Nairobi is home to a large number of theatres and cultural centres, showcasing some of Kenya’s – and the world’s – brightest performing stars. The following are among the most dynamic theatres, cultural centres and art galleries, offering a rich variety of plays, concerts, art exhibitions, poetry and drama evenings, and cultural entertainments:

Theatres
The Phoenix Players, Parliament Road; Tel: 225506/212601. Kenya’s most popular theatre group hosts a continuous programme of monthly repertory theatre shows.
The Courtyard Theatre, Ngong Racecourse. For more information on what’s showing at this exciting new theatre in town, contact courtyardtheatre@yahoo.com.
Kenya National Theatre, HarryThuku Road; Tel: 313171. The National Theatre hosts various amateur and professional groups, plays and musicals, throughout the year.

Cultural Centres
Maison Française/French Cultural and Cooperation Centre, Monrovia/Loita Street; Tel: 336263-5; info@maisonfrancaisekenya.org. The centre presents a multitude of activities in visual and performing arts, film shows and conferences year round, and offers a multimedia library, French language cooperation bureau and French language classes.
Goethe Institut/German Cultural Centre, Maendeleo House, Loita/Monrovia Street; Tel: 224640/211381; www.goethe.de/nairobi. German language classes and cultural activities.
Italian Institute of Culture, Ex Agip House, 6th Floor, Westlands; Tel: 4451266-8; iicnbi@iicnairobi.org. Italian language classes and cultural activities. Japan Information and Cultural Centre, ICEA Building, Kenyatta Avenue; Tel: 340520/341244.

Art Galleries & Workshops
Ramoma Gallery, Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art, Rahimtulla Towers, Upper Hill;Tel: 2729181/2; ramoma@africaonline.co.ke. Ramoma hosts regular art exhibitions and an annual ‘Art Affair’ promoting upcoming Kenyan artists each October.
Kuona Trust, Museum Art Studio, National Museums of Kenya; Tel: 748996. Hosts workshops and occasional exhibitions of some of the country’s finest artistic talents.
The Godown, Dunga Road, Industrial Area;Tel: 555770/555227. A new and exciting centre for homegrown performing and visual arts. Pimbi Gallery, General Mathenge Close;Tel: 581124.
Gallery Watatu, Lonrho House, Standard Street;Tel: 217673/228737. Several of Nairobi’s leading restaurants and meeting places also hold regular art exhibitions, including Le Rustique in Westlands (3753081), Java House on Mama Ngina Street (313564/5), and the Turaco Club in Langata (891759).

Music Venues
Kenya Conservatoire of Music, Harry Thuku Road, opposite Norfolk Hotel;Tel: 222933. Offers lessons in vocal and instrumental music.
Nairobi Music Society; Contact person:Valerie Kent; kent@wananchi.com. Provides an active programme of lunchtime concerts, evening recitals and choral presentations.
Nairobi Orchestra; Contact person: Bill Dixson; Tel: 2713820.Welcomes newcomers with reasonable experience, preferably with their own instruments.

Annual Cultural Events
There are several exciting cultural and artistic events that take place every year in Nairobi.These include the Kisima Awards, which celebrate the best Kenyan musicians in a musical extravaganza at The Carnivore each June, African Cine Week, which showcases the best Kenyan and regional audiovisual productions at the French Cultural Centre and Kenyatta International Conference Centre in October, the European Film Festival, showing the best new films from Europe at the French Cultural Centre in October, and the Nairobi Theatre Extravaganza, an exciting theatrical festival organised by leading local theatre groups each December.