Short+Sweet Dubai 2025

1. CINDY & JULIE

Cindy and Julie meet in a waiting room and discuss the trials and tribulations of their “happily ever after”.

Writer: Bruce Kane

ITC: ITACA

Director: Ensemble

Cast: Stefania Maglietti (Cindy), Alice Antoniotti (Julie), Cristiana Maierna (Woman) & Clementiana Materazzo (Young Girl)

2. THE TIME TRAVELLERS

A group of friends discover the future could be as unsettling as the past.

Writer: Coco Diamond

ITC: Fresco Formation

Director: Ensemble

Cast: Coco Diamond (Narrator), Asia Sofia Favretto (Emma), Aya Abultaif (Roya), Rosa Beinhoff (Delilah), Halo Diamond (Tomi), Bee D’Arcy (Trex / Alex), Mira Naz Bingol (Trex / Alex), Lucy McBurnie (Trex / Alex), Anoushka Pinto (Alex), Benjamin Bahmani (Alex / Bart), Leopold Beinhoff (Alex / Kurt), Damir Salikhov (Russian Boy) & Zara Dayekh (Chinese Girl)

3. THE LOTTERY TAB

In a grimy bar, down-on-their-luck friends find a winning lottery ticket—sparking joy, greed, and betrayal, as a cynical bartender observes their unraveling in this biting black comedy.

Writer: Raneem Riman

ITC: The Junction Academy

Director: Ensemble

Cast: Widad (Lea), Sasha (Mia), Vladimir (Zane), Salma (Riley), Prerna (Jordan), Deepika (Sasha) & Mikhail (Eddie)

4. MOVIE NIGHT

Based on audience suggestion the troupe will improvise a short play framed and structured as a TV show pilot to help Dan achieve his dream!

Writer: Ahmed Yousif

ITC: Improv.ae

Director: Victoria

Cast: Ahmed, Victoria, Arman, Marina, Moe, Reem, Nikhil, Magdalina & Hasher

5. THE AUDIENCE

Uncover the pre-show musings of five audience members as they attend a seemingly ordinary play. Little do they know, an unexpected twist awaits when one unseen actor decides to bare it all, sparking a frenzy among the audience.

Writer: Bruce Kane

ITC: The American School of Dubai

Director: Melissa Dertian, Nicole Bryant, and Liz Strootman

Cast: Chloe Shammas (Audience), Daud Khan (Ted), Davis McMillan (Audience), Emitis Laghaee (Fran), Maya Cuddy (Liz), Tayma Saqfelhait (Helen) & William White (Dan)

6.  THE CIRCLE

A group comes together for a therapy session, each carrying their own struggles. But as the session unfolds, the lines between who needs help and who’s giving it start to blur in unexpected ways.

Writer: Yahya Abouzeid

ITC: Prologue Productions   

Director: Yahya Abouzeid

Cast: Yahya Abouzeid, Mohamed Bassiouny, Khaled Hafez, Samaa Eltawil, Nada Hatem, Sandy Hany & Amr Shuman

7.  TEA FOR TERROR

Welcome to TTA - TeaTotallers Anonymous, a support group for recovering tea addicts. Today, a new member, Rebecca, joins the group. Will she be able to survive her first tea-free day?

Writer: Robert Luxford

Director: Kehkashan Anand

Cast: Anna-Maryam Faisal (Samantha), Brittany Wood (Rebecca), Glenn Atkinson (Tim), Livia Tavares Rodrigues (Kendra), Gabriela Ioana (Detective McQueen) & Keenan McFadzean (Uniformed Cop)

8. HULA HOPE

Through hula hoops and heartache, a young woman spins between love, loss, and the vastness of the universe.

Writer: Gaby Milky

ITC: Blinktonasia

Director: Ensemble

Cast: Sali the Faerie

9. CUBS WIN

Following the unexpected death of their beloved dentist, a die-hard Cubs fan, three gossipy friends gather to mourn and speculate. But as they delve into his life and their own, a chilling realization dawns: each woman harbors a secret that could make them the next subject of town gossip.

Writer: Marisa Smith

ITC: The American School of Dubai

Director: Melissa Dertian, Nicole Bryant, and Liz Strootman

Cast: Anandita Nevrekar (Aly), Suria Cramer (Becca), Tiantian Zhou (Coleen) & Zara Bhargava (Vicki)

10.  COUPLING*

A morning-after misunderstanding sparks a hilarious debate on intimacy, love, and modern relationships. As Carli and Dylan challenge each other’s beliefs, humor and vulnerability blur the lines—just a fling or something real?

Writer: Alan Brooks

Director: Priya Pinto

Cast: Harry Apostoleris (Dylan) & Jana Sabbagh (Carli)

11.  THE ACTOR’S VOW

In The Actors Vow, actors Victor and Maya reunite in a theater after fifteen years. As they reconnect, the stage is set once again for the games they still play.

Writer: Lydia De Souza

ITC: Cross Bronx Studio

Director: Sahar Ali

Cast: Meghana Dhawan (Maya) & Satya Baskaran (Victor)

1. THE LOOM OF FATE

Arachne challenges Athena to a weaving contest, but this time around she is not turned into a spider!

Writer: Ensemble

ITC: GEMS New Millennium School

Director: Ensemble

Cast: Saina Deep Richard (Arachne), Aiesha Aswaney (Thalia), Raj Jain (Doros), Zoha Mohammad (Eleni), Keith Dmello and Vihaan Chethan (Narrator), Karthika Kamalahasan (Athena), Faraaz Hameed (Zeus), Hansel D’silva (Apollo), Eashaan Roopesh (Poseidon), Samreen Sujith (Demeter) & Vivaan Shah (Leon)

2. THE RENTAL

A witty romantic comedy about Sonya, who wakes up to a surprise “boyfriend for a day.” Humor, romance, and self-discovery unfold in this charming theatrical experience.

Writer: Mark Harvey Levin

ITC: Mammals Theatre

Director: Mohamed Kasban

Cast: Ahmed Morsy (Harold) & Sara Selim (Sonya)

3. HALF-TIME

It’s half-time in a little league football game, and things are not looking good for the home team

Writer: Ensemble

ITC: Fresco Formation

Director: Ensemble

Cast: Ali Haydar Aytac (Jinson), Gemish Bhagchadani (Coach Dequavais), Emmy Dora Braun (Palesta), Zaki Dayekh (Griddy), Erin Naz Egeli (Simone), Fyodor Favretto (James), Yanvi Ragesh Jethwani (Coach Vinny), Daniel Krikunov (Minion), Isla Sareens (Leah), Sheona Sareens (Mia) & Maxim Zyryanov (Bob)

4. OFF SCRIPT

A light-hearted play about two actors attempting to resolve their creative differences…10 minutes before they're due onstage!

Writer: Gillian Rhodes

Director: Gillian Rhodes

Cast: Gillian Rhodes (Ginny) Manasi Goyal (Maddy)

5. SILENT TIES

Silent Ties explores family secrets and unexpected connections, as a visit between two friends uncovers a revelation that changes everything.

Writer: Ensemble

ITC: DIS Theatre Company

Director: Chelsie Hemmings

Cast: Joulina Hemsi (Sara Jones), Zuhair Noorani (Scott Kelly), Yasmin Al Ahmadi(Kate Kelly), Amaan Rizvi (Samuel Kelly), Savannah Michle (Young Kate (Katie)), Mohsin Kanji (Young Samuel Kelly), Ayla Al Idrissi (Social Worker), Katja D’Souza (Doctor), Martha Bourn (Olivia) & Anya Prouse (Jen)

6. THE CRAFT

A sharp comedy about two actors stuck in a play-within-a-play, whose inner monologues expose their frustration, turning a dramatic love scene into theatrical chaos.

Writer: Andrew Biss

ITC: Dubai Drama Group

Director: John Thekanady

Cast: Rami Ahmed (Actor 1) & Solène Anglaret  (Actor 2)

7.  THE BAG OF DREAMS

Six beggars discover a mysterious bag in a park, sparking dreams of escape—only to confront harsh truths, broken illusions, and the unyielding cycle of hope and despair.

Writer: Raneem Riman

ITC: The Junction Academy

Director: Raneem Riman

Cast: Peter (Salim), Rajiv (Farid), Ayira (Laila), Jankeh (Zed), Sudhir Syal (Omar) & Karthik (Hassan)

8. HAPPILY NEVER AFTER

Announcing to kids that parents are getting a divorce is an important family moment but navigating this with an immature dad, a sarcastic teen and an unconcerned kid is a hell of a story…

Writer: Pierre Maindivide

ITC: OhLaLa Theatre

Director: Pierre Maindivide

Cast: Manon Maindivide (Mia), Victoria Maindivide (June), Pierre Maindivide (Chris) & Wendy Xu (Natalie)

9. OLD SCHOOL, NEW SCHOOL: BOOMER LOGIC GEN-Z VIBES!

When a protective father learns his daughter is dating a rapper, a hilarious clash of egos ensues, igniting Gen Z v/s Millennial conflicts and chaos, thanks to his cringe-worthy past and a meddling Boomer grandmother.

Writer: Nihal M Sayed

Director: Nihal M Sayed

Cast: Sonni Chhabra (Grandmother/Daadi), Shilpa Sen (Pooja), Nishkka Paul (Ritu/Ritz), Mohamed Anas (DJ SMG) & Nihal M. Sayed (Vicky/Vikas)

10.  DEAREST CORY

Chaos and war surround Cory, who clings to the letters of his great love… but in a world falling apart, is that enough?

Writer: Raya Srikumar

ITC: Cross Bronx Studio

Director: Raya Srikumar

Cast: Alex Kizya (Cory) Romina Satvatmanesh (Topanga) & Sid Abbas (Shawn)

11.  A GOOD IDEA?

A writer who has just finished his big idea and couldn't be happier meets his friends along the way. Nothing could go wrong, right?

Writer: Amit Dhawan

ITC: TheONE Entertainment

Director: Amit Dhawan

Cast: Sandeep David (Writer), Kanishka Bhatia (Ashley), Jashan Achapaliya (Alex), Samarth Jaswani (Jock), Umair Syed (Daniel) & Varun Bhatia (Anonymous)

12.  CORPORATE MANIFESTWO

For Applicant 51AV3, a job rejection feels like a trial.

Writer: Gaby Milky

ITC: Blinktonasia

Director: Gaby Milky

Cast: Charbel Dahdouh (The Prosecutor), Nicholas Toubia (Applicant 51AV3), Razane Siblini (The Hiring Manager), Pascale Daher (The Judge) & Gaby Milky (The Bailiff)

1. ECHO CHAMBER (MARATHI)

The Joshi family is trapped—not by walls, but by algorithms. As social media dictates their lives, they struggle to disconnect, questioning what's real in a world ruled by curated truths.

Writer: Snehal Deshpande

ITC: Dhadakebaaz

Director: Vaibhav Pingale

Cast: Mrudula Ranade (Mrs. Joshi), Pradeep Daval (Mr. Joshi), Sayali Surve (Veda), Vaibhav Pingale (Tapan), Saurabh Ghadigaonkar (WhatsApp), Dr. Nitin Upadhye (Facebook), Aum Irwadkar (Instagram) & Abhijeet Ranade (AI Algorithm)

2. THE CUBE – المكعب (ARABIC)

Two men find themselves trapped in the middle of nowhere, haunted by the questions of when, where, and how. Torn between their will to live and their ability to survive, they must confront the unknown

Writer: Issa Daadaa

Director: Mahmoud Basioni

Cast: Tilad Al Kelani (Charachter 1), Zain Zouheir (Charachter 2), Kenana Shikh Othman (Soul 1) & Mohamad Jamal Tourkmani (Soul 2)

3. BEGUM JAAN (HINDI)

Story of a vivid, colourful woman whose glorious memories are preserved in the form of letters written to her by Maulana Azad and fiercely guarded by her.

Writer: Javed Siddiqi

ITC: Theatrewalas

Director: Ensemble

Cast: Mandeep Walia (Zarina), Sunil Jasuja (Sanjay) and Surabhi Bhardwaj (Begum Jaan)

4. Azrael's Deputy - نائب عزرائیل (ARABIC)

He was lost in nowhere and must complete a task as Azrael’s Deputy to get back to his normal

Writer: Mohamed El Shewy

ITC: Arabestic

Director: Mohamed El Shewy

Cast: Mina Sedky (Asaad), Mohamed El Shiwy (Azrael), Esraa Ali (Hanan), Mostafa Negm (Man in Street), Ahmed Negm (Uncle Saber) & Kaselia El Faham (Fatima)

5. PORKCHOP POLITICS (TAGALOG)

Full of sarcasm and mockery, three women of City Buwis-Buhay make a ridiculous joke of voting a pig for the upcoming mayoral election.

Writer: Rissy McGrath

Director: Rissy McGrath

Cast: Jennifer Castro (Nina), Jeremie Fortes (Amy), Trixie Balangao (Bella) & Jency Aves (Politician / TV Announcer)

6. KHANDAR (PUNJABI)

A street performer and his ailing wife grapple with love, illness and grief - like Adam and Eve, left to suffer on Earth.

Writer: Shah Fahad

ITC: Drama Ed Pakistan

Director: Shah Fahad

Cast: Nabeel Bin Shahid (Asif), Maryam Ahmad (Maryam) & Daniyal Nasir (The Narrator)

7.  THE ESCAPEES - الهاربون مؤقتا (ARABIC)

A child's story characters come to life, and he must control them before chaos erupts.

Writer: Tariq Abouzeid

ITC: Prologue Productions

Director: Ensemble

Cast: Yahya Abouzeid, Mohamed Bassiouny, Selim Bassiouny, Khaled Hafez, Samaa Eltawil, Nada Hatem, Sandy Hany & Amr Shuman

8. COMEDY OF HORRORS (MARATHI)

Three victims of online fraud meet atop a cliff, plotting revenge. But unexpected twists turn horror into hilarity in this situational comedy full of chaos, laughter, and unexpected life lessons.

Writer: Snehal Deshpande

ITC: Dhadakebaaz

Director: Snehal Deshpande

Cast: Gopal Gumaste (Mr.Bawle), Snehal Deshpande (Fraudster), Nemika Joshi (Distressed Girl), Rohan Sawant (Police) & Om Vadkhalkar (Gamer Boy)

9. RE-AGAIN (ARABIC)

Take a leap of faith. Try, do, show up, move...

Writer: Peter Ragai

ITC: Prologue Productions

Director: Peter Ragai

Cast: Peter Ragai, Rachel Cahil & Mariam Maali

10.  CHIPAK CHIPAK KE (HINDI)

A happy couple, an excited family and a tree? This love story is deeply rooted in Indian traditions (Pun intended).

Writer: Amit Dhawan

ITC: TheONE Entertainment

Director: Urvashi Jaswani

Cast: Amit Dhawan (Aadarsh), Urvashi Jaswani (Bua Lipa), Prachi Thakwani (Rupa), Nashmia Nadeem (Khushi), Varun Bhatia (Pandit G), Sandeep (Vinod) & Jenith (Rajesh)

11.  2 SILENT (ITALIAN)

Writer: Michela Contini & Franchesca Bizzari

ITC: Scalambra

Director: Michela Contini

Cast: Michela Contini & Franchesca Bizzari