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2 events,The Saudi Film Commission’s new industry event is a four-day conference and exhibition that aims to “lay the foundations for the Kingdom’s future film industry ventures ... underpinned the growing economic role of the film industry in Saudi Arabia”. We’re [ ... ]
Free for exhibition Firetti’s original Breaking Boundaries exhibition featured the works of Nasser Al Salem and Josh Rowell; this successor, curated by Celine Azem as part of the Dubai Calligraphy Biennale, has work by six artists from different parts of the world. It [ ... ]
Free |
1 event, |
6 events, The Art Gallery at NYUAD opens its new season with works from a sculptor who works on the relationship between people and landscape and in particular the landscape of climate change. His practice is based on extensive field research; over [ ... ]
Free  The multi-award-winning musical (it has won more than 99 international awards) inspired by the Roald Dahl book touches down in Dubai for what has to be one of the highlights of the season. As the New York Post put it, [ ... ]
From AED 325
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 Trevor Noah’s The Daily Show landed a record seven Emmy nominations this year; but he’s rather wasted in that talk-show-host role, IMO, for he’s a consummate standup performer – especially for large auditoriums – with sold out shows on five [ ... ]
From AED 250
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 In this Sharjah Art Foundation lecture performance, Inge Thomson will be performing excerpts from projects that have had an impact on her outlook as an artist and musician, while also sharing some of her thoughts along the way. Inge has [ ... ]
Free
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 Multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Ghaliaa should be able to make the most of the revamped Fridge venue with its redesigned stage and new state of the art sound system. Ghaliaa’s sound fuses RnB, hiphop, electropop, indie and jazz, all characterised by what [ ... ]
AED 70 |
7 events, This exhibition describes an open-ended, evolving project that “explores how in the aftermath of the collapse of European hegemonies and the rise of the Global South a fluid artistic exchange was possible across geographies, histories and forms in ways and [ ... ]
Free  “I cross the boundaries of traditional masculinity, macho culture, societal gender assertions and associations," says Samuel Olayombo, who works with oils, acrylics, charcoal and pastels to create vibrant and large-scale canvases of predominately male but non-gender normative portraits. Using a [ ... ]
Free  Tehran's Dastan Gallery has worked with Fereydoun Ave since its establishment and has been part of many of his projects. In this exhibition, Dastan seeks to present a glimpse into the diverse and multidimensional world and practice of the artist. [ ... ]
Free
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 Two short films by the Norwegian director Ursula Biemann that explore the profound connections of indigenous communities to their natural environments. Screenings will be followed by a Q&A with Biemann. Acoustic Ocean (2018, 18 mins) is a poetic invitation to [ ... ]
Free, but pre-register
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Glasgow-based Emmie McLuskey works with sculpture, print, sound and performance to explore the physical embodiment of communication with a particular focus on systems of learning. McLuskey works across the roles of artist, programmer, writer and educator. She sees these as [ ... ]
Free |
5 events,An immersive AV-plus-2D group exhibition featuring Talal Al Najjar, Ziad Al Najjar, and Miramar Al Nayyar in a new space at ICD Brookfield Place. Guests are invited to enter “an otherworldly space that feels simultaneously like a sanctuary of origin [ ... ]
Free
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 Godfrey Reggio’s groundbreaking 1982 film Koyaanisqatsi set to an influential score by Philip Glass (his first major film success) and performed live by the Philip Glass Ensemble. Taking its title from a Hopi word meaning “life out of balance,” Koyaanisqatsi [ ... ]
AED 105
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This is the 12th annual event in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a strong all-female line-up of comedians plus a special guest survivor, a BCA info booth and more. Men are very welcome too ... Mina Liccione hosts, [ ... ]
Free
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 The French-Lebanese funnywoman has a massive social media following for her character-based snippets of life – notably for Mother Makmak, a caricature of the typically caustic Lebanese mother. There are shows on 5 and 6 October, in French, Arabic and some [ ... ]
From AED 150 |
3 events,This is the second edition of a festival that described itself as “the point of intersection between art, technology and the community … The main goal is to attract and create a community of open minded artists, scientists, and tech [ ... ]
Free, but pre-register
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A second show for the French-Lebanese comedienne and her character-based snippets of life in French, Arabic and some English.
From AED 150 |
3 events,
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 The Malaysian doctor-turned-comedian is in town with his Brain Drain world tour. Expect quick wit and and great comic timing; his recently released second Netflix special, Ride With Caution, suggests that he is destined for greatness (he's keen to become Malaysia’s first [ ... ]
From AED 125 |
4 events,
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The Jameel's annual festival devoted to helping the young explore a possible future in the arts is pitched at "all high school and university students, teachers, developing professionals and creatively minded youth in the UAE". Day one is aimed at [ ... ]
Free, but pre-registration recommended
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 Award-winning keyboardist Jolynn J Chin did well on America’s Got Talent with her eclectic blend of classical, pop and electronics. For this 90-minute ToDA gig, she's supported by immersive neon art from Polygon.
From AED 190 |
1 event,
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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 plus guests. There's a new angle to the event for this season – [ ... ]
Free but donations welcome |
3 events,The multi-award-winning musical (it has won more than 99 international awards) inspired by the Roald Dahl book touches down in Dubai for an eight-day run that has to be one of the highlights of the season. As the New York [ ... ]
From AED 325  The Omani artist’s first solo show in Dubai declares that there's always a way to emerge from darkness to lightness, as exemplified by the transformation of shame from something sinister into strength and confidence: bold colours suspending and transcending traumatic [ ... ]
Free
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 Redaround plays a blend of rock, pop and Arabic music that isn’t as rare as it once was – “taking inspiration from the melting pot of cultures in Dubai as well as the band’s own tastes and influences, they fuse [ ... ]
AED 70 |
2 events,
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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 |
4 events,
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 A visually stunning spectacle of propulsive dance, dazzling lighting, and powerful live music from the Canadian experimental post rock band Fly Pan Am. Choreographer Dana Gingras and her Montreal-based dance company Animals of Distinction explore spaces of inclusion and exclusion, [ ... ]
AED 105
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 Called by The Independent “the most sought-after ballerina in the world”, Natalia Osipova’s Abu Dhabi Classics show promises a programme of favourite classics and contemporary masterpieces. Her new dance company, Blooms Dance Project, which has been running now for a [ ... ]
From AED 75 |
4 events,
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A second performance for this visually stunning spectacle of propulsive dance, dazzling lighting, and powerful live music from the Canadian experimental post rock band Fly Pan Am. Choreographer Dana Gingras and her Montreal-based dance company Animals of Distinction explore spaces [ ... ]
AED 105
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 Every Friday, ToDA transforms into a jazz venue for live performance accompanied by a 360° immersive show: this time it's Lady J & her trio in a 90-minute set. "Expect a sparkling arrangement of the Grooviest Classics together with jazzed-up [ ... ]
From AED 150
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Four more standups, perhaps a bit more varied than usual and featuring a couple of good local comics on the bill for a change. Dana Alexander (originally from Canada, now based there and in the UK) tours a lot and [ ... ]
AED 160 |
7 events, Featuring more than 100 works, many on view for the first time, this exhibition is the largest solo presentation of artworks by Ethiopian telsem artist Henok Melkamzer. Traditionally termed as healing or talisman art, telsem is a sophisticated visual art [ ... ]
Free  Sharjah Art Foundation’s annual photography exhibition returns for its 11th edition, featuring artists “whose work challenges established notions of photographic practices” – four individuals and one collective, chosen through an international open call that received more than 350 applications. This [ ... ]
Free
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 A really interesting panel discussion presented by Museum of the Future as a contribution to Dubai Culture's ongoing Calligraphy Biennale. The session promises to explore the role of calligraphy across diverse cultures, local communities, and heritages, looking at how it [ ... ]
AED 149
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 Following sold-out shows in New York, London and his native South Africa, Darren "Whackhead" Simpson returns to Dubai with his standup show – but expect a few of the phone pranks for which he's well known.
From AED 125
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“An unforgettable night of laughs” (it says here, and who are we to argue?) from Dubomedy and Art For All . The line-up includes Dubomedy main man Ali Al Sayed and the equally stellar Mina Liccione (his partner in Dubomedy), [ ... ]
AED 150
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A second evening on JBR for the latest Laughter Factory tour – Dana Alexander (originally from Canada, now based there and in the UK) tours a lot and has been a hit in Dubai before; her style has been described [ ... ]
AED 160 |
3 events, Aldo Dotto plays a recital of what does indeed look like a top selection of the composer's works, all lit by candlelight. The programme: ♦ Symphony 40, 1st movement (arranged for piano) ♦ Sonata no.5 KV 283 in G Major: [ ... ]
From AED 350
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 German Cova and his musicians (guitar, piano, tabla and one dancer) will guide us through the world of Flamenco — from classical guitar to the passion of movement. "Every aspect of this vibrant show will leave you breathless," promises the [ ... ]
From AED 190 |
1 event,
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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 plus guests. There's a new angle to the event for this season – [ ... ]
Free but donations welcome |
2 events,Ewaa, the Abu Dhabi Centre for Sheltering and Humanitarian Care, is launching the MENA region’s first-ever art therapy conference on 17 and 18 October. Under the theme Empowering through Creativity, the conference promotes the creative application of arts and evidence-based [ ... ]
Free, but pre-register
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 Ethnic tribal electronic house music closes out the Fridge Concert season: Hawazin mixes Arabic house with the vibrant traditions of North African music. We’re promised “pulsating rhythms, live improvisation and enchanting melodies”. DJ Andre Lyke sets the tone for the [ ... ]
AED 70 |
3 events,
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 Robbie knows how to put on a great show to back up some great pop tunes from a 25-year career (feeling older now?). Sure to sell out
From AED 295
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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 |
2 events,
—
A night in Abu Dhabi for the latest Laughter Factory tour – Dana Alexander (originally from Canada, now based there and in the UK) tours a lot and has been a hit in Dubai before; her style has been described [ ... ]
AED 160
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 A new one-woman show by the much-loved Coco Makmak delves into the complexities of Lebanese culture with her usual sharp humour and insight. We're promised "a clever mix of social critique, personal confession, and intentional caricature" which is indeed Coco [ ... ]
From AED 205 |
3 events,
—
 Described by the organisers as “the perfect introduction to ballet”, this family-friendly version of the Prokofiev favourite, with original choreography by the Russian choreographer Victor Smirnov-Golovanov, offers a familiar story and all the language of classical ballet – albeit with [ ... ]
From AED 175
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First of two final Dubai gigs for the latest Laughter Factory tour – Dana Alexander (originally from Canada, now based there and in the UK) tours a lot and has been a hit in Dubai before; her style has been [ ... ]
AED 160 |
2 events,
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A second Abu Dhabi performance for this family-friendly version of the Prokofiev favourite, with original choreography by the Russian choreographer Victor Smirnov-Golovanov. It offers a familiar story and all the language of classical ballet – albeit with a reduced company [ ... ]
From AED 175
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Last gig of the latest Laughter Factory tour – Dana Alexander (originally from Canada, now based there and in the UK) tours a lot and has been a hit in Dubai before; her style has been described as “smart, irreverent [ ... ]
AED 160 |
7 events,Described by the organisers as “the perfect introduction to ballet”, this family-friendly version of the Prokofiev favourite, with original choreography by the Russian choreographer Victor Smirnov-Golovanov, moves to Dubai after its Abu Dhabi performances. It offers a familiar story and [ ... ]
From AED 175 A group exhibition with works by nine artists, thinkers, filmmakers, and researchers from East, South, Southeast Asia, the MENA region, and South America. Curated by Ritika Biswas, it conceives of climate-related extinction through various states of negation and excess emerging [ ... ]
Free  SIFF is back for its tenth edition on 22 to 28 October with an official selection of 81 films from 37 countries (slightly down on last year, which saw 90+ from 47 countries). But "the new edition promises to exceed [ ... ]
tbc
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This solo exhibition captures the tensions between shifting natural geographies and dynamic urban environments, featuring new works inspired by the UAE’s architectural history. It narrates the topographic evolution of the UAE, as influenced by Western classical modernity, contemporary traditionalism in [ ... ]
Free
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A free-to-attend community awareness event – “raise awareness, get educated, and voice your thoughts against Corporate Cancer”. The theme is blue rather than pink because “the Corporate World over the last few years has begun to sell Pinktober, almost as [ ... ]
Free
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The intelligent networking session for creative peers is back after its summer break with an extended evening session – a social (with private bar) for members and guests (5.30 to 8.30) followed by the meat of the evening, a panel discussion [ ... ]
Free with a drinks package
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 The Uzbekh piano virtuoso Khurshid Aziz plays some favuorites and a few less well known pieces ... with a twist: he's accompanied by ToiDA's 360° visuals, in an AI-based AV show by Japanese artist Saeko Ehara. The programme: Saint-Saens / [ ... ]
From AED 190 |
3 events,
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 The sharp-witted American comedian (and actor, TV producer and podcaster) is touring an entertainingly complicated exploration of current events, politics, and the beautiful chaos of creating life – "an evening of irreverent humor and astute insights that only Schulz can [ ... ]
From AED 250
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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 plus guests. There's a new angle to the event for this season – [ ... ]
Free but donations welcome |
3 events, This series of images of the UAE, started when Mathilde Magnier Rabate moved to the Emirates in 2014, attempts to document the impact of the country's rapid transformation on the Emirati traditional landscape and ecosystems. In a part of the [ ... ]
Free  A solo exhibition by the UAE-based Lebanese artist, an alumna of Tashkeel's Critical Practice Programme 2022. The subject of Jamal’s research over the last 18 months has been the giant milkweed, a species of flowering plant native to MENASA that [ ... ]
Free |
2 events,
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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 |
7 events, A mini-retrospective for the Syrian artist, with works from 2008 to 2023. Most reflect Arabi’s enduring connection with Damascus, the city where he was brought up before moving to France; a distinguished art theorist and critic, Arabi has consistently reinvented [ ... ] A group show of ten female Asian artists, curated by Hing Kong gallerist Matt Chung. The artists: Haeji Min Sonya Yufei Zhang Von Hyin Kolk Debbie Kim Chey Claire Yang Du Estelle Tcha Kyungmin Lee Hilarie Hon Wong Sze Wai [ ... ]
Free
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 It's the 70th anniversary of the world première of Waiting for Godot, and this symposium (bilingual in English and French) muses about its impact – and especially its appearance in both English and French. Given the musicality of its language, how [ ... ]
Free, but pre-register
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 Tamer and his friends lead typical high school students' lives until the arrival of the beautiful Maysaa. As he grows closer to her, Tamer agrees to take part in a mysterious flag operation dubbed ‘Alam' on the eve of Israel's [ ... ]
Free, but pre-regisrer and donate
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 Violinist David Garrett has built a reputation for his fearless playing and genre-defying repertoire (he has won awards in both classical and pop categories). A genuine child prodigy, he became the youngest artist to sign with Deutsche Grammophon at 13; [ ... ]
From AED 295
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Musicians, comedians and poets take to the stage for an evening of art and solidarity. Ali Al Sayed hosts and there's standup from Mina Liccione, Isra Abu Zayed, and Fajer Abu Zayed; music from Arqam Al Abri and Ibby VK; [ ... ]
Free, like Palestine should be |
5 events,
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 RAUXA CIA, a performance duo from Spain, combines modern circus art and theatre in this story of two adults suddenly regaining their childhood imagination – "for a fleeting moment they find themselves in a world where anything is possible," says [ ... ]
From AED 190
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 Mustafa and his wife Salwa live 200 metres apart in villages separated by the Israeli wall. One day he gets a call every parent dreads: his son has had an accident. Rushing to cross the checkpoint, Mustafa is denied entry [ ... ]
Free, but pre-regisrer and donate
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 Every Friday, ToDA transforms into a jazz venue for live performance accompanied by a 360° immersive show: this time it's Christine & her band, an all-female ensemble that "explores the full spectrum of jazz, trip-hop and funk with unmatched skill" [ ... ]
From AED 140
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 This is the gala opening performance for the Global Notes Series from Dubai Opera in collaboration with Encore Performing Arts. Global Notes is a new recital/concert programme “dedicated to celebrating the vibrant tapestry of cultural diversity and supporting young musicians [ ... ]
AED 275 |
7 events, Over the last year, the Dubai-based Syrian artist has produced a large body of work that explores the interconnectedness of everyday life. Interested in the concept of change and the visual possibilities of documenting this process, Obeido's work considers how [ ... ]
Free  Three more performances for this one-hour show that is "touching, absurd, and profoundly sincere ... Its multi-layered storytelling resonates with universal themes of kids' imagination, wordless storytelling, simplicity, and humor that transcend language barriers". RAUXA CIA, a performance duo from [ ... ]
From AED 190
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 Shot in the Golan Heights, the Galilee and Jerusalem, the film employs fiction, documentary and archival footage to capture the joy and knowledge embodied in the traditions of foraging for wild edible plants alongside the foragers' resilience in the face [ ... ]
Free, but pre-regisrer and donate
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 Salma and Tamer have been married for the past five years and living in the Palestinian Territory. As Tamer is given a three-day permit to cross the Israeli checkpoint to file for divorce in the courts of Nazareth, the couple [ ... ]
Free, but pre-regisrer and donate
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A junior edition of the Middle East’s longest-running open mic event for spoken word artists, poets, and musicians presenting original material. Sign up by emailing info@rooftoprhythms.org.
Free, but pre-register
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 One of modern jazz’s most influential living masters recently released an album titled Sounds from the Ancestors. “The concept initially was about trying to get some of the musical sounds that I remembered as a kid growing up – sounds [ ... ]
From AED 250 |
3 events, Lubaina Himid’s first exhibition in the region is something of a coup for Sharjah Art Foundation. Developed over several years, it has been conceived together with Magda Stawarska, who is internationally renowned for her practice of ‘inner listening’—a collaborative process [ ... ]
Free
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 Mattar Bin Lahej on the Museum of the Future as a public art masterpiece. He's the calligraphic artist who created the museum's distinctive facade; this talk aims to deliver an insight into its art, technology and positioning, how it transcends [ ... ]
AED 149
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First of three consecutive nights of scares, laughter and payback, one of the Courtyard's most successful improv innovations. The audience gets to share stories of Horrible Bosses, and the team acts out some sweet revenge for you. Come dressed up [ ... ]
Free, but pre-register |
2 events, After months of renovations, Lawrie Shabibi is reopening with a show by the pioneering Lebanese American artist Nabil Nahas — who was actually the first artist Lawrie Shabibi exhibited, back in 2011. Nahas looks like a great choice. Noted as [ ... ]
Free
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Second of three consecutive nights of scares, laughter and payback, one of the Courtyard's most successful improv innovations. The audience gets to share stories of Horrible Bosses, and the team acts out some sweet revenge for you. Come dressed up [ ... ]
Free, but pre-register |
1 event,
—
Last (and scariest?) of three consecutive nights of scares, laughter and payback, one of the Courtyard's most successful improv innovations. The audience gets to share stories of Horrible Bosses, and the team acts out some sweet revenge for you. Come [ ... ]
Free, but pre-register |
2 events, The 42nd edition of SIBF promises to be the fair’s biggest edition ever, claiming to show more than 1.5 million titles by 2,000 publishing houses representing 108 different countries. There will also be a packed 12-day agenda of 1,700 activities [ ... ]
Free |
3 events,
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It’s a pleasure to see the creative industries treated as an identifiable business path for entrepreneurs with its own special issues, culture and needs. This two-day event, an initiative of Al Quoz Creative Zone and Dubai Culture, looks like a [ ... ]
Free, but pre-register
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 The first in a new series presented by The NYUAD Art Gallery, in which curators working in the UAE and beyond discuss their approaches to curatorial practice. The aim is to survey the various individual positions and institutional models at [ ... ]
Free, but pre-register |
6 events, After success in different cities around the world, this showcase production created by the award-winning dancer and choreographer Amador Rojas for the Royal Opera of Madrid – claimed to be "the most important performing arts institution in Spain" – is [ ... ]
From AED210
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The second day of this initiative of Al Quoz Creative Zone and Dubai Culture. It’s free, but obviously there will be restrictions on space so get in quick … The workshops also require separate registration: check the website. Day Two [ ... ]
Free, but pre-register
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As his mother battles chronic depression, a child creates a list of every thing they can think of that makes life worth living. As the child grows, so does the list. Looking back on a life of ups and downs, [ ... ]
AED 120
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The RPO, under the baton of its recently appointed musical director, Vasily Petrenko, plays a programme that includes Rachmaninoff’s Symphony No. 2 in E minor. For Erich Korngold’s Violin Concerto, the orchestra will be joined by the young Canadian Timothy Chooi, [ ... ]
From AED 150 |
9 events,Organised by Sharjah Art Foundation in collaboration with Kamilya Jubran’s platform Zamkana, this participatory public seminar explores the way the oud is used and played by women artists from around the world. Five renowned oud players from different geographic, historical [ ... ] A second evening of performances for this showcase production created by the award-winning dancer and choreographer Amador Rojas for the Royal Opera of Madrid – claimed to be "the most important performing arts institution in Spain". The compilation of traditional [ ... ]
From AED210  Two days of participatory performance, workshops, panel sessions and networking aimed at "music professionals, artists and enthusiasts" and focussing on the music business for independent artists – it "aims to inspire the next generation of composers, songwriters, performers, and music [ ... ]
AED 120  One of the most successful productions 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  Boogie Box – the longest running House and Techno party series in the UAE, probably the wider Gulf region, and quite possibly in the whole Middle East – is celebrating its 13th birthday with a European-style all nighter. Hassan from [ ... ]
From AED 125
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Second and final performance for his highly recommended one-hander, directed and performed by the Junction's Gautam Goenka. As his mother battles chronic depression, a child creates a list of every thing they can think of that makes life worth living. [ ... ]
AED 120
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 An immersive evening at the Theatre of Digital Art – Lina Ammor and her band deliver a "360° soul and rhythm & blues journey to the essence of love and life". She's actually very good, with that soul-singer's ability to [ ... ]
AED 170 |
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