Music Clubs and Theatres in Marrakech

The cultural life in Marrakech as the whole of Morocco, spins around music. The heart of this city beats to the rhythm of various forms of music that have developed as a result of the mélange of people from diverse cultural backgrounds. Just like the whole of country, even Marrakech does not differentiate between public and private performances as many of the best performers are often playing to all that want to listen at Jemaa-el-Fna. More formal cultural events take the form of festivals - as there is very little by way of dedicated theatre, opera or dance venues, although there are some Arabic performances in small theatres for those who wish to seek them out. There are not many Music Clubs and theatres in Marrakech, but those that are have several generous patrons who have kept them thriving.

One of the best showcases of the multicultural talent of the people here is the National Festival of Popular Arts when locals and visitors alike present combined music, dance and theatre performances for all to see. For those who would like to catch a particular performance or event can inquire about it or simply look around for posters advertising forthcoming comedy events. However, these performances are in French or Arabic only.

Marrakech has had a long association with cinemas, be it by way of its popular Film Festival where it has felicitated many big weights of world cinema or by way of its stunning landscape, which has long drawn many leading filmmakers in search of stunning set locations to Marrakech and the surrounding countryside. To know more about cinemas in Marrakech, keep reading.

For the film buffs visiting the city, they can catch a show of the latest Hollywood blockbuster at the Colisee (tel: (044) 448 893) on boulevard Mohammed Zerktouni. Another major cinema hall in Marrakech is the Institut Français, on route de la Targa, Djebel Guéliz (tel: (044) 446 930), which shows mainly French-language films.

During the annual Marrakech International Film Festival (website: www.festivalmarrakech.wanadoo.ma) that takes place in November, a number of stars from the Arab world and Hollywood descend on the red carpet here.

Various films shot in Marrakech

- Alfred Hitchcock's The Man Who Knew Too Much was shot here in the 1950s
- Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) was shot here toevoke the biblical Holy Land.
- Gillies MacKinnon shot in Marrakech to produce a faithful reproduction of Esther Freud's novel Hideous Kinky in his 1999 film adaptation of the book.