We are very excited to be welcoming the collective ‘Kabareh Cheickhats’ from Casablanca at Muziekpublique for a very unique show that mixes traditional music with gender identity, theatre and Moroccon society.

Kabareh Cheikhats are men performing and interpreting a repertoire of the popular Moroccan (folk) heritage, covering different centuries and paying homage to the cheikhats; the free but marginalized women who denounce injustice and create a very intense atmosphere with their singing and dancing that touches the whole audience. The interpretation of the men performing at Kabareh Cheikhats exceeds the musical repertoire because the men honour a culture that is too often neglected by a part of the Moroccon youth. Meanwhile they break taboos that are still very relevant today. 

It’s a show in which the bodies of the men are liberated from the predestined patters; a space in which they discover their female identity and don’t hesitate to show it. As a source of inspiration they chose the music played by the women who want to shake up the patriarchal society and Kabareh Cheikhats’ follows the same path.

The Kabareh Cheikhats project was originally conceived as a theater piece, but instead became a performance. In May 2016, a troupe of eleven comedians began performing Kabareh Cheikhats. They performed twice a month in the basement of ‘Le Vertigo’, a bar in downtown Casablanca. One year later, they did over 40 performances, in both private and public settings. The collective began performing in cities around Morocco and also started doing some international performances in Europe & US. Now we’re welcoming them in our own theatre Molière. 

Kabareh Cheikhats is a very convincing tribute that carries a strong message. It’s a show you definitely don’t want to miss!

Organised in the context of the project Chaabi Habibi directed by Halfm Halfmoon asbl and Nakhla vzw  in collaboration with Muziekpublique, Darna, VK, FJM, Met X, Bij de Vieze Gasten, Voix de Femmes, Corso en Tivoli (Utrecht, NL).

With support of the Vlaamse overheid voor Bovenlokale Cultuurprojecten, VGC Erfgoed, Samenwerkingsakkoord Vlaamse Gemeenschap and Franse Gemeenschap, COCOF Dienst Cultuur-Muziek en Un Futur pour la Culture-Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles.