The 12th Hakawy International Arts Festival for Children
(6-15 October)
Tahrir Cultural Centre (TCC)
AUC’s Tahrir Campus, Downtown, 24 Falaki St, Downtown Cairo, Tel 012 88721446
Marriott Hall
Thurs 6, 11am and Fri 7, 1.30pm: Zaki (+4).
Garden
Thurs 6, 1pm: Senet Board Game (+6). (1pm) From and Back to Nature (+10). (2pm) Wadi Degla Virtual Museum (+6). (2pm) clothes upcycling workshop (+8). (2pm) Turn Plastic to Jewellery workshop (+10).
Fri 7, 1pm: A Tale of An Old Building (+7). (1pm) clothes upcycling workshop (+8).
Sat 8, 1pm: Clothes upcycling workshop (+8). (1pm) A Tale of An Old Building (+7).
Mon 10, 10am: Clothes upcycling workshop (+8). (10am) Make Your Own Upcycled Product (+6).
Tues 11, 9am: Clothes upcycling workshop (+8). (10am) Make Your Own Upcycled Product (+6).
Wed 12, 10am: Clothes upcycling workshop (+8).
Thurs 13, 10am and 4pm: Make Your Own Upcycled Product (+6). (10am) Clothes upcycling workshop (+8).
Thurs 13, 10am: Wadi Degla Virtual Museum (+6).
Ewart Hall
Thurs 6, 4pm: The opening ceremony of the festival for all ages.
Mon 10, 7pm: “For A Rooted Future: Children and the Arts” a talk with actor Ahmed Amin.
Wed 12, 9am: Family Portrait (All ages).
Thurs 13, 9am and 5pm: Family Portrait (All ages).
Armenian Room
Thurs 13, 5pm: Sexual Harassment Awareness workshop for children aging from 6 to 8.
Thurs 13, 7pm: “Eco-Education” panel discussion for all artists.
Amir Taz Palace
27 Al-Syoufiya St, off Al-Saliba St, Al-Khalifa District, Tel 02 2514 2581
Thurs 6, 7pm and Fri 7, 7pm: Shadows of the Wall (all ages).
Falaki Theatre
American University in Cairo, Downtown Campus, 24 Falaki St, Downtown Cairo, Tel 012 88721446
Thurs 6, 3pm and Fri 7, 5pm: On Air (+7).
Sat 8, 12pm: La Fontaine’s Fables in Arabic (+5). (5pm) Circles (+2).
Sun 9, 9am: Circles (+2).
Tues 11, 9am: On Air (+7).
Thurs 13, 9am, 12pm and 6pm: IGLU (+3).
Al-Hanager Theatre
Gezira Exhibition Grounds, Zamalek, Tel 02 2735 6861
Sun 9, 9am and 12pm: Gimmiz (+2).
Mon 10, 10.30am: Gimmiz (+2).
Tues 11, 12pm: La Fontaine’s Fables in French (+8).
Wed 12, 9am: La Fontaine’s Fables in French (+8). (10.30am) La Fontaine’s Fables in Arabic (+5).
Al-Hanager Lobby
Tues 11, 9am and Wed 12, 10am: Silhouette Tracing (+9).
Thurs 13, 12pm: La Fontaine’s Fables in French (+8).
_________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
The 10th Downtown Contemporary Arts Festival (D-CAF)
(9-30 October)
Rawabet Art Space
3 Hussien El Meaamar St. ext. of Mahmoud Basiouny St, from Talaat Harb Square, Downtown
Still in Tangier and Cannot Travel, Therese, the fascinating life story of the Austrian dancer Therese Zauser (1910-1942) – a biographical, multimedia theatrical performance connecting Austria and North Africa.
At the age of 19, Zauser decided to escape her hometown Feldkirch in Austria to travel to North Africa and realize her biggest dream – living the adventurous life of a dancer and singer. She tours through Alexandria, Suez, Algiers and Casablanca, never spending more than a few weeks in a place. Following the Nazi takeover of Austria in 1938, she had to return to Europe. She struggles with the hardships of her new life during World War II, barely able to find work as a dancer. After being arrested for hostile statements against the Nazis, she died in a concentration camp in 1942.
The play, directed by the Austrian director Brigitte Walk, follows the life of an extraordinary Austrian artist in North Africa of the 1930s. The play is accompanied by video footage shot by contemporary cinematographers from Alexandria, Tunis and other cities where Therese Zauser performed during her life. It casts Luka Oberhammer, Peter Bocek, text is written by Nadine Kegele, Choreography: Dagmar Benda, Elisabeth Orlowsky, and music by Marcus Nigsch.
The performance, presented by the Austrian Cultural Forum, will be in German language with Arabic subtitles.
(13 and 14 October, 8pm).
Cook, theatre performance (Denmark) is co-created by Jesper Pederson and Nassim Soleimanpour, is a one-of-a-kind experimental theatre performance, with no rehearsals, no director, and no preparation of any kind. Each night, a new actor takes to the stage to act out a script they have never seen before, and deliver a flavorful new performance with a side of philosophical inquiry. Cook is produced by the Copenhagen-based company Pacemaker, run by Jesper Pedersen and founded to support, develop, and produce experimental and innovative theater for an international audience. It casts actors Sayed Ragab and Salwa Mohamed Ali. Duration: 65 minutes, Language: Arabic
(9 and 10 October, 8pm).
Traces, Discourse to The African Nations (Belgium/ Burkina Faso) play is on How does a continent move past a history marred by colonialism and a present tainted by the quiet violence of borders, prejudice, and erasure? What does a unified, prosperous African future look like?
Traces – address to the African nations is an invitation to sow the seeds for a better future. Written by Felwine Sarr, directed by Etienne Minoungou, and performed by Étienne Minoungou and Simon Winsé, this powerful performance reflects the cultural and historical experiences of the African continent. The performance will be followed by a talk with the artist. Duration: 60 minutes, Language: French with Arabic and English Subtitles (11 October, 8pm).
The Culture Ministry applies all precautionary and preventive measures with daily sterilization of the theatres in order to ensure the safety of the public, artists and workers.
The Cairo Puppet Theatre
Next to the Al-Attaba Metro Station, Tel 02 2591 0954
Arousty (my doll), a children play directed by Mohamed Nour
(Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 7pm).
Cairo Festival City
Al-Tagamouaa Al-Khamis, New Cairo
The Marquee
Rapunzel theatrical kids show, starring actress Marwa Abdel-Moneim, is an entertaining story, musical, and also family theatre show that is amusing, visually dazzling and imaginary for all family members, directed by Mohsen Rizq (6 October, 8pm).
Cairo Festival City
Al-Gamila wa El-Wahsh (Beauty and the Beast) is an entertaining story, musical, and dancing kids and family theatre show that is amusing, visually dazzling and imaginary for all family members, written and directed by Mohsen Rizk (7 October, 8pm).
The Floating Theatre
Abdel-Aziz Al-Saoud St, in front of Salaheddin Mosque, Al Manial, Tel 02 2368 4047, 012 8531 1358/ 0100 5233623
Small Theatre
101 Isolation, a play casts Abdel-Moneim Riyad, Ahmed Osman, Haidy Abdel-Khalek, Mohamed Mabrouk, Nada Afifi, and many more, written by Ali Abdel-Qawy, décor by Noha Nabil, costumes designed by Heba Magdy, music by Ahmed Nabil and directed by Mohamed Darwish
(Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, 8.30pm).
Al-Qawmi (The National) Theatre
Al Attaba Square, in front of Attab Post Office, Cairo, Tel, 02 25917783
Al-Hafeed (The Grandson) play is an adaptation of author Abdel-Hamid Gouda Al-Sahar’s novel. It is a social comedy about the Egyptian family that suffers from the negative impact of customs and traditions on its members and their psychology. The play casts actors Lucy, Abed Enany, Tamer Farag, Mohamed Mabrouk, Rana Khattab and many more, with music composed by Karim Arafa, lighting designed by Hazem Ahmed, décor built up by Hamdy Attiya, and directed by Youssef Al-Mansour (Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, 9pm).
Metropol (The Children’s National) Theatre
6 Halim St, the beginning of 26th July, Attaba, Downtown, Tel 02 2593 3334
Beauty and the Beast, a play for children casts Bahaa Tharwat, Sayed Ragab, Hanaa Said, Ayman Beshay, Nashwa Hassan and many more, written by Nasser Mahmoud and directed by Mahmoud Hassan (Performances run daily except Mondays, 7.30pm).
Al-Salam Theatre
101 Qasr Al-Aini St, Tel 02 2795 2484/2794 3016/010 21521501
Youssef Edris Hall
Khetat Cupid (cupid’s plan), a play produced by the Modern Theatre, casts Abdel-Moneim Riyad, Nawal Samir, Kareem El-Husseiny, décor by Ahmed Amin, costumes designed by Rabab El-Prince, lighting by Abu-Bakr Elsherif, and directed by Ahmed Fouad
(Performances run on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays, 7pm and 9pm).
Taliaa Theatre
Attaba Square, Tel 02 2593 7948
Salah Abdel-Sabour Hall
Leilat Alqatala (night of the killers) is Jose Triana’s play translated by Fathy El-Ashri and produced by Taliaa Theatre Company, and casts Nashwa Ismail, Emile Shawki, Shaimaa Yousry, décor and costumes designed by Samah Nabil, directed by Sobhy Youssef
(Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 8pm).
Zaki Tolaimat Hall
Love in the Time of Cholera play is based on Nobel prize winner Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez’s novel carrying the same name. The play casts actors Dina Ahmed, Mohamed Farid, Aya Khalaf, Mahmoud El-Betar and many more, with music composed by Walid El-Shahawi, lighting designed by Ezz Helmy, décor built up by Mina Reda, new theatrical vision by Mina Bebawy and directed by Al-Said Mansy (Performances run daily except Tuesdays, 9pm).
ALEXANDRIA
Jesuit Cultural Centre
298 Port Said St, Cleopatra, Sidi Gaber, Alexandria, Tel 01090958108
Still in Tangier and Cannot Travel, Therese, the fascinating life story of the Austrian dancer Therese Zauser (1910-1942) – a biographical, multimedia theatrical performance connecting Austria and North Africa.
(8 October, 7pm).
Lycee El Horreya Theatre
Qism Bab Sharqi, Alexandria, Tel 03 5913794
Lesa Faker (you still remember) play is a romantic show in a sarcastic comic style, produced by the Alexandria Theatre Company. It casts Ahmed Askar, Bousy El-Hawary and Sherif Ghanem, written by Mohamed Morsy and directed by Sameh El-Hadary
(Performances run on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, 8pm).
*A version of this article appears in print in the 6 October, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
Short link: