Are there cinemas and theatres in Morocco?

Morocco has a stronger film and theatre culture than most visitors expect. In the big cities, Casablanca, Rabat, Marrakech, Tangier, Fes, you'll find modern multiplex cinemas inside the large shopping malls, showing international blockbusters alongside Arabic, French and home-grown Moroccan films. Screenings are usually in the original language or dubbed into French or Arabic, so check before you book if you need English.

For something with more character, seek out the historic and arthouse venues. The beautifully restored Cinema Rif in Tangier is a cultural landmark and home to a film archive and festival, while grand old theatres and the national theatre in Rabat stage drama, dance and classical concerts. Casablanca and Rabat also have cultural centres and the French Institut Français network, which regularly programme films, plays, exhibitions and live music, often with affordable tickets.

Morocco's wider film identity is a genuine attraction in itself. Ouarzazate, nicknamed "Ouallywood," is one of the world's great filming locations, with the Atlas Studios and Kasbah Cinema museum where you can walk through sets from epics like Gladiator and Game of Thrones, a brilliant daytime outing that connects to the night culture. The Marrakech International Film Festival each winter brings red-carpet premieres and free public screenings projected onto a giant screen in Jemaa el-Fna.

My honest framing for guests: cinema and theatre are a great option for a relaxed evening in the cities, a rainy night, or for travellers who want to engage with contemporary Moroccan culture rather than only the traditional. But in the medinas and smaller towns these venues are scarce, so I treat them as a city-night idea, and pair the love of film with a daytime visit to the Ouarzazate studios for anyone who is a movie buff.