Not to be missed: From Nancy Ajram, Tamer Hosny, Ehab Tawfik to abundance of theatre - Music - Arts & Culture

Al-Ahram Weekly

5 days ago

18th Egyptian National Theatre Festival
20 July - 6 August
Launched in 2006, the Egyptian National Theatre Festival has grown into the country's largest annual event dedicated to the theatrical arts.
This year's lineup features a diverse array of performances from troupes affiliated with the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the General Organization of Cultural Palaces, the Art House for Theatre, the Academy of Arts, private theatres, and student groups from the Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts and various universities.
Many of the plays have already premiered to critical and audience acclaim, while others are being introduced to wider audiences for the first time.
New films across cinemas starting 24 July
- The Fantastic Four: First Steps, starring Pedro Pascal, Vanessa Kirby, Joseph Quinn, Ebon Moss-Bachrach
- O.T.H.E.R., starring Olga Kurylenko, Philip Schurer
The Cell - film
Wednesday 23 July, 8pm
Cervantes Institute in Cairo, 20, Boulos Hanna St., Dokki, Cairo
The film Cell 211 (Celda 211) is a 2009 Spanish production directed by Daniel Monzón and based on the novel of the same name by Francisco Pérez Gandul. Winner of 8 Goya Awards, including Best Film, Best Director, and Best Actor, it was named Film of the Year in Spain.
The plot follows Juan, who starts his new job as a prison officer, and on the first day, he gets caught in a prison riot. He then decides to pose as an inmate to save his life and to help bring an end to the uprising, led by the fearsome Malamadre. What he doesn't know is that fate has set a trap for him.
Yarab Bent - theatre play
Thursday 24 July at 7pm & 9pm
Friday 25 July at 7pm & 9pm
Saturday 26 July at 6.30pm & 8.30pm
Rawabet Art Space, 5 Hussein Basha Al Meamari, Downtown Cairo
Anas, a standout student in his final year of university and the only son in his family, is on the cusp of earning a scholarship to the United States. But just as everything seems within reach, his plans are upended by his family's unexpected objections, jeopardizing not only his preparations but also his future.
Faced with the looming prospect of compulsory military service, Anas must reckon with the possibility of losing the opportunity altogether.
The play is written by Karim Adel and directed by Abdel-Rahman Amer.
Cassette 90 band - music
Thursday 24 July, 8pm
Wisdom hall, El-Sawy Culturewheel, 26th of July street, Zamalek, Cairo
The band is composed of eight musicians who bring the spirit of the 1990s back to life, performing hits by Egyptian artists such as Mostafa Amar, Hisham Abbas, Alaa Abdelkhalek, and Ehab Tawfik.
Hisham Abbas - music
Thursday 24 July, 9pm
Masrah Sokseeh, Porto Golf Alamein
Born in 1963, Hisham Abbas is a well-known Egyptian pop singer recognized for both his upbeat hits and religious songs.
He rose to fame in the early 1990s with tracks like Wana Wana Wana and Ta'ala, and is perhaps best known for his international hit Habibi Dah (Nari Narain) and the religious anthem Asmaa Allah Al-Husna.
Over the years, Abbas has released numerous solo albums, regularly performs in concerts, and has also appeared in television series, films, and theatrical productions.
Tamer Hosny - music
Friday 25 July
U Arena, New Alamein
Tamer Hosny is a renowned Egyptian pop singer, songwriter, and actor who began his career in 2002, first gaining recognition through early collaborations with Sherine on mixtapes. Since then, he has become one of the most prominent pop stars in Egypt and the wider Arab world.
Hosny has released more than 13 best-selling albums, with his music featured in numerous television series. Known for his energetic stage presence, he has performed across the region and collaborated with international artists such as Snoop Dogg and Shaggy, as well as Arab musicians including Rim Banna, Latifa, Souad Massi, and Ramy Sabry.
His latest album, Leena Maad (We Have a Date), includes a duet with iconic Egyptian singer Mohamed Mounir.
Hosny's upcoming concert is part of the 3rd New Alamein Festival, running from 18 July to 29 August. The festival promises a packed program of music, sports, entertainment, and culinary events, with performances by top regional and international artists.
Read more about the festival here.
Tablet El-Sitt - music
Saturday 26 July, 8pm
River Hall, El-Sawy Culturewheel, 26th of July street, Zamalek, Cairo
Founded by Soha Mohamed in 2019, the all-female group is reviving Egypt's rich musical heritage.
Since its inception, the troupe has garnered widespread acclaim, performing at major venues across the country.
Nancy Ajram - music
Saturday 26 July
Beach Resort, Marassi
Nancy Nabil Ajram is a world-renowned Lebanese singer, television personality, and businesswoman, widely known as the Queen of Arab Pop.
She began performing as a child, winning a gold medal at age 12 on the Lebanese talent show Noujoum Al-Moustakbal. She released her debut album, Mihtagalak, at the age of 15—launching her professional career early.
Ajram's breakthrough came with the hit single Akhasmak Ah and the album Ya Salam (2003), followed by Ah W Noss (2004), which cemented her status as a regional pop icon with numerous chart-topping hits.
She has since released twelve studio albums, including two for children, and sold over 30 million records worldwide—making her one of the best-selling Middle Eastern artists and the top-selling female singer of the 2000s.
Ajram's upcoming concert is part of Layali Marassi, a summer concert series at Marassi's Beach Resort, with performances every Saturday through the end of August.
Ehab Tawfik - music
Sunday 27 July, 9pm
Alexandria International Sports Stadium
The 59-year-old singer is celebrated for his decades-long contributions to Egyptian pop and shaabi music.
He began his career with the debut single Dany in 1989, followed by his first album Ekmeny in 1990.
Tawfik's repertoire includes beloved hits such as Habibi, Sahrany, Tetraga Feya, Hobek Alemni, and the fan favourite Allah Aleik Ya Sidi—all of which gained widespread popularity across the Arabic-speaking world.
His upcoming concert is part of the Summer Festival for Music and Singing, organized by the Cairo Opera House.
Nesma Abdel-Aziz & Ahmed Gamal - music
Monday 28 July, 9pm & 10pm
Alexandria International Sports Stadium
Nesma Abdel-Aziz launched her career in 2001, performing alongside renowned composer Omar Khairat before forming her own band to pursue personal projects.
A graduate of the Cairo Conservatory of Music, she later continued her studies in the United States and has since performed at numerous international festivals, touring extensively across the Arab world.
Ahmed Gamal rose to fame as the runner-up in the second season of Arab Idol in 2013. He is renowned for his powerful, emotive voice and his ability to blend traditional Arabic music with modern pop seamlessly.
Both Abdel-Aziz and Gamal will perform as part of the Summer Festival for Music and Singing, organized by the Cairo Opera House.
Moftah Shohra - theatre play
Monday 28, Tuesday 29 July, 8pm
Rawabet Art Space, 5 Hussein Basha Al Meamari, Downtown Cairo
The play follows Moftah and Shohra, two film extras who find themselves locked in the costume and props room for 45 minutes after being thrown off set by the director.
Shabab and Shabab & Reham Abdel-Hakim - music
Tuesday 29 July, 9pm & 10pm
Alexandria International Sports Stadium
The evening will open with performances by a lineup of young singers—Mohamed Hassan, Farah El-Mougi, and Mohamed El-Khouly—accompanied by an orchestra under the baton of conductor Ahmed Amer.
At 10pm, celebrated singer Reham Abdel-Hakim will take the stage. Abdel-Hakim rose to fame in 1999 when she portrayed a young Um Kalthoum in a television series named after the legendary singer. Since then, she has become known for her renditions of Um Kalthoum's repertoire, performing regularly on prestigious stages across Egypt and the Arab region.
Her original songs Ahim Shawqan, Ya Habibi, and Amar Ya Eskendria remain audience favourites. Abdel-Hakim is a two-time recipient of the Golden Microphone Award from the Arab Broadcasting Union.
The concert is part of the Cairo Opera House's Summer Festival for Music and Singing.
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