Msh Romeo w Juliet (Not Romeo and Juliet) - theatre
Daily except Wednesdays, 9pm
National Theatre, Al-Ataba, Cairo
A star-studded play features Ali El-Haggar, Rania Farid Shawky, Medo Adel, Ezzat Zein, Donia El-Nashar, Taha Khalifa, Aser Ali, Tarek Ragheb, among others.
Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the Egyptian play is directed by Essam El-Sayed, with music by Ahmed Shatot and choreography by Sherine Hegazy.
The play premiered on 17 June at the National Theatre and continues to be performed daily except Wednesdays.
The Memoirs of M. A. Draz - film
Wednesday 3 July, Friday 5 July, Monday 8 July, 7pm
Zawya Cinema, 15, Emad Eddin Str, Downtown, Cairo
Directed by Maggie Morgan, the film delves into the life of Azharite scholar Mohamed Abdallah Draz (1894-1958). Decades after his passing, Noha ElKholy (the movie’s producer) stumbles on a treasure trove of her great-grandfather’s legacy: letters, diaries, and photographs.
The Memoirs of M. A. Draz had its world premiere at the 8th Aswan International Women Film Festival (20 - 25 April 2024) where it won the European Union for Best Euro-Mediterranean Film and the Rasheeda Abdelsalam Special Jury Award.
Gawaza Toxic (Toxic Marriage) - film
Wednesday 3 July
Across cinemas
Karim and Farida are about to get married. Worlds collide when their respective families meet. Karim's conservative parents, disapproving of Farida’s liberal background, resort to a series of funny tricks and pranks to stop the wedding from happening.
The film stars Layla Eloui, Bayoumi Fouad, Mohamad Anwar, and Tamer Hagras.
Tales from Sudan (Sudan Zines) - exhibition
Thursday 4 July
Arab Digital Expression Foundation (ADEF), 7 Street 23, Al Abageyah, El Mokattam, Cairo
The exhibition showcases the artworks of 10 Sudanese artists.
Through their art, the artists convey the stories and experiences of a war-torn country, highlighting the struggle, resilience, and hope of its people.
The exhibition launched at the Contemporary Image Collective in Downtown Cairo on 2 July. It then moves to ADEF where the works remain on display until 10 July.
Mohamed Hamaki - music
Friday 5 July, 6pm
Porto Said, coastal road on Port Said road
The concert requires a white dress code
Hamaki is among the top Egyptian pop stars of his generation.
Born in 1975, he released his first album Khalena Neysh in 2003, followed by more than a dozen other albums, with the latest one being Ya Fatenny (2021).
Hamaki won the Best Arabia Act award from MTV Europe Music Awards and the Music Award in 2006, for Ahla Haga Fiki.
His concert at Porto Said celebrates the Royal Tower launching event.
Memo - theatre
Friday 5 July, 9pm
Grand Nile Tower, Cairo
Memo is directed by Hesham Atwa and written by Diaa Mohamed.
The play revolves around Masoud -- a marginalized member of his community -- who decides to prove himself unconventionally.
Ahmed Helmy is the eponymous hero of the play, whose cast includes stars such as Hana Al-Zahed, Ahmed Rizk, Hamdi El-Marghani, Mohamed Radwan, Rahma Ahmed, and Nour Ehab.
Nahawand Band - music
Saturday 6 July, 8pm
El-Sawy Culturewheel, River hall, 26th of July street, Zamalek, Cairo
Nahawand Band is a Syrian group with musicians playing on guitars, drums, percussions and keyboards. The band presents a mixture of Arabic music based on the Nahawand maqam and jazzy music.
Abu Shaar Brothers - music
Monday 8 July, 8pm
El-Sawy Culturewheel, Wisdom Hall, 26th of July Street, Zamalek, Cairo
Formed in 1983, the Abu Shaar Brothers from Syria began as a quartet presenting music and chants that praise Prophet Mohamed.
At the time of formation, the youngest member of the band was just 11 years old. As the band’s popularity began to grow the new generations subsequently entered the ensemble.
Soon Abu Shaar Brothers (El Ekhwa Abu Shaar), became an internationally renowned Syrian Islamic Nasheed group whose music and lyrics focus on a religious repertoire.
The highly popular band in Egypt and the Arab region, Abu Shaar Brothers have more than 600 thousand followers on social media such as Facebook and Instagram.
The Abu Shaar brothers currently reside and perform in Egypt.
Goodbye Julia - film
Monday 8 July, 8pm
Room Art Space & Café, 10 Etehad Al Mohamin Street, Garden City
Directed by Mohamed Kordofani, Goodbye Julia is a drama that tells the story of Mona, a retired singer from northern Sudan trapped in an unhappy marriage. Mona is wracked with guilt after covering up a murder, and to make amends she takes in a widow named Julia, who hails from South Sudan, along with her son Daniel.
The film stars Eiman Yousif, Siran Riak, Nazar Goma and Ger Duany.
Sudan's choice for the Oscar's Foreign Language Film Award (2024), Goodbye Julia had its world premiere at Cannes Film Festival, where it was nominated for the Un Certain Regard Award and the Golden Camera Award, and was awarded the Freedom Prize. It was then screened across dozens of international festivals scoring many awards.
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