11 plays make the cut at 5th Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre

The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre, a one-of-its-kind initiative, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), has announced its lineup for the fifth edition to be held from Oct. 1 to 12, 2011.

Yasser Al Gergawi, Manager of Performing Arts, Dubai Culture & Arts Authority, said: “Young theatre artists in the UAE have demonstrated tremendous enthusiasm to take part in the festival, as highlighted by the highest-ever number of plays performed at the festival. The plays, distinctive for their subject and creative approach, will offer new insights on the evolution of Emirati theatre and encourage more talented youngsters to pursue their interest in this artform.”

This year, 11 plays will be performed by theatre groups from across the UAE, each bringing a new perspective on living in the Gulf, the Emirati identity as well as other social and economic realities.

 The Festival will commence with Fasel wa Nowasel by the Banyas Theatre. Directed by Hamed AlMahry, the single-act play depicts how television programmes can influence our culture and behaviour.

Al Ahli Theatre’s Al Bandira, written by Ahmad Mallah, is about a boat owner, who loses all his supplies when his boat sinks. Simultaneously, his wife gives birth to a child who suffers from a condition, and decides to give him up. The life of the child takes a terrible twist in this social, family drama.

Al Ghorfa, written by Talal Mahmoud and Omar Tahar, is a gripping play about a man, whose hopes, dreams, and future are destroyed, turning him into a killer, and leading him into the grip of insanity.

Jassem Al Kharaz and Nawar Al Matrooshi’s Al Khabsa, illustrates a fight between brothers who inherit a piece of land from their father. Portraying a conflict regarding the building of a home or a factory, Sharjah Theatre’s play depicts modern day social issues.

When a young fireman falls into a pit of depression and is isolated from society, he finds himself communicating with a girl via Blackberry, only to discover that he has fallen in love with her. His mental trauma is the theme of Ras Al Khaimah Theatre’s Ya Ward by Abdullah Ismail and Mubarak Khamis.

Three young men try to commit suicide in a deserted place, only to discover that their reasons to do so share common grounds in Sharjah National Theatre’s Fil Al Mosadas Rasasa by Jasem Al Kharaz and Hamad Abdul Razak.

An intriguing discussion between two fine art artists reveals their true thought process in Rasm Hadeeth, written by Mohsen Al Nasr and Mortaza Joma of the Abu Dhabi Theatre.

Mahmoud Al Katan and Ghanem Nasr’s Lailat Hasab, performed by the Dubai Tradition Theatre, is the story of a man who confronts his second wife, after being convicted of murdering their daughter. When his mental state leads him to believe that someone is following him, he realises that he has discovered the real killer.

Al Dubab, written by Hamid Fares and Abdullah Al Roshdy and performed by the Fujairah Public Theatre, is set in a refugee camp, where conversations between people unveil the struggles they face as a result of the political system.

The life of two married couples take a turn when one of the wives decide to visit an alchemist to purchase a potion that will help her control her husband. Ali Al Jamal and Mohamed Al Sady’s Mahow wa Deema, performed by Shamel Union Theatre, depicts the couple facing a dilemma when their son accidentally consumes the potion and dies.

Hatta Theatre’s Al Atfal Fukat, written by Talal Mahmoud and Marwan Abdullah, depicts the story of a school that is bombed, with only one boy and girl who survive. It is up to them to do the right thing when they stumble across an injured soldier from the enemy’s army.

The fifth edition of the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre is sponsored by the Commercial Bank of Dubai.