2015 » Egypt » Section of Countries and Regions

Egypt's Space

The Egyptian national exhibition presents the works of stage designers of various generations. Designs explore the main style trends and show the initiation and development of new ideas in the creation of the dramatic atmosphere of performances.

In our exhibition, we aim to explore two categories in the Egyptian space in order to convey the cozy, authentic look and feel of the traditional Egyptian street.

The Egyptian representation is organized by ESTTC – the Egyptian Scenographers and Theatre Technicians Center, the newest official member of OISTAT.

Sound and Music: Bassam Yaqout

Exhibiting artists / ateliers

• حازم شبل (Hazem  Shebl)

* 1967, Cairo
Specialization: set designer, lighting designer, Formal Technical Director At The American University in Cairo, Arts Department - from September 1994 till June 2006
Education: Graduated from the Egyptian Academy of Arts, Higher Institute of Theatre Arts, Department of Design (BA 1989, Diploma of Graduate Studies 1992).
Collaboration with theatres: 1987 till present
Teaching activities: September 2008 till present, teaching (part-time) of scenography and technical theatre at the Department of Drama of the Faculty of Arts, Ain Shams University
Participation in other important exhibitions: WSD 2005 (Gallery) and 2013 (Catalogue)
Continuing collaboration with directors: 1987 till Now
Additional information: Set and lighting designer for more than 100 main stage productions and events at many leading Egyptian theatres, including stage design for four productions at the Egyptian National Theatre and more than 20 events and production design assignments at the Cairo Opera House.

Exhibiting works

• Saad Allah Wanoos : طقوس الإشارات و التحولات (Rituals for Signs and Transformations), Gerhart Theatre at the American University in Cairo (AUC), Centre for the Arts (Gerhart Theatre at the American University in Cairo (AUC) Center for the Arts), 2011, Director: Effat Yehia, scénický a světelný designér/set and lighting designer: Hazem Shebl, kostýmy/costume design: Jeanne Arnold ; Identification of exhibit: photo, others, Design Render ;
  Comments: The set is designed to engage the audience in the story by choosing an ‘Environmental Stage Set’, in the language of the theatre, placing the audience in the center, surrounded by a stage on all sides ... an atmosphere in which merged the audience merges with the characters and scenes of the play.
• لاح  حافظ (Salah Hafez)

* 1949, Egypt
Specialization: set designer
Education: Faculty of Applied Arts
Additional information: Set designer at the Egyptian National Theatre. Has designed sets for many plays at public theatres and in the private sector, including Moment in the description of Mustafa Rehab, House spinsters women’s prison, Princess and the Tramp, Bilqis, Dictator.

Exhibiting works

• Mahfoz Abdel Rahman : بلقيس (Bilqis), المسرح القومي (Egyptian National Theatre), 2011, Director: Ahmed Abdel Halim, kostýmy/costume design: Naiema  Agamy ; Identification of exhibit: photo ;
  Comments: Based on an old Yemeni legend, the play deals with the idea that human ambitions may collide with painful reality, forcing us to experiment and go into the unknown because we believe that this unknown can lead us to our ambitions.
• عمرو عبد الله الشريف (Amr Abdallah El-Sherif)

* 1965, Cairo
Specialization: set designer, lighting designer, set designer & lighting designer
Education: BA (1986) and Graduate Diploma (1989) at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art, Department of Decoration
Teaching activities: Academy of Arts
Continuing collaboration with directors: Yes
Additional information: Set and lighting designer at the Cairo Opera House since 1998, BA (1986) and Graduate Diploma (1989) at the Department of Decoration of the Higher Institute of Dramatic Art. Designs include:' The Last Days of Socrates', 'Romeo and Juliet' and others.

Exhibiting works

• Tawfik al Hakim: براكسا ( برلمان الستات ) (Brexa (The Women's Parliament) ), المركز الثقافي القومي ( الأوبرا ) (Cairo Opera House), 2014, Director: Akram Mostafa, scénický a světelný designér/set and lighting designer: Amr Abdalla, produkce/produced by: Future University ; Identification of exhibit: photo, Render ;
  Comments: The play discusses the notion of governance and the nature of the relationship between the governing regime and the people in a sarcastic manner. The plot starts by handing the women in society the power to rule the country through a parliament.
• محمد سعد (Mohamed Saad)

* 1972, Cairo
Specialization: set designer, sculptor
Education: Higher Institute of Theatre Arts
Teaching activities: Faculty member at Helwan University
Continuing collaboration with directors: Yes
Additional information: Graduated from the Higher Institute of Theatre Arts in 1994. Winner of the State Prize for Artistic Creativity in the Stage Design category. Faculty member at Helwan University - Department of Theatre at the Faculty of Arts. PhD in stage design, 2010.

Exhibiting works

• Abo-Elela El Salamony : المحروسة و المحروس (El Mahrousa and Mahroos), المسرح القومي (Egyptian National Theatre), 2013, Director: Shady Sorour, kostýmy/costume design: Nadia Elmelegy ; Identification of exhibit: photo ;
  Comments: The production deals with the assassination of Queen Alder Tree and power conflicts at key points in the history of Egypt and the Arab world.
• عمر المعتز بالله   (Omar El-Moutaz Bel'lah)

* 1982, Cairo
Specialization: theatre director, scenographer
Education: Master's degree
Continuing collaboration with directors: Yes
Additional information: A versatile graduate of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Cairo in 2003, Bel'lah obtained a master's degree in the History of Art in 2009. He has worked as a theatre director and performance designer since 2003.

Exhibiting works

• Jean-Paul Sartre: لا مفر (No Exit), فرقة تياترو المستقلة المسرحية (Teatro Independent Theatre), 2013, Director: Omar El-Moutaz Bel'lah, scénický výtvarník/set designer: Omar El-Moutaz Bel'lah, kostýmní výtvarník/costume designer: Nermine Said, dramaturgie/dramaturge: Sarah Khalil, Omar El-Moutaz Bel'lah, světelný design/lighting design: Saber ElSayd, Sherif El-Boraay ; Identification of exhibit: photo, Render ;
  Comments: El-Moutaz Bel’lah’s work is characterized by dealing with abstract human subjects such as death and existence, and the relationship between man and himself and others. Some of the author‘s ideas are inspired by his own dreams and nightmares, hence his statement that he doesn‘t tell people about his nightmares, but shows them to them.
• مروة عودة (Marwa  Auda)

* 1985, Cairo
Specialization: costume designer
Education: PhD in Cinematic Costumes from the Faculty of Fine Arts
Continuing collaboration with directors: Yes
Additional information: PhD in cinematic costumes from the Faculty of Fine Arts. Winner of national award for creativity in Costume Design and Film and Theatre design - Best Fashion Award from the National Festival of Egyptian Theatre in 2007.

Exhibiting works

• Abdul Rahman el Abnoudi : حبيبي يا وطن (My Beloved Country (operetta)), المركز الثقافي القومي ( الأوبرا ) (Cairo Opera House), 2013, Director: Khaled Galal , Production Company: future University Composer: Walid Saad Set Design: Amr Abdallah El- Sheref Lighting Design: Yasser Shalan ; Identification of exhibit: photo ;
  Comments: 'My Beloved Country' is a musical featuring different scenes about Egypt.
• نعيمة عجمي (Naima  Agamy)

* 1948, Cairo
Specialization: set designer, costume designer
Education: BA from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Decoration, 1971
Continuing collaboration with directors: Yes
Additional information: BA from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Decoration, 1971. Set and costume designer for the Artistic Drama House, theatres and the Egyptian National Theatre. Winner of award for Best Costume Designer at the National Festival of Arabian Theatre, 2014.

Exhibiting works

• Mahfouz Abd El Rahman : بلقيس (Belkis), المسرح القومي (Egyptian National Theatre), 2011, Director: Ahmed Abd El Halim, scénický výtvarník/set designer: Salah Hafez ; Identification of exhibit: photo ;
  Comments: Based on an old Yemeni legend, the play deals with the idea that human ambitions may collide with painful reality, forcing us to experiment and go into the unknown because we believe that this unknown can lead us to our ambitions.
• عمرو الأشرف (Amr Alashrf)

* 1983, Cairo
Specialization: teacher, set designer, costume designer, painter , sculptor
Education: BA, Academy of Arts
Teaching activities: Academy of Arts
Continuing collaboration with directors: Yes
Additional information: Artist, painter, sculptor, set and lighting designer at the Cairo Opera House (until 2014). Currently a Faculty Member at the Academy of Arts, where he teaches stage design. Alashrf has designed sets and lighting for many modern dance productions at the Cairo Opera House.

Exhibiting works

• podle novely Ahmeda Mourada/based on the novel by Ahmed Mourad: الفيل الأزرق (The Blue Elephant), المركز الثقافي القومي ( الأوبرا ) (Cairo Opera House), 2014, Director: Monadel Antar , scénický, světelný a mulitmediální designér/sets, lighting and multimedia designer: Amr Alashraf, kostýmní výtvarník/costume designer: Hala Mahmoud ; Identification of exhibit: photo ;
  Comments: Modern dance
• محمد جابر (Mohammed  Gaber)

* 1978, Cairo
Specialization: set designer, 3D Designer
Education: BA, Academy of Arts
Continuing collaboration with directors: Yes
Additional information: Set designer for public and private theatres and concerts. Has won numerous awards, including: Best Decor at the National Festival of Children's Theatre for the play 'Cinderella', 2009 and Best Decor at the National Theatre Festival in 2014 for set design of The Trial.

Exhibiting works

• Robert Lee - Jerome Lawrence: المحاكمة (The Trial), المسرح القومي (Egyptian National Theatre), 2014, Director: Tarek Al-Douiri, úprava/editing: Tarek Al- Douiri, kostýmní výtvarník/costume design: Lina Ali, světelný designér/lighting designer: Abo Bakr El-Sheref, media: Amro Weshahy ; Identification of exhibit: photo ;
  Comments: 'Inherit the Wind' by Robert Lee and Jerome Lawrence