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The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirates dedicated Authority for culture, arts, and heritage, today presented the new format of its flagship performing arts initiative, the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre to be held from November 10 to 20, 2014, at the Cultural & Scientific Association in Al Mamzar.

The festival this year will see the participation of several leading Arab actors, who will also share their experience and learnings with the participants.

Further building on the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to promote Arabic language, the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre will focus on highlighting classical Arabic.

Additionally, the festival will also feature majlis-style discussion sessions of each play immediately after its performance by experts. They will cover all aspects of the play from the plotline to acting, choreography, lighting and special effects.

The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre will expand the opportunities available for young theatre enthusiasts to take part in the event by providing them a vibrant platform to write, direct and produce plays, including those covering the concerns of youth.

At a special preview of the festival, Dubai Culture announced the line-up of plays by local theatre groups this year. The dramas include: Koam Motran by Al Ahli Theatre in Dubai (written by Abdullah Salah Al Romaithi; directed by Marwa Abdullah Saleh); Ala Alhawaya by Dubai Community Theatre (written by Abdullah Salah Al Romaithi; directed by Hussein Jawad); Bouqa by Dibba Theatre (written by Ahmed Al Majd; directed by Mortada Jomaa); Al Nogza Wal Tabal by Hatta Culture & Arts Theatre (written by Hassan Youssef), and Khozo Wogohakom by Sharjah National Theatre (written by Mahmoud Abu Al Aas).

Yasser AlGergawi, Acting Projects & Events Director of Dubai Culture, and head of the organizing committee of Dubai Festival for Youth Theater, said: In just eight years, the Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre has become the definitive platform to showcase UAEs theatric talent. This year, with a special focus on taking the festival to the public and encouraging them to become active participants, we have not only introduced special majlis-style discussions to be attended by celebrities, but are also hosting curtain-raiser events at malls in Dubai. We are confident that the eighth edition of the festival will be the best yet, with stronger community participation and high-quality theatre performances, he added.

The performances for the eighth edition will be shortlisted by a dedicated Selection Committee, comprising key industry doyens and experts. The members of the Selection Committee will be announced shortly. This year, plays by university students will also be part of the repertoire.

Each selected theatre group will receive the opportunity to showcase their strengths in acting, directing, writing, lighting, special effects, stage set-up, make-up, and props, and the winners across the various categories will be awarded at a ceremony on November 20.

The Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre continues to be one of the largest celebrations of theatre in the region, in an effort to strengthen and preserve one of the oldest art forms, by providing upcoming talent with a platform to showcase their skills to a wider audience. In celebration of this years Festival, Dubai Culture have announced their creation of a new updated brand which represents the spirit of the Arabic language and the smiling half of the popular icon of theater, the double masks.

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