13 October 2024

Andrew Schneider: N O W I S W H E N W E A R E (the stars)

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

This immersive theatrical installation uses nearly 5,000 points of lights and hundreds of speakers (496-channel sound) to create an interactive theatrical cosmos where viewers become active explorers, discovering the traces of themselves in light, the universe, and those who have [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register

Josh Rowell: Moral Codes

Firetti Contemporary Unit 29, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

Rowell’s first solo exhibition in the Middle East, curated by Celine Azem, invites viewers to contemplate the moral codes that shape our society. At the heart of the exhibition lies an installation of Rowell's Painting Language series, interpretations of Aesop's [ ... ]

Free

Betsayda Machado and La Parranda el Clavo

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

Building on their participation in The Arts Center’s virtual online season in 2021 with the world premiere of their documentary Las Cantoras, Betsayada Machado leads her group in close harmonies, polyphonic melodies and call and response – a spirit-shaking celebration [ ... ]

AED 105

Swan Lake

Dubai Opera

The Hungarian National Ballet is in Dubai for three days with a critically acclaimed Swan Lake. Tchaikovsky’s first (and by many accounts best) ballet has the iconic casting of the same female ballet dancer for both Odette – the pure, [ ... ]

From AED 350

Swan Lake

Dubai Opera

The second pair of performances for the Hungarian National Ballet's Swan Lake is danced by a full company including Tatyjana Melnyik and Maria Yakovleva  sharing the Odette/Odile role; Prince Siegfried is danced by Gergő Ármin Balázsi and Louis Scrivener. Gábor [ ... ]

From AED 350

Chopin’s Best Works

Al Falak Ballroom Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, 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 350

Summer Soliloquies: A Writers’ Soiree

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

421’s first Writer’s Soiree promises a chance to meet and connect with other writers in Abu Dhabi – "an evening of food, reading, and greeting".

Free but pre-register

Rosie Holt: The Woman’s Hour

Theatre by QE2 Queen Elizabeth 2, Port Rashid, Dubai

This should be interesting. Rosie Holt is a actress and writer who’s best known as a satirist with a massive Twitter presence for her roles as a parody Johnson-worshipping MP (surely not modelled on Nadine Dorries?). This show includes a [ ... ]

From AED 150

Swan Lake

Dubai Opera

The final pair of performances for the Hungarian National Ballet's Swan Lake is danced by a full company including Tatyjana Melnyik and Maria Yakovleva  sharing the Odette/Odile role; Prince Siegfried is danced by Gergő Ármin Balázsi and Louis Scrivener. Gábor [ ... ]

From AED 350

Sawsan Al Bahar: 33 Songs, 99 Words

Maraya Art Centre Al Qasba, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

The Dubai-based Syrian artist presents a large-scale multimedia installation with 330 printed sheets representing songs inherited from her father over the past 33 years. The songs are an obscure and highly personal collection; the patterns only reveal visual poetry and [ ... ]

Free

Tagreed Darghouth: Gardens & Jungles

The title of Tagreed Darghouth’s solo show references controversial remarks made by Josep Borrell, the outspoken foreign policy chief of the European Union; he described Europe as an idyllic garden of prosperity, contrasting it with the rest of the world [ ... ]

Free

Madama Butterfly

Dubai Opera

The Hungarian State Opera/Ballet company’s second show for its Dubai sojourn is Puccini’s tragic opera, and we’re promised that “elegance meets artistry for an unforgettable evening of beauty and grace”. In turn-of-the-century Nagasaki, the dashing American naval officer Pinkerton (Boldizsár [ ... ]

From AED 425

Letters of Light

Louvre Abu Dhabi Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi

Held in partnership with Bibliothèque nationale de France and France Muséums, this exhibition will spotlight the Holy Books of the three Abrahamic religions – the Quran, the Christian Bible, and the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh) – exploring the historical context in [ ... ]

AED 60

Najat Makki: The Scent of Memories

Aisha Alabbar Gallery Warehouse C19, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai

The second solo exhibition with this gallery for a pioneering figure within the local art community investigates the relationship between colour and the memories associated with specific places. In this new body of work, Makki layers colours on top of [ ... ]

Free

Connecting Minds Book Club: Sandra Piesik

Terra Auditorium Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion, Expo City, Dubai

The second outing for this now-regular LitFest-style session with “renowned authors from around the world” features the award-winning architect, author and scientist Sandra Piesik in conversation with urbanists and curators Ahmed and Rashid bin Shabib. The conversation will centre on [ ... ]

AED 50

Madama Butterfly

Dubai Opera

A second performance of the Hungarian State Opera’s version of Puccini’s tragic opera. Boldizsár László is Pinkerton, Csilla Boross is the tragic Cio-Cio-san; the production is directed by director Miklós Gábor Kerényi, with János Kovács conducting the Hungarian State Opera [ ... ]

From AED 425

Andrew Schoultz: Quantum Storm Rainbow

Volery Gallery Maze Tower - 5201, Dubai International Financial Center, Dubai

Set against the backdrop of Dubai's vibrant art scene, Schoultz's solo exhibition delves into the intricate interplay of weather, technology, and societal dynamics, refracted through a rich spectrum of tones and colours. Says the gallery: "The title itself encapsulates the [ ... ]

Free

Documenting a Performing Arts History

NYUAD Campus, Conference Centre NYUAD Campus, Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The Arts Center at NYUAD has produced a commemorative five-volume bilingual book The Arts Center – Building a performing arts community on Saadiyat Island to mark its development from before its official beginning in 2015 to its current position as [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register

1 MINUTE TO KILLIT: The Launch!

Melrose Paramount Midtown, Al Mustaqbal Street, Dubai

Another Dubomedy comedy night with alumni of its stand-up courses – they each get just one minute to make you laugh, there will be prizes, there's an after party, and it's free with no minimum spend (you need to pre-register, [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register

A Century of Iconic Arab Music

Majlis Madinat Jumeirah Dubai

The Candlelight concerts experience – music with illumination provided by thousands of candles -- is applied to Arabic music by the Fusion Al Arab Group, presenting works such as Tehaddoh El bashar by Rashed Al-Majed, Umm Kulthum's Ana Fi Intizarak. [ ... ]

From AED 150

Art & Sustainability with Sawsan Al Bahar

CB2 Level 2, Mall of The Emirates, Dubai

In this artist's talk Sawsan Al Bahar discusses the connection between art and sustainability, offering insights into her creative process and her work. The talk is at CB2, the high-end furniture and interiors store when Firetti is showing some of [ ... ]

Free

Selfdrive Laughter Factory: The ‘Sweety Darling’ Tour

Mövenpick Hotel JBR Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Three good standups (two British, one American) for the latest Laughter Factory tour: Jack Gleadow – energetic and quirky performances that feature a mix of physical comedy, witty storytelling, and audience interaction (“if you like Lee Evans you will love [ ... ]

AED 160

Candlelight: Beethoven’s Best Works

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

Aldo Dotto plays a recital of what does indeed look like 1 pretty good selection of the composer's works for piano, all lit by candlelight. The programme: ♦ Piano Sonata op.13 'Pathetique' – 1st movement ♦ "Für Elise" (Bagatelle no.25 [ ... ]

From AED 150

Buika – An Evening for the Soul

Cultural Foundation Qasr al Hosn, Abu Dhabi

The US-based Spanish singer, poet, composer, and music producer Concha Buika, known for her characteristic fusion of flamenco with copla, jazz, soul, and African polyrhythms, brings her new show to Abu Dhabi for a one-off performance. She has a stunning [ ... ]

From AED 175

Selfdrive Laughter Factory: The ‘Sweety Darling’ Tour

Mövenpick Hotel JBR Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Three good standups (two British, one American) for the latest Laughter Factory tour: Jack Gleadow – energetic and quirky performances that feature a mix of physical comedy, witty storytelling, and audience interaction (“if you like Lee Evans you will love [ ... ]

AED 160

Candlelight: Beethoven’s Best Works

Mina A’Salam Hotel Jumeirah Road, Dubai

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

Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory: dir Mel Stuart (1971)

Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The original and still the best musical version of Roald Dahl’s classic story of Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum), a little boy with no money but a good heart, who dreams wistfully of being able to buy the candy that other [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register

Olaf Breuning & Edgar Orlaineta: Yours or Mine?

CARBON 12 17th Street, Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

This is looking like a major show for Carbon 12, with two of its mid-career stars; the gallery believes the works of Edgar Orlaineta (b.1972, Mexico) and Olaf Breuning (b.1970, Switzerland) “weave a captivating narrative of hybridity and environmental consciousness [ ... ]

Free

Memory is the Seamstress

Green Art Gallery Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A group exhibition curated by Murtaza Vali, featuring works by Hangama Amiri, Cian Dayrit, Melissa Joseph, Lebohang Kganye, Jagdeep Raina and Raed Yassin. “Memory is the seamstress, and a capricious one at that. Memory runs her needle in and out, [ ... ]

Free

Abdalla Al Omari: Unsuspecting State

Ayyam Gallery B11, Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A solo exhibition featuring recent work by Abdalla Al Omari – his second solo show at the gallery, but his first as a represented artist. Al Omari is clever with his use of scale and composition in representing the mundane [ ... ]

Karolina Krasouli: Arodo

Grey Noise Unit 24 Alserkal Avenue, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Karolina Krasouli presents a series of new and old works, paintings, drawings, sketches and photographs that explore the intersection of abstraction and figuration. Through a process of reading and writing, she extracts a set of operations for ‘rewriting’ meanings and [ ... ]

Free

The Quiet Girl: dir Colm Bairéad (2022)

Manarat al Saadiyat Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Nominated for Best International Feature at the 2023 Oscars Colm Bairéad’s beautifully understated feature debut finds a young girl coming to terms with loss and the importance of family in rural Ireland. Nine-year-old Cait (a terrific debut by Catherine Clinch) [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register

Samia Halaby: Lasting Impressions

Sharjah Art Museum Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

The big autumn exhibition at the Sharjah Art Museum is a major retrospective for the NY-based Palestinian Samia Halaby, featuring around 180 works of various sizes from abstract paintings and sculptures to documentary drawings and digital works. Internationally recognised as [ ... ]

Free

Rabee Kiwan: Black II

Fann à Porter The Workshop, Villa 45, St. 23b, off Al Wasl Road (opposite Box Park), Jumeirah 2, Dubai

Following the success of his previous exhibition at this venue, Black I, this new solo show for the Syrian artist delves into the realm of human emotions and experiences. As well as paintings with an engaging interplay of colors tframed [ ... ]

Free

Symposium: In the Heart of Another Country

Al Mureijah Art Spaces Al Mureijah Square, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Art scholars and museum leaders are invited to take part in this English-language symposium on representation and exhibition-making, sustainability and accessibility, and the significance of public collections. It’s held in tandem with the current exhibition In the Heart of Another [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register

Leila Pazooki: Unyielding Essences

Leila Heller Gallery Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Subtitled “a feminine odyssey through matter and soul", this exhibition seels to explore the profound relationship between humans (especially women) and the enigmatic world of objects, stones, and minerals. Unyielding Essences invites us to challenge the misconceptions surrounding humanity and [ ... ]

Free

Candlelight Concert: Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

One of the most successful productions in the Candlelight Concerts series of "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 AED200

Asian Dub Foundation / La Haine

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

Cine-conert with Asian Dub Foundation layering their edgy alternative breakbeats over Mathieu Kassovitz’s landmark 1995 cinema classic of crime and social pressure in the banlieus. The band’s musical accompaniment to La Haine has attracted widespread acclaim. Has to be unmissable. [ ... ]

AED 105

Selfdrive Laughter Factory: The ‘Sweety Darling’ Tour

Radisson DAMAC Hills Hessa Street Dubailand, Dubai

Three good standups (two British, one American) for the latest Laughter Factory tour: Jack Gleadow – energetic and quirky performances that feature a mix of physical comedy, witty storytelling, and audience interaction (“if you like Lee Evans you will love [ ... ]

AED 160

The Youth Orchestra: Concert for Children

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

The Youth Orchestra is such a good idea: the International Music Institute— one of the oldest music schools in the country, founded in 1994 -- runs it as a free-of-charge programme for would-be music students in the United Arab Emirates, [ ... ]

AED 50

The Ladykillers

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

It was a classic Alec Guinness Ealing comedy film of the 1950s and then a Coen Brothers remake (with massive infrastructure alterations) of 2004. Then in 2011 Graham Linehan adapted the 1955 original for the stage; it's recognisable, and you [ ... ]

AED 120

Asian Dub Foundation: Live in Concert

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

A full-on concert featuring ADF's tough jungle rhythms, dub basslines, wild guitar, and forceful high-speed raps drawn from South Asian roots. Expect a wild ride (they’ve been called heirs to The Clash) and be prepared to dance. Tickets are AED [ ... ]

AED 105

Selfdrive Laughter Factory: The ‘Sweety Darling’ Tour

Park Rotana Khalifa Park, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Three good standups (two British, one American) for the latest Laughter Factory tour: Jack Gleadow – energetic and quirky performances that feature a mix of physical comedy, witty storytelling, and audience interaction (“if you like Lee Evans you will love [ ... ]

AED 160

That Place

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

This looks interesting: a series of monologues by women on the theme of "that place we escape to – in our mind – when sh*t hits the fan". It's a development of the Express Yourself sessions that have been running [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register

Rhythm of Life – Music for Wellbeing and Positivity

Jafza One Convention Centre Jafza One, Jebel Ali, Dubai

The second concert in a series that aims to promote wellbeing and positivity through music, this one featuring celebrated father-daughter duo Srinivas and Sharanya in a retro Bollywood show with R.D.Burman-Kishore Kumar classics plus some of their own film songs [ ... ]

AED 100

The Ladykillers

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

A second performance for Graham Linehan's adaptation of the 1955 Ealing comedy film: "an action-packed black comedy" with the imaginative, immovable Mrs Wilberforce faced by a corrupt gang of five evildoers. "With only a parrot and one of the dimmest [ ... ]

AED 120

Selfdrive Laughter Factory: The ‘Sweety Darling’ Tour

Dukes The Palm Palm Dubai, Dubai

Last chance to catch three good standups (two British, one American) on the latest Laughter Factory tour: Jack Gleadow – energetic and quirky performances that feature a mix of physical comedy, witty storytelling, and audience interaction (“if you like Lee [ ... ]

AED 160

That Place

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

Second performance for this series of monologues by women on the theme of "that place we escape to – in our mind – when sh*t hits the fan". Features Afaf Bibi, Aida Laubach, Aishwarya Searing & TRE Dancers, Alana Hicks, [ ... ]

Free, but pre-register

Marie Kiyone

Dubai Opera Studio Downtown Dubai, Dubai

The young Japanese pianist has been a laureate of many national and international piano competitions, has performed with well-known orchestras and chamber musicians, and regularly gives recitals in many countries. This one has a substantial programme of Chopin and Liszt [ ... ]

AED 500

The Ladykillers

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

The final performance for Graham Linehan's adaptation of the 1955 Ealing comedy film: "an action-packed black comedy" with the imaginative, immovable Mrs Wilberforce faced by a corrupt gang of five evildoers. "With only a parrot and one of the dimmest [ ... ]

AED 120