‘Narratives of the Place’ show marks Sharjah’s epic journey

Narratives of the Place (Sard Al Makan), an immersive and experiential theatrical show, which chronicles the history of Sharjah and its extraordinary journey and accomplishments over the past 50 years, will debut today (Tuesday, January 25) at 9:00 pm at Al Majaz Amphitheatre in Sharjah.

Organised by Sharjah Government Media Bureau (SGMB) and produced by Al Majaz Amphitheatre, the grand production will transform Al Majaz Amphitheatre into a breathtaking spectacle of attractive visuals, poetry, and theatre to bring alive the history of the emirate including its historic locations, people, and achievements through a blend of poetry and narration.

Narratives of the Place (Sard Al Makan) will be staged on January 25-26 and 28-29, and brings together top artists, performers, and playwrights from across the UAE and around the world to document Sharjah’s journey and offer a peek into its future.

The show features a team of over 100 celebrated regional and international artists and a globally acclaimed stage and production crew. Implemented by creative project company, Multiple International, in collaboration with The 7 Fingers, the live show will weave episodes from the emirate’s history to create a compelling narration of Sharjah’s story – its time, place, and people.

To ensure the safety of attendees, strict preventive measures will be enforced in line with the UAE government’s efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19. Tickets are available on platinumlist.net.

DAY DEDICATED TO EMIRATI TALENTS: The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature has announced that the inaugural day of the Festival, 3rd February, will showcase top Emirati writers and speakers in a series of talks, panel discussions, workshops and poetry performances.

Presented in collaboration with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, the Emirati Cultural Day will uncover important topics, including sessions looking at the careers of the future, preservation of the past, and the stigma of working in the Arts. It will feature some of the UAE’s most sought-after speakers such as Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs; business leader Khalaf Al Habtoor; counsellor, artist and author Hala Kazim; and Freej-creator Mohammed Saeed Harib, as well as dynamic literary talents including Salha Obaid, Jamal Matar and Nadia Alnajjar.

The 14th edition of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, one of the world’s leading literary Festivals and the largest celebration of the written and spoken word in the Arab World, will take place from 3rd-13th February 2022 in Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City and Habtoor Palace Hotel.

Dr Saeed Mubarak bin Kharbash, CEO of the Arts and Literature Sector at Dubai Culture, affirmed the importance of Emirati Cultural Day in supporting the creative industry and creative talents in the UAE by highlighting Emirati cultural talents and allowing them to learn about the creations from other global talents. He said, “At Dubai Culture, we are keen to support Emirati Cultural Day as an important interactive cultural platform that provides the opportunity for a group of distinguished Emirati talents to share their visions and experiences with a wide and diverse audience. Through this platform, we also contribute to making culture and art accessible everywhere to everyone, enhancing the prosperity witnessed by the culture sector in the emirate, and supporting the creative industry and creative talents, in order to cement the emirate’s position on the global cultural and creativity map.”

Ahlam Bolooki, Director of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature, said, “A day dedicated to Emirati literature is the best possible start to another fantastic Festival celebrating the written and spoken word. Arab and Emirati literature is rich in intellectual wealth, reflecting our diversity and heritage. It is wonderful to see the audiences grow along with the appetite for unique literary and cultural experiences.”

The majority of the sessions on Emirati Day will take place in Arabic, with the exception of a panel exploring what the future of work will look like, titled Careers of the Future, including Saeed Al Nizari, Director General of the Federal Youth Authority, and others.

The evening will also welcome a not-to-be-missed session with Omar Saif Ghobash in a wide-ranging conversation about life, writing and his new book, a work of fiction about his father’s last day.