Ajaaj, the first Arabic superhero, comes to the stage in a dazzling spectacle of sound, action and special effects
Even superheroes need their powernaps. Ajaaj (The Storm) is curled up in one of red velvet seats at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre (Ductac). It's been an exhausting month for Ajaaj, aka Salem Alawi Ebrahim.
When he's not vanquishing evil in Dubai in the year 2020, he's been doing the far tougher job of commuting between his home in Ras Al Khaimah and rehearsals for Ajaaj: 2020 in Dubai.
Billed as a 4D theatrical experience, the show features some spectacular special effects, video, live acting and music. Salem is a dead ringer for the comic book hero, created by Watani last year.
The comic book has now been adapted for the stage, in a unique collaboration that has British crew and an Emirati cast. A father of three, Salem says his children are pretty excited about the role as well - the comic book is already a rage of sorts.
"The audience is going to be thrilled," said director Trevor Nicholls. "The show is magical, steeped in legend but it also looks to the future. It deals with the old and new Dubai."
Nicholls has been involved in a number of international productions staged in Dubai over the last few years, including co-writing and directing Aladdin at the Madinat Theatre and The Adventures of Sindbad at Ductac.
As Harvey Dent famously said in a certain big superhero film this summer, "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." The mysterious Ajaaj faces the same sort of persecution as Batman, when his appearance to save people is linked with strange happenings.
His bete noir, the villainous Boss, is ensconced in a throne that is the command centre for all his evil doings. Along with the mad scientist Dr Noon, he is always finding ways to get rid of Ajaaj, the living legend who comes from the past into the future to save lives.
Imagination
"Every project for a director is challenging," Nicholls says, "This one has been like creating a television film on stage, while allowing the audience to use their imagination. People do get excited by a good story, interesting characters and spectacle. In this production we have some wonderful traditional Arab characters pitted against a megalomaniac villain - all these characters have a purpose."
The cast also includes Mustafa Ebrahim Al Yassiri, who plays the role of grandfather to a pair of twins, Humaid and Shamma - the only three people in the land who believe in the goodness of Ajaaj. A bilingual actor who also acted in Syriana, Mustafa also acted as advisor for the Arabic version of the play.
The only female in the cast, 12-year-old Shaikha Khalifa, plays Shamma, Humaid's twin sister. Shaikha, the youngest presenter on the Sama Dubai channel, has been awarded the Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Award for Education Excellence.
The Superhero
Salem Alawi Ebrahim started his acting career in 1991. "I was unemployed and checking out the recruitments ads when I spotted one that asked for actors for a modelling assignment," he reminisces.
Thus Ebrahim landed his first gig for Rainbow Milk. More importantly, he met his mentor and Ajaaj cast mate Mustafa Ebrahim Al Yassiri there as well.
Bitten by the acting bug, Ebrahim left his cushy government job to try his luck at the more uncertain profession of acting, and has been doing assignments ever since. "There aren't too many Emirati actors around," he explains.
"It isn't like a government job where if you are late or don't show up, it's okay. Here a lot of people stand to lose a lot of money if you play truant. People prefer government jobs but for someone like me, a salary was not the factor in choosing my profession. Acting is what I love."
Ebrahim auditioned for the lead role in Ajaaj, after a recommendation from Al Yassiri. His costume is a T-shirt with the Ajaaj logo and a cape that depicts the storm. The Ajaajmobile is a purple contraption, which flies across the stage.
"When they chose me to play Ajaaj, all my friends and neighbours agreed I did look just like him."
The Grandfather
Mustafa Al Yassiri, 35, has been a model since the age of 14. He shot his first commercial in 1986, and the crowning glory of his acting career was the role of an aide to the Prince Nasser Al Subbai character played by Alexander Siddig in Syriana. This father of three continues to enjoy a busy career, often flying all around the world to do international modelling assignments.
Al Yassiri says it's been easy for him to slip into the character of the grandfather. His prop is a walking stick used by his own mother.
His family is present in other ways too - his two sons are also acting in Ajaaj: 2020. Al Yassiri's son Humaid plays his grandson. His other son plays a robot. "Our whole family is interested in acting and modelling," he says.
"The grandfather is a wise, yet forgetful man, who knows a lot about the heritage and culture of the UAE. I am so proud to do this role because it gives me a chance to talk about my country.
"While Batman, Superman and The Hulk are international superheroes, Ajaaj is the first in the UAE. He is different because he is delivering a message about the culture and heritage of this country."
Al Yassiri was also an advisor to Warner Bros during the Syriana shoot. "I advised them on getting the Arabic nuances right. We spoke a neutral Arabic and dressed so that nobody could pinpoint that the actors were from a particular Arab country." He remembers joking around a lot with George Clooney on the sets.
Once he dons his costume, the jolly, baseball-cap-wearing Al Yassiri is instantly an older, knowledgeable figure. "Most stars have their beginnings in theatre. If people love you on stage, they will embrace you as an actor."
The Director
This is Trevor Nicholls's fourth visit to Dubai. This time he has helmed a production that would normally take three months to bring to stage, but in keeping with Dubai time, has been delivered in a few weeks.
Nicholls says this is an ensemble cast, with him pulling as much information as possible from the actors. "The popularity of the book means that everyone has an idea of how it should look, about the physicality of the characters. My job has been to make sure these qualities come to life."
Nicholls says his inspiration for Ajaaj's look and style was Blade Runner. "At the end of the day we could do it as a complete comic book or something straightforward with comic book qualities.
"My favourite sequence in the play is the depiction of the history of Ajaaj. It goes back in time to when he was Shaikh Ajaaj. A sequence such as this demands a lot from the actors. And as we would in England, we did workshop rehearsals; we told the actors the story and got them to act it out. The result is a magical and compelling enaction."
Music plays a big part in the experience. "Every character has their own theme: a menacing sound indicates the villain is to appear. The Ajaaj theme is full of mystique, it has a driving energy, percussion and a brass section that swells and reminds you of sand and the power he has."
Don't miss it!
Ajaaj: 2020 will play for 18 performances at Ductac, Mall of the Emirates. Daily show timings are 4pm for English version and 7pm for Arabic until August 22.
Tickets are available at Virgin Megastores and www.ticketingboxoffice.com starting at Dh100 (Dh50 for children) and Dh150 for premium seating.
