Egyptian writer and producer Medhat El Adl is taking “Umm Kulthum… Daybeen Fi Sout El Set” from the stage to the page, signing an agreement with Nahdet Misr Publishing and Distribution to transform the musical’s script into a printed book.
The project follows the success of the musical production, which brought the life and legacy of Umm Kulthum to the stage through a combination of drama, music and modern visual production. The upcoming publication will preserve the theatrical text in literary form and make it accessible beyond the live performance.
Medhat El Adl Signs With Nahdet Misr
El Adl has officially signed a publishing agreement with Nahdet Misr to release the script of Umm Kulthum… Daybeen Fi Sout El Set as a printed book.
Rather than creating an entirely separate biography of Umm Kulthum, the project is based on the written text of the musical, documenting the artistic vision and storytelling originally developed for the stage.
The move gives the production a second life, allowing readers to experience its interpretation of Umm Kulthum’s journey without attending a live performance.
From the Stage to the Bookshelf
Daybeen Fi Sout El Set tells the story of Umm Kulthum’s rise from her early life in a village in Dakahlia to becoming one of the most influential singers in Arab music history.
The musical explores different stages of her personal and professional journey, including the people, composers and poets who shaped her career and the relationships behind some of her most celebrated music.
Medhat El Adl wrote the production and its lyrics, while Ahmed Fouad directed the stage show. Music credits include composers Khaled El Kammar and Ehab Abdel Wahed.
The production was created as part of the cultural celebrations surrounding the 50th anniversary of Umm Kulthum’s death, introducing her story to contemporary audiences through a large-scale musical format.
The Musical Reached Audiences Beyond Egypt
The stage production attracted audiences during its Egyptian run before expanding beyond the country.
One of its most notable appearances came at the 40th Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts in Jordan, giving the production exposure to a wider Arab audience.
Reports described the show as combining theatrical drama with Umm Kulthum’s musical legacy and modern visual technology, rather than presenting her life as a conventional biographical production.
Its reception helped lead to the decision to preserve the work in printed form.
When Will the “Daybeen Fi Sout El Set” Book Be Released?
The printed edition is expected to reach major bookstores and book fairs between late December 2026 and early January 2027, according to reports announcing the publishing agreement.
Other reports indicate that Nahdet Misr plans to present the publication around the upcoming Cairo International Book Fair, giving the title a prominent literary launch after its theatrical success.
Further details including the final cover, page count and retail price have not yet been publicly announced.
Preserving Umm Kulthum’s Story in a New Format
Turning the musical into a book gives the project a different kind of permanence.
A theatrical production exists through performances, performers and live audiences, while publishing its text allows the work to remain available after its stage run and provides readers with direct access to El Adl’s interpretation of Umm Kulthum’s story.
The publication also expands the project from entertainment into a written document connected to one of the most influential cultural figures in modern Arab history.
More than five decades after her death, Umm Kulthum continues to inspire films, documentaries, exhibitions, concerts and theatrical productions across the Arab world.
With Daybeen Fi Sout El Set now heading to bookstores, Medhat El Adl is extending his tribute to “El Set” from the stage into Arabic literary and cultural publishing.
