El Leila El Kebira (The Big Night) is a famous puppet operetta from the late 50s, written by the poet Salah Jahin with music from Sayyed Mekkawi.
The piece centers on the last night of a moulid (an old Egyptian popular tradition celebrating the birthdays of Sufi saints and of the Prophet Mohammed), depicting different scenes from this street carnival and featuring the characters that have been, and that to a certain extent still are to these days, the actors of the celebrations: from food stall vendors to jugglers, musicians and other performers.
Originally presented on Egyptian Radio on 1957, it was shortly afterwards adapted for the puppet theatre and, in 2001, as a one act ballet performance by choreographer Abdel Moneim Kamel.
The show has been presented several times at the Cairo Opera House and has attracted good reviews from critics and public alike.
El Leila El Kebira will open the 2010/2011 Cairo Opera House ballet season with performances in the Main Hall on September 13, 14 and 15 at 8:00 PM.
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