Sharjah24: The Cairo Puppet Theatre masterfully presented the traditional Egyptian play "El Leila El Kebira," attended by His Excellency Dr Abdulaziz Al-Musallam, Chairman of the Sharjah Institute for Heritage. The play won the admiration of a large audience of all ages, showcasing diverse scenes that depicted various aspects of Egypt’s social history in a professional and beautiful artistic style.
On this occasion, Dr. Mohamed Shabana, Professor of Folk Music and Coordinator of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee at the Supreme Council of Culture in Cairo, said: "This performance offers an opportunity to reminisce about the golden times, yet it continues to have an impact on today's children. The show incorporates different elements of popular culture, such as musical instruments, traditional clothing, old professions, tales, proverbs, and stories, along with other details of daily life in the past, presented in a way that feels close to the audience."
Shabana added: “‘El Leila El Kebira’ is a heritage piece by all standards and has entered into humanity’s intangible cultural heritage after more than 63 years since its first performance. We thank the Sharjah Institute for Heritage for this invitation, and we are delighted to be here in Sharjah, which holds great significance and deep affection among Egypt’s writers, intellectuals, and artists."
The play features a cast of unique characters, including a hummus seller, a coffee vendor, a mayor, a lion trainer, a farmer, a dervish, and several local figures, as well as animals like a lion and a donkey. The play also included joyful participation from children, beautifully brought to life by the puppets.
It is worth noting that "El Leila El Kebira" was written by artist Salah Jahin, with music by Sayed Mekawy. The puppets were designed by artist Nagy Shaker, with set design by Mustafa Kamel, and directed by Salah El Sakka. The play was first performed on May 1, 1961, and was later filmed for Egyptian television in the early 1980s, more than two decades after its initial stage performance.
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