists, and technicians are on the cusp of installing the next generation of post-Mubarak directors across major theatres across Egypt

Amidst a restructuring of the Egyptian ministry of culture in a post-revolution context, artists and employees of some of Egypt's major public theatres are currently electing their directors, managers and technical offices.

At the Cairo Comedy Theatre 88 artists and technicians are electing the theatre's director. Artist, Aida Fahmy, topped all candidates followed by Hamada Shousha, Adel Anwar and Zeinab Wahbe.

The Modern Theatre Group is also running elections among its members and employees to choose its director. So far, Egyptian actor Gamal Adbel Nasser, the current director of the group, has the highest votes.

At the puppet theatre, Tahani Lotfi topped the list of contenders for the post of director.

At the Talee'a Theatre (Leading Theatre), more than 70 artists and members cast ballots in the election, in which the current director artist Maher Selim and artist Walaa Farid share the lead with 47 votes each, followed by artist Mohamed El Kholi with 42 votes.

The director for the Children's Theatre will also be appointed soon.

All election results across all theatres will then be submitted to Egypt's Minister of Culture Saber Arab for him to approve. Winners will be announced within days, according to the culture ministry.