Ever since the revolution started in Lebanon, I've been attending the protests happening in Downtown with my friends, and of course, I was super excited to climb the famous EGG building, which was never accessible to the public. The 'EGG' used to be a cinema. Once there, I heard some people talk about the presence of a theater, that was also now accessible during the revolution.
That theater, known as the 'Grand Theatre Des Milles Et Une Nuits' is located in Riad El Solh, Downtown Beirut. Built in the late 20's early 30's, it was the second theater to be built in the country after the Ottomans left in 1918. It only welcomed bourgeois people. The building was huge, consisting of the theater and hotel. Oum Koulthoum, Abd El Wahab, Comedie Francaise and Romanian Ballet dancers performed there among many other well known artists back in that era. Back then, it was the center of Arab theater, and was known as one of the biggest and fanciest places in Beirut. With the years passing by, it became worthless when it started to crumble, so then it was turned into a cinema that anyone was allowed into, which made it lose its value.
This was followed by the start of the Lebanese Civil War in 1975, where snipers were roaming around the infamous 'Green Line', which was what separated the Christian East Beirut & Muslim West Beirut when Beirut was divided. Life was paralyzed during that time, and it was risky to go around that area. However, the theater had been abandoned since the end of the civil war. Ever since, only SOLIDERE has access to it, having it fenced since the early 90's, stating the intention of reviving the theater, its ballroom and hotel. In the hopes of keeping the classical vintage appeal in the middle of the new modern Beirut. These plans were delayed, and the only change made was the restoration of the main entrance.
So when the revolution started, the fences were no longer guarded, and protestors were able to get in. TBH, for me this was a discovery because I had no idea that it existed in the first place, and I'm pretty sure a lot of you guys didn't either. Once I got in, I couldn't not take pictures of every corner I could access. Unfortunately the building is in terrible condition, constantly deteriorating, and can entirely fall off anytime now.
Found those documentary links about it by Omar Naim published in an article about the Grand Theater on BlogBaladi, so feel free to watch to find out more in details:
Grand Theater : A Tale of Beirut (1 of 3)
Grand Theater : A Tale of Beirut (2 of 3)
Grand Theater : A Tale of Beirut (3 of 3)
Also, sorry for the spam of pictures.
And major thanks for Nereid for the cool shots, Bassem and Mohammad for helping us climb our way to the theater, since that the many door entrances to the theater are locked.
Thanks for reading! Xo
TbhJo
