Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni will inaugurate the International Flying Circus Festival, to be held at the National Circus in Agouza, beginning on 1 July. International circus performers, including the directors of the Paris, Monte Carlo and German international circus festivals, will participate. Trainer Faten El-Helw is currently working with 20 French performers on a new act with snakes to be performed during the festival. Mohamed El-Helw is also working with his team on original tricks with lions and tigers that will be unveiled at the festival.
The Egyptian National Circus was inaugurated in January 1966 and has been through a number of ups and downs. The festival organisers plan to use this occasion to honour a number of Egyptian circus performers who have enriched the National Circus throughout its 36-year history. These include former circus directors Ahmed Salem, Wahib Labib, Abdallah Mourad and the late Hossam El-Azizi. The honours will also extend to include folklore and performing artists including Atef Munsif, Abdel-Fattah Shafshaq, Ahmed Zaki, Mahmoud Reda, Abdel-Ghaffar Ouda and Abdel-Rahman El-Shafei. Each of the honourees will receive the Circus Shield.
The circus has produced a documentary film recording its history and including footage of its most outstanding acts at various international festivals over the years.
The festival's performances will later move to St Mark College in Shatbi, Alexandria.
photo: Randa Shaath