The President of Ain Shams University and his vices inaugurate the Talaat Harb Theater at the Faculty of Specific Education after its renovation

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of Ain Shams University, inaugurated the Talaat Harb Theater at the Faculty of Education after its renewal and development with the latest sound technologies at the highest level worthy of the history of the theater and the university. This came in the presence of a. Mohamed El-Etreby, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Banque Misr, President of the Union of Arab Banks and Prof. Dr. Abdel Fattah Saud, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs, and Prof. Dr. Ayman Saleh, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Prof. Dr. Hesham Tamraz, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, and the grandchildren of Talaat Pasha Harb, Prof. Sherif Samy and Mr. Mohamed Ibrahim and Prof. Dr. Osama Al-Sayed, Dean of the Faculty of Specific Education and Prof. Salwa Rashad, Dean of the Faculty of Al-Alsun, and Prof. Dr. Howayda El-Gebali, Dean of the Graduate School of Childhood Studies and Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ragaa Al-Sutohy, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof. Mustafa Mortada, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof. Hussain Essa, the former university president and his wife, and the Vice Deans of the Faculty, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kadry, Vice Dean for Graduate Studies Affairs, and Prof. Dr. Amr Khalil, Vice Dean for Community Service and Environmental Development, and Dr. Yasser Megahid, director of the Engineering Consultation Center at the university, and a group of former deans of the Faculty of Specific Education.

In his speech, he welcomed Mr. Dr.. Mahmoud El-Matini, honorable attendees, and thanked Professor Mohamed El-Etreby, President of the Bank of Egypt, President of the Union of Arab Banks, and all the bank’s team, as they are essential supporters of all university projects. The Commercial Bank and the grandson of Talaat Pasha Harb for his continuous support for the Children's Hospital at Ain Shams University over the past ten years, and Professor Mahmoud Ibrahim, the grandson of Talaat Pasha Harb for his interest in conveying the history of this palace and the history of his grandfather, Talaat Pasha Harb.

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini gave an overview of the history of the Talaat Pasha Harb Palace and Theater, whose construction dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century, specifically in 1920 AD, noting that it witnessed many important occasions.

He added that a theater fire broke out in 2010 that destroyed all the theater's contents, and there were attempts to renew it in 2018 by Prof. Dr. Abdel Wahab Ezzat, the former university president and Prof. Dr. Amani Hanafi, the former dean of the faculty, until His Excellency assumed the position of President of Ain Shams University in 2019, so that cooperation with Banque Misr was coordinated in 2019 to start implementation until the work was completed in rebuilding the theater in 2022 at a cost of 18 million pounds to appear properly in the history of the theater and our prestigious university.

The president of the university stressed that the history of Talaat Harb Pasha deserves to be documented, as he was credited with establishing Banque Misr, Studio Misr, and many financial and economic companies and institutions that became an economic pillar for Egypt.

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini called on the university to renew several other theaters, such as the Women's Faculty Theater and El-Mahalawy Amphitheater, indicating that work is currently underway to transform the large amphitheater at the Faculty of Law into a large theater so that the university allows its students to practice student activity and empty their creative and artistic energy.

He also touched on the development vision of the Faculty of Specific Education, which will have a place in the new site of Ain Shams National University in the new administrative capital, which has already begun excavation on an area of ​​192 acres, and it has been agreed and finalized the book of regulations, to become the university No. 12 next to 11 other public universities. They have the backers of private universities, indicating that 22 programs have been developed that include all disciplines, including the Faculty of Specific Education, in cooperation with a foreign partner.

Adding that Ain Shams University is always working to build bridges of communication between the ancient history, the present and the bright future of our beloved Egypt, where the university owns a number of luxurious theaters equipped with the latest sound and lighting technologies to develop the skills and capabilities of the people of Egypt to graduate talented generations capable of giving and creativity, as well as on the educational side. With the inauguration of the new Ahlia University, which includes advanced study programs that keep pace with the requirements of the labor market on the latest international education standards.

Professor Mohamed El-Etreby expressed his happiness to participate in the opening of the Talaat Harb Theater, and thanked the university president, deputies, the current dean of the Faculty, and Prof. Dr. Amani Hanafi, the former dean of the Faculty, who took the lead in developing a development plan for this theater, as well as the grandchildren of Talaat Pasha Harb.

He added that when the idea of ​​developing theater was presented by the university, it was necessary for the participation and contribution of Banque Misr, as it bears more societal responsibility, stressing that Talaat Pasha Harb was a man with a great vision with which he challenged the British, and established Banque Misr with Egyptian hands, for his great belief in the Egyptian industry and the operation of He also established this palace and theater in 1920, in addition to establishing more than 23 Egyptian companies such as Egypt Air, Mahalla and Misr Insurance, and this great man continued to fuel the bank from 1920 until 1939.

The grandsons of Talaat Harb Pasha dealt with explaining Talaat Harb Pasha's interest in culture, art, theater and cinema, and his establishment of a number of artistic companies, due to Talaat Harb's passion for theater and cinema.

This theater witnessed concerts by a large number of great artists, headed by Mrs. Umm Kulthum - and the musician of generations, Muhammad Abdel Wahab. These two poles sang together on that stage.

The theater was used as a cinema hall to watch films produced by the studio of Egypt owned by him before showing them in the cinema screens, such as the movie (Wedad). Mrs. Umm Kulthum immortalized the mention of Talaat Harb Pasha in a special song in his name that she sang after his departure.

Mr. Sherif Sami emphasized in his speech that his grandfather, Talaat Pasha Harb, was not only interested in the field of capital and the establishment of companies, institutions and banks only, but also extended to knowledge and learning, as he established several introductory places such as Studio Misr and the speaking newspaper that was delivering Egypt news, as well as the Azbakeya Theater and so on. It is called the Arab Theater Refinement Company; whose field was close to the specializations of the Faculty of Specific Education now. He was also keen to train young people in foreign companies for their work in Egyptian companies, which is now called continuous training.

and Mr. Mahmoud Ibrahim reviewed the economic renaissance in Egypt every hundred years. In 1811, Egypt witnessed an economic renaissance at the hands of Muhammad Ali Pasha. In 1920, what Talaat Harb did, and now the beginning of a new hundred years. It is expected that Egypt will witness an economic renaissance despite all the challenges. that you are facing.

Also, Prof. Dr. Osama Al-Sayed expressed his happiness and pride in opening the Talaat Harb Theater after its renovation and development according to the latest standards.

The Faculty of Specific Education includes this theater with its great history, on which the greats of art stood, and its concerts were attended by senior statesmen and politicians, including Mustafa Al-Nahhas Pasha, “the Prime Minister that that, Ahmed Maher Pasha, Ahmed Hassan Pasha, and Sheikh Mustafa Al-Maraghi, “Sheikh of Al-Azhar.” He thanked everyone who Contributed to this important work, led by the President of the University, the vice deans, and Banque Misr represented by Mr. Mohamed El-Etreby.

It is worth mentioning that the ceremony included a screening of a film about the establishment and development of the college, dealing with the various departments of the college and the story of Talaat Harb Palace. Prof. Dr. Amal Ibrahim and supervised the direction of the show Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kadri.

On the sidelines of the opening of the theater, Prof. Dr. Mahmoud El-Metini, President of the University, inaugurated an art education exhibition. He also gifted the book “The Saffron Palace” to the grandchildren of Talaat Pasha Harb. He also presented Professor Mohamed El-Etreby, President of Banque Misr, a memorial plaque to Talaat Harb, and he also honored the organizers of the ceremony.

It is worth noting that the ceremony was attended by a group of college professors, guests and students