The Ministry of Culture has announced the programme for resuming theatrical and musical activities across Egypt, after three months of closure due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
On Saturday, Minister of Culture Inas Abdel Dayem approved the programme for resuming the theatrical activities in two phases.
Theatres across the country are to present 30 plays that will take place in both in-door and out-door venues.
In the first phase, Cairo Opera House’s El-Hanager Arts Center will start presenting theatrical activities as of 16 July. It will present the famous Egyptian puppet operetta El Leila El Kebira, in addition to four other plays which will be performed in the El-Hanager Theatre and the Cairo Opera’s open-air theatre.
The second phase, which starts in August, will include all in-door and out-door theatres across the country.
Ismail Mukhtar, Head of the Theater Art House, said that a set of distinctive performances has been prepared for launch this summer. He added that the Ministry of Culture’s online initiative will present new plays that will be produced starting from this month.
The plan includes resuming activities at the Balloon Theater on 10 July, Mohamed Abdel Wahab Theater in Alexandria on 16 July, and National Circus on 9 July.
Meanwhile, a host of theatres’ will reopen to the public on 17 July. This includes the National Theater, Talea Theater, Al-Ghad Theater, Youth Theater, Opera Malek, Floating Theater, Puppet Theater, Bayram al-Tunsi Theater, Metropol Theater and the Children’s National Theater.
Earlier on Friday, Abdel Dayem had also approved the new programme for resuming activities at the Cairo Opera House. A total of 40 concerts will take place at the newly-established open-air theatres as part of the programme.
A group of Egyptian and Arab musicians and singers will participate in Cairo Opera House’s new programme. These include megastar Mohamed Mounir, veteran musician Omar Khayirat, along with acclaimed singers Ali El-Haggar and Medhat Saleh.
The activities at Cairo Opera House will start on 9 July, with the Grand Fountain Theater in operation, followed by the Open Theater and Alexandria’s Sayyed Darwish Theater in Alexandria on 10 July.
Magdy Saber, Head of the Cairo Opera House, announced that visitors will be able to make reservations for concerts online.
The theatrical shows and concerts will be held at a maximum capacity of 25% to ensure the safety of attendees and staff, alongside social distancing and regular disinfection of theatres.
Classes at talent development centres will continue to receive students, as individual training will resume on 10 July.
