Dubai: Famous names are set to entertain audiences before next year's Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, at two special Gala Evenings on March 8 and 9.
Authors such as Adonis, Margaret Atwood and Michael Palin will be taking part.
The evenings will be held at the 900-seat Al Mamzar theatre — the Dubai Cultural and Scientific Association.
"The Gala Evenings will allow us to offer festival-goers a totally new festival experience — introducing audiences to the best of Arabic and English writers in a truly fitting location", Isobel Abulhoul, Festival Director said.
"Our audiences can expect the atmosphere and electricity of an opening night at La Scala or Sydney Harbour Opera House, in a breathtaking venue that fully reflects the cultural heritage of Dubai," Abulhoul continued.
The programme for each evening will consist of two headline festival sessions (one in Arabic and one in English) together with musical performances by the Dubai Sinfonia orchestra. Simultaneous translation will ensure that audience members of all nationalities can enjoy the experience fully.
The first of the two Gala Evenings (March 8) will be headlined by Michael Palin and Adonis.
Michael Palin's illustrious career has taken him from long-running Monty Python fame, via Hollywood to becoming the world's best-loved maker of travel documentaries.
For one night only, Palin will share the stories of his life and times.
