Hishik Bishik Show: cabaret like an Egyptian

A cabaret in Cairo? Impossible, you might think. And yet, that kind of entertainment – with its combination of comedy, song, dance, and theatre – was huge in the Egyptian capital in the early 20^th century. The Hishik Bishik Show revives the nostalgic and artistic delights of Cairo’s golden age, as seen through the eyes of a leading Lebanese ensemble. Thanks to Bozar, for once we get to see some positive news from a region blighted by war. In cooperation with the Lebanese cultural centre Metro al Madina, Moussem breathes new life into Egyptian cabaret. It was Hisham Jaber, Metro al Madina’s artistic director, who came up with the idea. The result is a medley of live music, dance, and film. Through twenty songs, we are caught up in the enchantment of Egyptian cabaret, with its mix of melancholy, love, insanity, and festivity. Jaber sets out to show that there is more to Egypt than a dictatorial bloodbath or extremism. The Hishik Bishik Show shows a side of Egypt that is glossed over for political and ideological reasons. By entrusting the performance to a young Lebanese ensemble, Jaber aims to demonstrate that a certain kind of Arab identity has been silenced and that that rich, fertile culture is not dead. His show is intended to help young Arabs in their struggle for a cultural renaissance.

HISHIK BISHIK SHOW 7/3, 20.00, €16, Bozar, rue Ravensteinstraat 23, Brussel/Bruxelles, 02-507.82.00, www.bozar.be