It’s the place where local talent goes to congregate, explore ideas and perform. It’s the arena for eclectic ideas to germinate. It’s the 159-seat hall for community theatre that just turned two.
The Junction, Alserkal Avenue marked the milestone on November 18. The theatre’s founder Rashmi Kotriwala, says: “That first opening night we were nervous of the show. The doors of the theatre were being fixed just minutes before the audience walked in the first time… It delayed the show for a good half-hour… in just two years we are confident of where we have come and the niche we have carved in the cultural scene of the UAE. We look forward to great times ahead.”
Here’s a look at some top moments from the past and some that are yet to come.
The Vortex (2015)
The community theatre opened with a smashing rendition of British writer Noel Coward’s The Vortex, a play set right after the First World War.
The 1924 tale that deals with drug addiction and relationships proved a fine start for The Junction, which followed the production with an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s Pillars of Society. And so, the stage was set for success.
Jeeveshu Ahluwalia in Dubai (2017)
Fast-forward to this year and the show house has been teaming with acts large and small, and as varied as you can allow your imagination to stretch. It wasn’t enough that plays were put on and workshops held, this year The Junction got into the comedy circuit with acts such as Jeeveshu Ahluwalia, India’s chubby funnyman, and Vipul Goyal.
Mian Biwi Aur Wagah (2017)
The banter between husband and wife is always fun for an outsider, but this is no voyeur tale. The epistolary Urdu play, set post India’s partition and offering viewpoints from both sides of the border, was a hit. So much so that it was restaged, this time with a (free) showing for blue collar workers, too.
Rang (2017)
In keeping with the celebration and revival of Urdu, a festival that centred around performance and poetry was held recently at The Junction — featuring local theatre troupe Qissa Go and musicians Mastam. The quarterly show aims to showcase the vibrancy of the language through varied performances.
GOING FORWARD
Art of Magic
When: November 22
Are you a fan of magic and mystery? Then look no further than The Junction, which is bringing the award-winning Dutch magician Arnaud to its stage. He will not only regale you with tricks but also explain the history behind many illusions. Tickets are priced at Dh100.
Aal is Well
When: November 24
The stage adaptation of the critically acclaimed 3 Idiots movie, dealing with youthful fancy, self discovery and friendship, is coming to town this weekend, so get ready to laugh. The production is a collaborative effort by local theatre studio The Hive and dance crew Avega Dance Creations.
Tickets are priced at Dh60.
Regional Comedy
When: December 7-8
India is a diverse place, and so is The Junction’s oeuvre. Manan Desai and Chirayu Mistry bring Gujarati stand-up comedy on December 7, while Praveen Kumar’s Tamil routine comes on December 8.
