Cairo theatre employs famous faces to aid with social distancing – in pictures

El Sawy Culture Wheel placed pictures of old Egyptian actors and singers on the chairs between attendees

El Sawy Culture Wheel resumed operations on Thursday, July 9. EPA/Mohamed Hossam

Inside the concert hall, El Sawy Culture Wheel placed pictures of old Egyptian singers and actors on the chairs next to attendees. EPA/Mohamed Hossam

Attendees shared the theatre with stars of a bygone era, including Soad Hosny and Omar Sharif. EPA/Mohamed Hossam

The quirky initiative allowed audience members to maintain social distancing protocols. EPA/Mohamed Hossam

The cultural centre reopened with the puppet show 'Oum Kolthoum Returns', organised by the Sakia Puppet Theatre. EPA/Mohamed Hossam

El Sawy Culture Wheel was established in 2003. EPA/Mohamed Hossam

El-Sawy Culture Wheel's star-studded audience. EPA/Mohamed Hossam

An audience member joins the applause after the show. EPA/Mohamed Hossam

The Puppet Theatre included renditions of the popular hits Amal Hayaty and Enta Omry. EPA/Mohamed Hossam

A woman poses for a photo at a concert in the Puppet Theater at El-Sawy Culture Wheel, Cairo. EPA/Mohamed Hossam

Visitors to Cairo’s El Sawy Culture Wheel found themselves in good company when they attended the centre’s first performance since the pandemic began.

To maintain social distancing protocols, the centre placed pictures of old Egyptian singers and actors on the chairs in between attendees, creating the impression they were sharing the theatre with stars of a bygone era, such as Soad Hosny and Omar Sharif.

With the aim of preserving Egyptian and Arab identity, El Sawy Culture Wheel was established in 2003 as a full-scale cultural centre, providing spaces, stages and support for various art forms to thrive.

The centre reopened with the puppet show Oum Kolthoum Returns, organised by the Sakia Puppet Theatre, which included renditions of the late singer's popular hits Amal Hayaty and Enta Omry.