What’s On announces National Theatre Live initiative in the UAE, at Courtyard Playhouse Al Quoz. Find out where to see theatre in Dubai.

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Theatre fans across Dubai will be able to watch some of the best of British theatre thanks to the National Theatre Live initiative.

The ground-breaking project – which began back in 2009 – usually broadcasts British theatre live from the London stage to cinemas across the UK, but it has now become a global initiative spanning over 30 different countries including the UK, European countries, the USA, Canada, Mexico, India, Japan, Australia, South Africa, South East Asia, South America and Russia, and it’s finally arrived in the UAE.

The Courtyard Playhouse – Dubai’s first independent theatre space –  is the first theatre in the region to join the initiative and will be offering special screenings of top theatre productions.

The first screening was Tennessee Williams’ excellent A Street Car Named Desire starring Gillian Anderson alongside US actor Ben Foster screened live from the Young Vic Theatre in London. Described as a ‘powerful production’ by the The Guardian, A Streetcar Named Desire follows the intense life of aging Southern Belle, Blanche DuBois who turns to her sister Stella for solace when her world crumbles. Tragically though, her downward spiral brings her face to face with Stanley, Stella’s brutal, unforgiving husband.

Though each live broadcast is filmed in front of a live audience in the theatre, cameras are carefully positioned throughout the auditorium to ensure that cinema audiences get the ‘best seat in the house’ view of each production.

A Streetcar Named Desire is followed by A Curious Incident of a Dog in the Night on December 13. This award-winning production –which the Evening Standard penned as ‘a beautiful, eloquent, dazzling inventive show about the wonders of life – will be screened live at The Courtyard Playhouse from the Gielgud Theatre on December 13 at 8pm.

 

NEW – NATIONAL THEATRE LIVE SCHEDULE

Frankenstein
Danny Boyle’s smash hit production by Nick Dear based on the novel by Mary Shelley starring Benedict Cumberbatch
January 29-31

Of Mice and Men
James Franco and Chris O’Dowd star on the hit Broadway production, directed by Anna Shapiro
March 5-7

Treasure Island
Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of murder, money and mutiny is brought to life in a thrilling new stage adaptation by Bryony Lavery
April 2 and 3

Skylight
Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan feature in David Hare’s socio-political drama, Skylight, directed by Stephen Daldry
May 7 and 8

The Hard Problem
A new play by Tom Stoppard, directed by Nicholas Hytner – this show celebrates the meeting of two of the brightest minds in British theatre
June 11 and 12

The Courtyard Playhouse Dubai. Al Quoz, Dubai, 8pm, Dhs80. Tel: (055) 967927. courtyardplayhouse.com