Dubai Festival
The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre is aimed toward the recognition of young talent and supporting the development and education of young people who are involved in the performing arts. Last year’s festival took place under the patronage of Sheikh Majed and included a final evening gala celebrating the exceptional performers, directors and playwrights. Tourists who visit the UAE and stay in one of the five star hotels Dubai often seek out these fabulous cultural activities. Festivals such as this provide an excellent opportunity to experience the contemporary social and cultural lifestyle of the UAE.
The ten day festival had the dual purpose of launching the UAE’s young talent pool and also serving as an exceptional summer entertainment event for audiences. It is recognized as one of the premiere platforms for young practitioners to hone their skills and receive acknowledgment for their efforts at the regional and national level. This also prepares them for the highly competitive aspect of the professional theatre industry, in which they will be working. The performing arts plays an essential role in the lifestyle and cultural basis of the AUE and celebrating the up and comers in the field is paramount. The festival has become a central component of raising the profile of performing arts in the country.
Last year’s awards were presented by Mohammed Al Murr, the Vice Chairman of the DCAA. The festival was held at the Cultural and Scientific Association located in DubaiCs Al Mamzar area. Every night of the festival a new play was presented which led to the final evening’s award celebration. There was a tie for the award for Best Director between Marwan Abulla, who directed Anambar at the Dubai Al Ahil Theater, and Hamad Abdulrazaq, who directed Al Sitarah at the Sharjah National Theater. Jasim Al Kharraz won the award for Best Playwright for his play Zaman Al Youm, Dubai Folklore. The award for Best Actress went to Bedour and the award for Best Actor went to Hussain Yousef.