You’re in for a double, no, triple-treat this week. Three festivals are taking place, along with plenty of individual events all over town.
Lana Nasser/Artemis in Jerash
For the third year in a row Hakaya festival, organized by Al Balad theatre, celebrates the art of storytelling. This year the festival brings a variety of storytellers and artists from around the Arab world, in addition to film screenings, book presentations, workshops and seminars, to various locations around Amman and other Jordanian cities. One of the highlights is 70-year-old Egyptian Hajj Sayyed – the last lyricist of the Hilaly epic, otherwise known as the Arab Illiad.
The Free Theater’s International Festival kicked off yesterday and continues till Thursday with plays from Jordan and the Arab world every evening at the Royal Cultural Center and other venues. May is definitely a good month for theater lovers because after this festival the Ministry of Culture is launching another Spring Theater Festival from the 13th to the 24th of May.
And for all you tech enthusiasts out there, don’t miss the first Amman Tech Tuesdays (#AmmanTT) event this week at the Princess Sumaya University for Technology. It’s a local platform that brings engineers, business people, experts, investors, marketers, entrepreneurs, students and regular enthusiasts from the technology community together on the first Tuesday of every month in a casual but structured setting.
This long intro still doesn’t cover it – we’ve got Europe Day concert with Spanish Syrian Band Orontes along with Yazan Roussan and Autostrad at al-Hussein Park, jazz night by Chapter 11 at Canvas, comedy performance and auditions, two Jordanian documentaries, Saturday’s Farmers market, and a lot more, so read on, and enjoy all that Amman has to offer.
Sunday May 2, 2010
Book of the Week: Dr. Ziad al-Zubi reads poetry by Khaled Mahadeen, Department of the National Library, 6:00 pm.
Free Theater’s International Festival V
Banana Republic, Free Theater, directed by Iyad Shatanawi/Jordan, Royal Cultural Center/Main Theater, 9:00 pm.
Anou, directed by Jabbar al-Janabi/Canada, Royal Cultural Center/Mahmoud Abu Gharib Theater, 7:30 pm.
Zakharef in Motion – Dance Festival
Cie Vente De Sable/Mexico, Hussein Cultural Center, 7:30 pm.
Monday May 3, 2010
Free Theater’s International Festival V
Ovay, directed by Henrique Pe Mosteiro/Spain, Royal Cultural Center/Main Theater, 9:00 pm.
Ellis/Al-Dik Cooperative, directed by Qada bin Shmiceh/Algeria, Royal Cultural Center/Mahmoud Abu Gharib Theater, 7:30 pm.
Book Signing
Desires of that Fall, by Laila Al-Atrash, Department of the National Gallery, 6:00 pm. For more information: 0788541166
“Iraqi Night”, by Amman Arab Music Ensemble conducted by Sakher Hattar, Al-Hussein Cultural Center, 7:30 pm. Tickets for JD 20 and JD 10
Hakaya Festival
Storytelling
Stories with Zuhair, Zuhair Noubani (Jordan), Al-Balad Theater, 7:00 pm.
Nass Ghudwa, Tarek Zurkati, Tunisia, Second Circle, Jabal Amman, 5:00 pm.
Tuesday May 4, 2010
Painting by Saleh Abu Shindi
Exhibition Opening: Vocabulary of Lines and Colour by Saleh Abu Shindi, Jacaranda Gallery, 6:00 pm.
Chapter 11 – Live Jazz, Canvas – Jabal Luweibdeh, 9:00 pm. For reservations call 046432211
Ibrahim Hashim House Preservation and Restoration Report and Exhibition, presented by the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, at Columbia University Middle East Research Center, 5 Moh’d Al Sa’d Al-Batayneh St. 6:30 pm.
Film
The Crescent Moon/Korea, Abdel Hamid Shoman Foundation, 6:30 pm.
This Way Up (Le Jardin de Jad), part of Hakaya Festival, Al-Balad Theater, 7:00 pm.
Zakharef in Motion Dance Festival
“Qahwa”, Company Chatha (Tunis), Al-Hussein Cultural Center, 6:30 pm.
Opus Ballet (Mexico), Al-Hussein Cultural Center, 7:30 pm.
Free Theater’s International Festival V
Passerby, Qatar Theater, directed by Nasir Abdul Redha, Royal Cultural Center/Main Theater, 9:00 pm.
The Refraction’s Sonata, directed by Walid Al-Omar/Syria, Royal Cultural Center/Mahmoud Abu Gharib Theater, 7:30 pm.
Ellis/Al-Dik Cooperative, directed by Qada bin Shmiceh/Algeria, King Abdullah Cultural Center/Zarqa, 5:00 pm.
Amman Tech Tuesdays, Princess Sumaya University for Technology/Friendship Hall, 7:00 pm.
Hakaya Festival
Storytelling
Sections from the Hilaly Epic, Part 1, Sayyed Doui (the last epic lyricist), Egypt, Al Balad theatre, 8:00 pm.
Folk stories, Ahmad Tayy (Lebanon), Al Ashrafiyyeh, 5:00 pm.
Popular Stories from Duqhaliyya and other stories, Ramadan Khater and Arfa AbdulRasoul, Egypt, Darat al Funoon, 6:00 pm.
Last Hilali Epic Lyricist, Hajj Sayyed Doui
Wednesday May 5, 2010
Music: Bayt Al-Ruwwad Group led by Sakher Hattar, Prince Hashem Park/Al-Hashmi al-Shamali, 8:00 pm.
Film
Screening of two Jordanian shorts: Amman East West by Dalia Kury and Al-Hakeem by Ahmad Ramahi, Royal Film Commission/Film House. 7:00 pm.
Zakharef in Motion Dance Festival
“Synthetic Twin”, Dance Company Theater Osnabrück/Nanine Linning (Holland/Germany), Al-Hussein Cultural Center, 7:30 pm.
Free Theater’s International Festival V
Clarinet/Group Safar, directed by Akram al-Maliki/Palestine, Royal Cultural Center/Main Theater, 9:00 pm.
Al-Zeer Salem/Yarmouk University, directed by Mokhallad Zwidi, Royal Cultural Center/Mahmoud Abu Gharib Theater, 7:30 pm.
Theater Reading
Hikikomori, Free Theater Space, 6:00 pm.
Hakaya Festival
Storytelling
Sections from the Hilaly Epic, part 2, Sayyed Doui (the last epic lyricist), Egypt, Al Balad theatre, 8:00 pm.
Folk stories, Ahmad Tayy (Lebanon) and Denise Asaad (Palestine), Al Ashrafiyyeh, 5:00 pm.
Ramadan Khater’s stories, Egypt, Ruwwad Development Association, Jabal Al Natheef, 5:00 pm.
Stories of the Grocer’s daughter (2), Arfa AbdulRasoul, Egypt, The Duke’s Diwan, downtown Amman, 6:00 pm.
Artemis in Jerash, Lana Nasser, Jordan, Gallery Duinde, Jabal Amman, 7:00 pm.
Artemis in Jerash by Lana Nasser/Jordan
Thursday May 6, 2010
Colors of Jordan, Photo Contest, Exhibition & Music Festival, Wakalat Street/Sweifieh. 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
Free Theater’s International Festival V
Closing Ceremony, Musical Passages by Murad Dimirgian, Royal Cultural Center, 8:00 pm.
Tiraz, Exhibition of JRF’s 2010 Handicrafts, Jordan River Foundation Showroom, Jabal Amman. 5:00 pm.
Hakaya Festival
Storytelling
Stories with Zuhair, Zuhair Noubani (Jordan), the Duke’s Diwan, 7:00 pm.
Sections from the Hilaly Epic, part 3, Sayyed Doui (the last epic lyricist), Egypt, Al Balad theatre, 8:00 pm.
Nass Ghudwa, Tarek Zurkati, Tunisia, Al Balad theatre, 7:00 pm.
Folk stories, Ahmad Tayy (Lebanon) and Denise Asaad (Palestine), Jabal Al Qalaa, 5:00 pm.
Ramadan Khater’s stories, Egypt, Second circle, Jabal Amman, 5:00 pm.
Uncle Saleh is still saying, Saleh Souei’i Marzouqi, Tunisia, Jabal Al-Qalaa, 5:00 pm. =
Seminar: Stories of Jabal Amman, Ahliyyeh school students, Al Balad theatre, 12:00 – 4:00 pm.
Zakharef in Motion Dance Festival
“To the Ones I Love”, Company Thor (Belgium), Al-Hussein Cultural Center, 7:30 pm.
Friday May 7, 2010
Europe Day Celebrations: Concert by Orontes and Jordanian Group Autostrad and Yazan Roussan, Al-Hussein Park, 8:00 pm.
British May Fair 2010, includes concert by Yazan Hifawi and band, the British Club – Abdoun, 11 am – 6:00 pm.
Colors of Jordan, Photo Contest, Exhibition & Music Festival, Wakalat Street/Sweifieh. 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
High School Musical 2 On Stage, performed by Lebanese teenages, Culture Palace, 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm. For more information: 0797600101
Hakaya Festival
Storytelling
Stories from the East and West, Denise Asad, Princess Bassma Center, Sahab, 4:00 pm.
Folk stories, Ahmad Tayy, Lebanon, Children’s Museum, 3:00 pm.
Mohammad Mokhles, Morocco, Princess Bassma center, Northern Hashimi, 4:00 pm.
Stories of terror and love, Nora Amin, Egypt, Duinde Gallery, 7:00 pm.
The Music Box, Maia Zbeeb, Lebanon, The Duke’s Diwan, downtown, 6:00 pm.
The Music Box/Maya Zbeeb
Saturday May 8, 2010
Souq Al-Balad, Farmers Market, Ras al-Ain/Jordan Museum Site, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.
Colors of Jordan, Photo Contest, Exhibition & Music Festival, Wakalat Street/Sweifieh. 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm.
Film screening about cinema, literature and football: La Gran Final, National Gallery of Fine Arts, 6:00 pm.
High School Musical 2 On Stage, performed by Lebanese teenages, Culture Palace, 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm. For more information: 0797600101
Hakaya Festival
Storytelling
Stories of terror and love, Nora Amin, Egypt, Al Balad theatre, 8:00 pm.
Artemis in Jerash, Lana Nasser, Jordan, Al Balad theatre, 7:00 pm.
Mohammad Mokhles, Morocco, Princess Bassma Center, Sahab, 5:00 pm.
Uncle Saleh is still saying, Saleh Souei’i Marzouqi, Tunisia, Gaza camp, 5:00 pm.
The Music Box, Maia Zbeeb, Lebanon, Makan, Jabal Al-Weibdeh, 8:00 pm.
Book presentation
Amman Downtown: Social Tapestry (in English), author: Salim Ayyoub Quna, Café de Paris, Jabal Al-Weibdeh. 6:00 pm.
Comedy
3al Wagef: Comedy Project 3rd Audition and Performance, Royal Film Commission, 7:10 pm.
