An Eid classic will be presented in a new light over the holidays.
Almost 50 years since its Cairo stage premiere, the televised version of the Egyptian production Madraset el-Moshaghbeen (The School of Mischief) will be shown in colour for the first time.
Streaming on MBC online platform Shahid, under its paid subscription tier Shahid VIP, fans old and new can savour one of Egyptian actor Adel Imam's all-time great performances in a tale about a new teacher finding her way in a rough-and-tumble Cairo school.
The show will go on to be permanently available on Shahid, with the premiere date to be revealed soon online.
Inspired by a British film
If the plot line sounds familiar, it's because Madraset el-Moshaghbeen was inspired by 1967 British film To Sir, with Love starring Sidney Poitier.
Imam, alongside fellow comedy stalwarts Saeed Saleh and Younes Shalaby, as well as young rising star-at-the-time Ahmed Zaki, played a group of troublesome children who could only be controlled through the unorthodox methods of the new teacher, played by Soheir El Bably.
Written by acclaimed playwright and poet Ali Salem, the production was pivotal for both the Egyptian film and television industry with its cast of mostly newcomers going on to flourish in the proceeding decades.
It also remains a popular calling card for the golden era of Egyptian theatre – a 30-year period ending in the early 1980s – and became a staple of Eid programming across the region.
More classics on offer
Madraset el-Moshaghbeen is part of a growing number of classic Egyptian plays being made available on major streaming services.
In the run up to Eid Al Fitr in 2020, Netflix also rolled back the years by launching an Arabic Nostalgia section featuring 10 vintage productions, all of which remain available to stream today.
These include more Imam performances in 1976's Shahed Ma Shafsh Haga (The Witness Who Saw Nothing) and 1985's El Wad Sayed El Shaghal (Sayed the Servant).
Also included is 1982's Bye Bye London starring late Kuwaiti funnyman Abdulhussain Abdulredha and the dark Egyptian comedy Raya wa Sekina.
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Read more:
How to wish someone a happy Eid: here are six greetings other than Eid Mubarak
Eid Al Fitr 2021: Egyptian singer Abdel Halim Hafez's hologram set for Dubai Opera concert
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The National Archives, Abu Dhabi
Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.
Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en
PRO BASH
Thursday’s fixtures
6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors
10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters
Teams
Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.
Squad rules
All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.
Tournament rules
The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
MATCH INFO
Manchester City 3
Danilo (16'), Bernardo Silva (34'), Fernandinho (72')
Brighton & Hove Albion 1
Ulloa (20')
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PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES
Saturday (UAE kick-off times)
Watford v Leicester City (3.30pm)
Brighton v Arsenal (6pm)
West Ham v Wolves (8.30pm)
Bournemouth v Crystal Palace (10.45pm)
Sunday
Newcastle United v Sheffield United (5pm)
Aston Villa v Chelsea (7.15pm)
Everton v Liverpool (10pm)
Monday
Manchester City v Burnley (11pm)
