Egyptian puppet artist Saber El-Masry celebrated at Cairo's Bayt El-Sehemi
Ahram Online, , Friday 5 May 2017
“I’ve spent 60 years making people laugh” says Saber El-Masry, sheikh of Aragouz Players, speaking on his latest award from the UAE's Al-Sharka’ Heritage Institute


“I’ve spent 60 years making people laugh” commented Saber El-Masry, sheikh of Aragouz Players on his latest award from Al-Sharka’ heritage institute for being one of the most valuable humans alive. Today, Saber El-Masry is being honored in recognition of his latest award, at Al-Sehemi house

El-Masry is a member of wamda troupe since it first started in 2003. Wamda is a troupe dedicated in reviving and renewing the art of Aragouz and shadow puppets.

Founded by Nabil Bahgat a university professor of theatre who always believed that “we have what it takes to express ourselves and our culture” And from this motto his troupe opened the doors of imagination wide open through their weekly performance in the heart of Islamic Cairo.

Aragouz and shadow puppets have a long history in Egypt and prior to the performances, a weekly workshop is held with the children of el moez street to show them how to make their own shadow puppets and aragouz and h "I've spent 60 years making people laugh" said Saber El-Masry, sheikh of Aragouz Players, speaking on his latest award from the UAE's Al-Sharka Heritage Institute which named him as one of the most valuable people alive.

El-Masry will be honoured for this award with a celebration Friday evening at Islamic Cairo's El-Sehemi House, where he performs weekly with the Wamda Troupe. El-Masry has been a member of the Wamda Troupe since its beginning in 2003. Wamda is a troupe dedicated to reviving and renewing the art ofAragouz and shadow puppets.

The troupe was founded by Nabil Bahgat, a theatre professor who said of the troupe that it had "what it takes to express ourselves and our culture." From this motto his troupe opened the doors of imagination in Egypt through weekly performances in the heart of Islamic Cairo.

The arts of Aragouz and shadow puppetry have a long history in Egypt. Prior to Wamda's weekly performances, they hold a workshop with the children of El-Moez street to show them how to make their own shadow puppets and aragouz and create their own stories.

Born in 1939, El-Masry spent most of his life with mulids and street performers, before joining Wamda. Since then he has toured internationally, receiving awards in Tunisia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, France, Greece and Egypt for his creative work.

https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/268156.aspx