13 October 2024

Jazz to Jive

The Club Al Mina, Abu Dhabi

A second night of fun music from the best of Abu Dhabi's musical talent: a cappella groups Blue Fever and Voices of Harmony (both well established, both excellent) with two local big bands, the British School al Khubairat Jazz Band [ ... ]

AED 140

Monday Night Comedy: This Is Impro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Exactly what it says: a regular Monday evening of scenes, stories and narrative improvisation influenced by audience suggestions and featuring the Courtyard Playhouse's most experienced improv performers. Classic Courtyard stuff. It's free, but you need to put your name on [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

Talk: Brian Gonzales – International Print Community

Aisha Alabbar Gallery Warehouse 101, Al Quoz 2, Dubai

As part of the programme for Press Print!, the gallery's current show, Brian Gonzales – printmaker, art collector, lecturer at the University of Sharjah and one of the participating artists – explores cultural influences and the power of print to [ ... ]

Free

Wednesday Night Impro: Maestro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ten actors converge for a night of scenes, songs and games based on audience suggestions. After each round you score the players on a scale of 1 to 5, and the one with the lowest score is eliminated. Eventually only [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

Timur Akhmedov: Kaleidoscope

Andakulova Gallery Unit 18, P4 Level Damac Park Towers, DIFC , Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A solo exhibition for the respected Uzbek artist with new works alongside some that have already been seen. Akhmedov's style is a surreal symbolism that is almost fairytale-like and frequently depicts the artist (and others) as characters in a story, [ ... ]

Free

M83

Dubai Opera

The French (but LA-based) icon of electronica – originally a duo but for several years now the project of multi-instrumentalist Anthony Gonzalez comes to Dubai as part of a short world tour to promote his new album Fantasy. The ninth [ ... ]

From AED 375

The Jazz Garden: Bruce Johnson

The Arena, Montgomerie Gulf Club Al Thanayah Fourth - 10 7th Street, Dubai

Talented soul and R&B singer, originally from Indianapolis but with a style honed in France. He performs with the regular resident jazz band, the Alexey Cheremizov Quartet. Should be another good night for this end-of-season gig. Doors open at 7pm, [ ... ]

From AED 125

Rooftop Rhythms #99 Grand Slam Finale Competition / Season Closing

Marketplace, NYUAD Campus Abu Dhabi

The Middle East’s best (and longest-running) poetry and performance open mic night winds up its 11th season with original material from spoken word artists, poets, and musicians. Rooftop Rhythms is hosted by founder Dorian Paul Rogers, with opening and closing [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register online

Candlelight Concert: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

Rixos Premium Dubai JBR Jumeirah Beach Residences, Al Mamsha Street, Dubai

One of the most successful production in the Candlelight Concerts series – "classical music concerts aimed at democratising access to classical music by allowing people all over the world to enjoy live music candlelit performances".  The Vivaldi favourite was written [ ... ]

From AED150

Candlelight Abu Dhabi: Best of Chopin

The Arts Center @ NYUAD NYUAD Campus, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Fever brings its candlelight classical music recitals to Abu Dhabi for the first time – "a series of classical music concerts aimed at democratising access to classical music by allowing people all over the world to enjoy live candlelit music [ ... ]

From AED 150

Fête de la Musique

Alliance Française Dubai Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Fête de la Musique is an annual global celebration of music, organised in France by the Ministry of Culture and in more than 1,000 cities around the world by Alliance Françaises. It's a day where free, live music would be [ ... ]

Free

Ali Al Sayed: CancelD Culture

Theatre at Mall of the Emirates Level 2, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Celebrating his 15th anniversary in comedy (and, as it happoens, his birthday), Ali Al Sayed's new English-language standup gig is pitched as his most daring and honest solo show yet – "Ali comedically highlights the Arab and Muslim perspective through [ ... ]

AED 175

Culture Bus: Al Sadeem Observatory

421 Arts Campus Mina Zayed, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The 421 Culture Bus is taking a stargazing trip to the observatory on the outskirts of the city to observe the cosmos using traditional and smart telescopes. We're promised a unique experience using traditional and smart telescopes; included in the [ ... ]

AED 180

Urinetown

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy University City, Sharjah

You can’t deny the ambition of the Musical Theatre and Production Arts students of Sharjah Performing Arts Academy – they’re doing the Tony award winner Urinetown, a satirical musical that attacks corporate greed, rampant exploitation and unsustainable lifestyles. There’s a [ ... ]

Free but pre-register

Monday Night Comedy: This Is Impro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Exactly what it says: a regular Monday evening of scenes, stories and narrative improvisation influenced by audience suggestions and featuring the Courtyard Playhouse's most experienced improv performers. Classic Courtyard stuff. It's free, but you need to put your name on [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

Assadour: Etchings

Meem Gallery Umm Suqeim Rd, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

In the seventh instalment of Meem's ongoing series of exhibitions focused on printmaking in the Arab world, the gallery is showing 15 etchings by Lebanese-Armenian artist Assadour. His artworks reflect his own heritage and tumultuous upbringing, seamlessly blended into a [ ... ]

Free

Urinetown

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy University City, Sharjah

A second performance for this satirical musical by SPAA students; the story is set in a dystopian future, where a chronic water shortage means that public loos have been extravagantly privatised. The plot hinges on a rebellion led by a [ ... ]

Free but pre-register

Spectrum Exhibition: Cohort One

Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

An exhibition for the outcome of the first cohort of the MAS Spectrum Photography Residency. We're promised "a broad range of ideas, subjects, and techniques that span a spectrum of human experiences". To 4 September.

Free

Welcome Home / Marhaba al Sah

ME by Meliá The Opus by Omniyat, Al Amal Street, Business Bay, Dubai

A continuation of the interesting Useless Palace exhibition, a specific group show by ten artists staged in the desert by popup gallery InLoco (who are due to move into a permanent Al Quoz location this autumn) in the desert last [ ... ]

Free

Urinetown

Sharjah Performing Arts Academy University City, Sharjah

Final performance for this satirical musical by SPAA students; the story is set in a dystopian future, where a chronic water shortage means that public loos have been extravagantly privatised. The plot hinges on a rebellion led by a cleaner [ ... ]

Free but pre-register

Wednesday Night Impro: Maestro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ten actors converge for a night of scenes, songs and games based on audience suggestions. After each round you score the players on a scale of 1 to 5, and the one with the lowest score is eliminated. Eventually only [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

The Junction Unit H72, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

H72 Productions has found another interesting play for its current season. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, a comedy by the American writer Christopher Durang, has been praised as a humorous adaptation of Chekhovian themes that doesn't require any [ ... ]

AED 100

A Summer Allegory

XVA Gallery Al Fahidi Historical Neighborhood, Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A group exhibition with a seasonal theme: "summer is when all positive feelings surface allowing for a better appreciation of everything we do,” says the curatorial statement. “A Summer Allegory aims to encompass this summer’s glamour through a selection of [ ... ]

Free

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

The Junction Unit H72, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A second performance (of three) for this bittersweet comedy by H72 Productions. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, a play by the American writer Christopher Durang, has been praised as a humorous adaptation of Chekhovian themes that doesn't require [ ... ]

AED 100

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

The Junction Unit H72, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The third and final performance of this bittersweet comedy by the American writer Christopher Durang. Praised as a humorous adaptation of Chekhovian themes that doesn't require any familiarity with Chekhov, its story revolves around the relationships of three middle-aged single [ ... ]

AED 100

Monday Night Comedy: This Is Impro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Exactly what it says: a regular Monday evening of scenes, stories and narrative improvisation influenced by audience suggestions and featuring the Courtyard Playhouse's most experienced improv performers. Classic Courtyard stuff. It's free, but you need to put your name on [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

Karama Arts Club: 2023 Summer Soirée

25hours Hotel Dubai One Central Trade Center Street, Dubai

Karama Arts Club winds up what sounds like a successful first year with "a Summer Soirée that's hotter than the middle of August" – a chance to network with the cream of Dubai’s creatives over a few a drink with [ ... ]

From AED 65

Wednesday Night Impro: Maestro

Courtyard Playhouse Street 4B, Al Quoz 1, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Ten actors converge for a night of scenes, songs and games based on audience suggestions. After each round you score the players on a scale of 1 to 5, and the one with the lowest score is eliminated. Eventually only [ ... ]

Free but donations welcome

First Gentleman: dir Hayato Kawai (2021)

RAK Chamber of Commerce of Industry Al Nakheel, Ras al Khaimah

Hiyori (Kei Tanaka) is an ornithologist whose wife Rinko (Miki Nakatani)) unexpectedly becomes prime minister – making him the first gentleman of the country. Unexpected circumstances complicate things in this romantic comedy. This is part of Japan Film Week, co-hosted [ ... ]

Neko Ninja: dir Takeshi Watanabe (2017)

RAK Chamber of Commerce of Industry Al Nakheel, Ras al Khaimah

Cat ninja action – the adventures of a rogue ninja and a fat cat who he believes is the feline form of his legendary but long-disappeared and ninja father ... This is part of Japan Film Week, co-hosted by the [ ... ]

Little Nights, Little Love: dir Rikiya Imaizumi (2019)

RAK Chamber of Commerce of Industry Al Nakheel, Ras al Khaimah

Romantic drama based on the collected short stories of Kotaro Isaka that follows the lives of 27-year-olds Sato and Minako and those around them – friends, colleagues, children – over a 10 year period, showing how love, hope and friendship [ ... ]

Children of the Sea: dir Ayumu Watanabe (2019)

RAK Chamber of Commerce of Industry Al Nakheel, Ras al Khaimah

Fantasy animated adventure – a young girl is drawn into a mystery involving sea life around the world, in which two boys are somehow involved. This is part of Japan Film Week, co-hosted by the Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al [ ... ]

Artists Talk I: Brian Gonzales, Diego Mendoza, Hala El Abora, ji-Hye Kim

Aisha Alabbar Gallery Warehouse 101, Al Quoz 2, Dubai

As part of the programme for Press Print!, the gallery's current show, four of the participating artists talk about their creative process, inspiration, and the stories behind their works in the exhibition. (The other four artists in the exhibition are [ ... ]

Free

Artists Talk II: Brian Gonzales, Diego Mendoza, Hala El Abora, ji-Hye Kim

Aisha Alabbar Gallery Warehouse 101, Al Quoz 2, Dubai

As part of the programme for Press Print!, the gallery's current show, four more of the participating artists talk about their creative process, inspiration, and the stories behind their works in the exhibition.

Free

Chopin’s Best Works

Theatre of Digital Arts Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai

Chopin favourites by Candlelight, a recital for solo piano by Aldo Dotto. These concerts are "a series of classical music concerts aimed at democratising access to classical music by allowing people all over the world to enjoy live candlelit music [ ... ]

From AED 150

Van Gogh x Japan The Immersive Experience

Van Gogh’s love for Japanese art ran deep: he admired the way Japanese artists lived in harmony with nature and the complete focus on their work, and he aspired to do the same. Although he only discovered Japan in the [ ... ]

From AED 110

In the Heart of Another Country: the Diasporic Imagination Rises

Al Mureijah Square Sharjah

Originally shown at Deichtorhallen Hamburg, this exhibition exploring the concept of home has been expanded for its Sharjah Art Foundation visit with the addition of recent acquisitions and newly restored works of art from the Foundation's own collection. The exhibition [ ... ]

Free

The Piano Alchemy

Theatre of Digital Arts Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai

Neoclassical music from the trio of Kiann (piano and compositions), Marilies Guschlbauer (cello), and Alessandra Toni (vocal). We’re promised a seamless fusion of smooth classical harmonies with contemporary styles, all inside ToDA’s immersive 360° visual environment.

From AED 200

Dreams of Rumi

Theatre of Digital Arts Souk Madinat Jumeriah, Dubai

An evening of music, poetry and Dervish dancing in tribute to the poetic wisdom of Rumi, delivered by a small ensemble within ToDA’s 360° impressive immersive visuals.

From AED 200

Talk: Maha Alsharif – Collecting Prints

Aisha Alabbar Gallery Warehouse 101, Al Quoz 2, Dubai

Maha Alsharif from the MA in Art Business faculty at ZU talks about the nuances of the print market and the value and significance of limited edition prints regionally and internationally. This talk is part of the programme for Press [ ... ]

Free

Omar Kamal

Cultural Foundation Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street, Abu Dhabi

With influences ranging from Sinatra’s jazz and swing to Arab idols like Mohammed Abdel Wahab and Fairuz, Omar Kamal’s broad repertoire and emotional delivery promise to make for an enchanting evening. Kamal’s vocals have been described as powerful, emotive, and [ ... ]

From AED 300

Siwon Ghim: The Sense of Living

Korean Cultural Center, Yas Yas Creative Hub P2, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Abstract paintings by the Seoul-bawed artist, a Slade graduate who has “consistently expressed her determination to define her identity through her artwork". Said Siwon Ghim: "For The Sense of Living, I have carefully selected paintings that exemplify my ever-changing internal [ ... ]

Free

SAF Book Club: Readings on diaspora and migration

Al Mureijah Square Sharjah

This SAF Book Club meeting begins with a tour of the current Al Mureijah Art Spaces exhibition, the rather good In the Heart of Another Country. The show is about diaspora and migration, and that's the theme of the book [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register

Victor Sitali: African Hues

Le Meridien Fairway Al Garhoud Road, Dubai

An exhibition for the Zambian (but Dubai-based) artist in the hotel's lobby (why don't more hotels do this?) that promises "a wide range of bold artistic styles, mediums, and themes". Sitali says he takes inspiration from" the colourful nature of [ ... ]

Free

Women Expressions

Oblong Contemporary Art Gallery R 29 Bluewaters Boulevard, Bluewaters Island, Dubai

A group show that "celebrates the unifying spirit of art, showcasing how these talented artists from different parts of the world have found common ground through their creativity and unique expressions" ... which sounds like a somewhat vaporous theme. Hopefully [ ... ]

Free

Sohni Mahiwal

The Junction Unit H72, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

An award winning treatment by Yusra Irfan of an epic love story, timed for the Independence Day weekend of India and Pakistan, and set in Punjab (which is part of both). Sohni Mahiwal (or Suhni Mehar) is a established tragic [ ... ]

AED 100

Sohni Mahiwal

The Junction Unit H72, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The second and final performance of this epic love story, timed for the Independence Day weekend of India and Pakistan. Sohni Mahiwal (or Suhni Mehar) is a long-established tragic romance from Sindh and Punjab, dating back to the 10th century [ ... ]

AED 100

Star Wars: A New Hope dir George Lucas (1977)

Cinema Akil Warehouse 68, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

The first, and arguably the best – if only because of the impact of the opening titles. Universally acknowledged as a landmark in action films and featuring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher in their prime (plus Alec Guinness [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register

Candlelight: Beethoven’s Best Works

Grand Salon Maximilian, Raffles The Palm West Crescent, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The title of this concert certainly sets the bar high, though it seems a pretty good selection of the composer's works for piano. The pianist is Magdalena Wajdzik, and the other plus is the way these recitals are lit by [ ... ]

From AED 150

Aftersun: dir Charlotte Wells (2022)

Cinema Akil Warehouse 68, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

Charlotte Wells’ stunning feature debut movingly portrays a father-daughter relationship. Calum (Paul Mescal) and Sophie (Frankie Corio) are on a week’s holiday in Turkey; it’s a chance for the two to re-bond, and they do. Twenty years later, Sophie's tender [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register