More contemporary dance at Sima Performing Arts and an exciting theatre premier at Warehouse Four in Al Quoz

Dance and Theatre in May

From now on, we introduce “A Pick of the Month: Dance” and a “Pick of the Month: Theatre”. This month, it is a contemporary dance performance ANSAF by Sima Dance Company, performed for the first time at the place of its birth – Sima Performing Arts, and a play The Permanent Way by David Hare, presented by Dubai Drama Group. Both works move the performing arts of Dubai to a more contemporary direction – be it the artistic language or the choice of topics.

*Cover photo courtesy of Sima Dance Company and The Arts Center at The NUYAD. Photography by Mahmoud Essam.

ANSAF by SIMA DANCE COMPANY (Choreography Alaa Krimed)

Contemporary Dance | Sima Performing Arts | MAY 21 & 28 @ 7:30 pm | Entrance: tbc

Inspired by the book Mediocracy by a Canadian philosopher Alain Deneault, ANSAF addresses the prevalence of mediocracy in contemporary society, the dominance of “the average” person in life, regarding media, arts, culture and politics in the absence of serious criticism. This dominance is a consequence of corrupt systems that promote illusions to the public, influencing them to follow blindly.The title of the piece, ANSAF, has many meanings that are reflected within the piece. The word highlights the split in society that’s caused by the control of the average person, with one side being in the light and the other left in the dark. ANSAF also stands for the half-made decisions that stand in the way of humanity’s progression in the midst of all the changes.

Commissioned by The Arts Center at The NYUAD 

THE PERMANENT WAY by DAVE HARE

Theatre | Presented by Dubai Drama Group | Warehouse Four | MAY 20, 21 & 22 @ 7.30pm | Entrance: 85 AED+ 

The play explores the tragic consequences of the British government’s decision to privatise the country’s railways. From the passing of the Railways Act 1993 to the four devastating crashes that followed, the play collates the insightful and heart-wrenching accounts of those most intimately involved. From the surviving passengers to bereaved relatives, first responders and government ministers, their voices bear witness to a story of greed, incompetence and mismanagement on a national scale.

WHAT COMES NEXT?

Improvised Kids’ Storytime / Mother’s Day Special | The Courtyard Playhouse | MAY 7 @ 11:30am | Entrance: exclusive to members*

We ask the kids ‘What Comes Next’…then we do it! We have no idea if we will be telling one story about a journey of friendship between a boy and his snail, or four tall tales about fantastic beasts – the kids decide everything!

Whether it’s building a spaceship, catching Santa, or battling a Dragon, this is storytelling at its most spontaneous and creative. Based on the exercise by Keith Johnstone, ‘What Comes Next’ teaches children how to act, play, tell stories, and trust their instincts in a cataclysm of creative collaboration!

*To gain access to Improvised Kids Storytime, you have to purchase a membership. More information on the website.

THE SECRET LIFE OF TOYS 

Improvised Kids’ Storytime | The Courtyard Playhouse | MAY 14, 21 & 28 @ 11:30am | Entrance: exclusive to members*

We all know our toys can’t talk … right? But what if they can? And what if you could be part of their secret world where anything can happen? When our toy heroes decide to leave the safety of their playroom, they find all sorts of amazing things waiting for them. But will they be able to get back home safely?

*To gain access to Improvised Kids Storytime, you have to purchase a membership. More information on the website.

THE LITTLE MERMAID 

Family Entertainment | Theatre by QE2 | MAY 13 – 22 | Entrance: 120 AED + 

The adaption of Hans Christian Anderson’s classic fairytale brought to life on stage at Theatre by QE2 – telling the tale of the mermaid who dreams of a life above the waves by becoming human, but is tricked by an evil Sea Witch into forsaking her voice to fulfil her wish to find true love in the arms of a handsome Prince.With help from a comedic crab, a silly seagull, a cute guppy and a whole shoal of fishy friends, this fun filled family musical will enthral the entire family, from nought to naughty!And where better to experience a sea-faring adventure than on board the iconic QE2, itself a legend of the high seas!

THIS IS IMPRO 

Impro Theatre | The Courtyard Playhouse | MAY 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 @ 8pm | Entrance: RSVP, donations expected

An evening of scenes, stories and narrative improvisation influenced by the audience’s suggestions and featuring the most experienced performers of the Courtyard Playhouse.

MAESTRO

Impro Theatre | The Courtyard Playhouse | MAY 5, 12, 19 & 26 @ 8pm | Entrance: RSVP, donations expected

Fast-paced, unpredictable, and hilarious. Ten of Dubai’s virtuoso actors converge for a night of scenes, songs and games based on audience suggestions. You score the players on a scale of 1 to 5, and after each round, the players with the lowest scores are eliminated. When only one remains they are crowned the Maestro!

NO MAN’S LAND

Impro Theatre | The Courtyard Playhouse | MAY 5, 12, 19 & 26 @ 8pm | Entrance: RSVP, donations expected

No Man’s Land by Harold Pinter. Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart lead the cast in this glorious revival of Harold Pinter’s comic classic. One summer’s evening, two ageing writers, Hirst and Spooner, meet in a Hampstead pub and continue their drinking into the night at Hirst’s stately house nearby. As the pair become increasingly inebriated, and their stories increasingly unbelievable, the lively conversation soon turns into a revealing power game, further complicated by the return home of two sinister younger men. Following a hit run on Broadway, No Man’s Land was captured from the West End in London in 2016.

*To gain access to NT Live screenings, you need to purchase the membership. More information on the website.

BOLLYWOOD IMPROVISED

Impro Theatre | The Courtyard Playhouse | MAY 10, 17, 24 & 31 @ 8pm | Entrance: RSVP, donations expected

A brand-new show featuring a spicy mix of star-crossed lovers, angry parents, long-lost relatives and villainous siblings, all created on the spot by our Courtyard Players improvisers and starring a member of the audience! Cheer on the heroes, boo the villains, listen to love songs and watch as our improvisers weave melodramatic tales of fame, fortune and serendipity in the greatest Bollywood story ever told.

CYRANO DE BERGERAC

NT Live Screening | The Courtyard Playhouse | MAY 20 & 21 @ 8pm | Entrance: RSVP, donations expected

James McAvoy (X-Men, Atonement) returns to the stage in an inventive new adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac, broadcast live to cinemas from the West End in London.
Fierce with a pen and notorious in combat, Cyrano almost has it all – if only he could win the heart of his true love Roxane. There’s just one big problem: he has a nose as huge as his heart. Will a society engulfed by narcissism get the better of Cyrano – or can his mastery of language set Roxane’s world alight?
Edmond Rostand’s masterwork is adapted by Martin Crimp, with direction by Jamie Lloyd (Betrayal). This classic play will be brought to life with linguistic ingenuity to celebrate Cyrano’s powerful and resonant resistance against overwhelming odds.


*To gain access to NT Live screenings, you need to purchase the membership. More information on the website.