Dubai’s burgeoning theatre scene just got bigger. The Junction, a spanking new 159-seat theatre is officially opening on November 18 at Al Serkal Avenue in Dubai with a local production of The Vortex, the 1924 play by English writer Noel Coward.
Set in the 20s right after the First World War, the play is based on the life of a rich, ageing woman and her troubled relationship with her drug-addict son.
“Dubai attracts many professional acts, travelling troupes, West End performances and Broadway talent. But, we aim to be the place where Dubai’s residents and regional talents can express themselves, hone their talents, and show that Dubai’s arts and culture are thriving on all sides,” says a mission statement on The Junction’s website.
Besides the stage hall, the new theatre also comes with extra space for events and rehearsals, and also a ‘script archive’ for those looking for inspiration for their next theatrical production.
The Vortex will be performed daily from November 18 to 21 at 8pm. There’s an extra matinee show at 2.30pm on Friday, November 20. After The Vortex, Henrik Ibsen’s play Pillars of Society will be performed at The Junction between November 25 and 28. It is a production by Backstage, who recently put on
One Day in the Season of Rain and brought Hamlet Globe To Globe.
“Once I decide on a play, and it is generally a classic because they remain temporally and spatially relevant over the ages, I get possessed,” says director Shanker Ramachandran. “I decided to research all the works of Ibsen. To understand the Zeitgeist of Ibsen, my research into the 1800s/1900s took me to studies on the state of the society, science, religion, women’s movements, industrial revolution and so on. I then spent over two months focusing on the specific play, Pillars of Society.”
Tickets for The Vortex are Dh75 and for Pillars of Society Dh100 at thejunctiondubai.com, or call 055-6863727.
