There’s nothing quite like a woman scorned. When she ditches her woes, picks up an electric guitar and starts to rock out, there’s no looking back.
That’s what you can expect from the new dinner show at The Act Dubai, Shangri-La Hotel: Rocker Girlz - Who Says Boys Get to Make All The Noise?.
The show, written and directed by Dubai-based David Ley, was launched on February 2 and will run every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8.30pm until midnight. It follows the story of a woman who discovers her hidden talents after a bad break-up.
“I think there’s this old idea that dinner theatre is actors trying to be heard over the slurping of soup. That couldn’t be farther from the truth. What’s incredible about a dining audience is the opportunity for interaction,” said Ley.
“Unlike traditional theatre or cinema, the story isn’t a separate entity; it’s sitting with you at your table.”
Ley — a member of the Screen Actors Guild — brings with him a slew of experiences from New York’s theatre, film and music scene. He tells tabloid! what diners can expect from the Rocker Girlz experience.
Q: What is the concept behind the show?
A: Rocker Girlz is a full-throttle spectacle centring on the story of girlfriends setting out as a rock & roll band. It incorporates a soundtrack inspired by some of the great women of recent music history as well as the talents of incredible variety performers.
Q: How did the idea first begin to brew?
A: I’ve always held an appreciation for how effectively rock music can tell stories. So many examples of it in the soundtracks of great films. As I’m always toying with ideas for my next show, I tested the waters a bit with whether or not my dancers could train to effectively portray actual performing musicians. The results stunned me, so there was no turning back.
Q: Will the show be a live one?
A: The girls each learned to play their respective instruments and will be heard playing live during certain parts of the show. It’s really incredible how quickly they picked it up; almost scary. We wanted to pull from a tradition of great driving riff rock, so expect to hear more than a few covers.
Q: What is the overall format of the show, and what was your vision for it?
A: At the risk of giving away my age, I really miss the days of “the album.” I wanted to structure the show so it played a bit like a rock record. It starts and ends big and heavy. But of course there’s a lot of fun along the way and it wouldn’t be complete without a sad love song thrown in there.
Q: As someone who’s been in a rock band yourself, do you find that girls don’t get enough love in rock & roll?
A: I do think women are under-represented in rock music. I’m sure someone has already written an entire book on why that might be, so I won’t guess at the reasons. I will say though that those women who have pushed through and made their mark on the music have all my respect.
Q: What do you hope that diners will take away from the show?
A: I hope after coming, more than a few people decide to start their own bands. Who knows.
