Short+Sweet Theatre Dubai 2019

PLAYS IN RUNNING ORDER

1. MARRIAGE AND MONSTERS

This play is a perfect explanation for, "what happens inside a superhero's home is a mystery to civilians!" When in fact it is quite normal. Superheroes, Steve and Karen are working hard at saving their marriage while literally saving the world, perhaps even the galaxy!

Writer: Jamie Hughes (UK)

ITC: H72 Productions

Director: Gweys Soriano

Cast: Dee Gee and Gweys Soriano

2. ROUGH DEFINITION OF TRUTH

A Simple conversation between two people leads to revelation of secrets that neither of them expected.

Writer: Dian Neligan (Australia)

ITC: The Drama Galleries 

Director: Kunal Bhatia 

Cast: Lionel Mendonsa (Blake), Vaishali Balgu (Alexa)

3. PSYCHIC’S PREDICTION

They say death is unpredictable, Alex's psychic thinks otherwise.

Writer: Shifa Ahsan  (Pakistan)

ITC: Heriot Watt Drama Club

Director: Shifa Ahsan

Cast: TBD

 

4. MEMORY CARD

Cora and Carol, best friends suffering from dementia, are in an experimental memory care facility. Their memories come and go with downloads and deletions, but their friendship remains stalwart until a certain secret is revealed.

Writer : Connie Schindewolf (USA)

Director : Richa Anand Nigam

Cast : SaiLaxmi PS (Cora), Richa Anand Nigam (CarolL), Anjan Lahiri (Announcer)

5. THE ROLE OF DELLA

An eager young actress has her eye set on the role of Della, but can she convince a cold, sarcastic director that she's right for the part? A riveting and riotous look at the contemporary audition process, giving new meaning to the term "stealing a scene."

Writer: John Wooten (USA)

ITC: American School of Dubai

Directors: Gemma Jones, Shirley Thomson, Phil Ridley

Cast: Noor Chang (Elizabeth), Christina Azzi (Emma), TBD (Woman)

6. ANGELINA JOLIE IS STALKING ME

Angelina Jolie decides that it is time for some payback from her stalkers, and her target is an infertile couple. Will her presence help ignite their intimate life?

Writer: Stephanie Alison Walker (USA)

ITC: Dubai Drama Club

Director: DDC ensemble

Cast: Aaqeel Shariff (Colin), Apoorva Mehra (Malia), Nathalie Wehbe (Angelina Jolie)

7. CINDELLALA

“A new pair of shoes can change a girl’s life”, keeping the famous maxim of Cinderella’s story in mind; a middle class woman is out in the black market of Dubai to find a branded pair of shoes at a low price accompanied by a desperate shopkeeper in her journey.

Writer:  Asad Raza Khan, Shafaq Zehra (Pakistan)

ITC: Tall Tales productions

Director:   Asad Raza Khan & Shafaq Zehra

Cast: Neha Ajmal (cindellala), Saif khan (Shopkeeper) Sana Rizvi, Adnan Inayat and Areeba Khan (Singers, extras)

8. CHECKMATE

A harmless addiction or a passionate obsession? Penny likes to double check things!

Writer: Cerise De Gelder (Australia)

Director: Aradhita Basu

Cast: Aradhita Basu (Penny)

9. KINGDOM OF THE SPIDER

How far would you go to protect your children from the bad and from the good?

Writer: Nick Zagone (USA)

ITC: Dubai Drama Club

Director: DDC ensemble

Cast: Jeet Singh (Bob), Silvia Valentino (Black Widow), Ghada Al Khoury (Bible Girl)

10. THE ABYSS

Joseph, an airline pilot, is the lone survivor of a crash. After scraping by for 10 days, his co-pilot & friend (Gabriel) finally appears. But the Joseph Gabriel meets may not be the same Joseph he knew before the crash.

Writer: Akhil Kumar (INDIA)

ITC: H72 Productions

Director: Sid Abbas

Cast: Sid Abbas (Joseph), Ziyad Bangara (Gabriel)

PLAYS IN RUNING ORDER

1. THE PERKS OF BEING NICE!

Mr. Nice has been accused of, as his name suggests, being too nice. Two inspectors interrogate him and try to assimilate him into a society; where citizens are called ’Jerkfaces’. Do they succeed or does Mr. Nice prevail?

Writers: Daksh Tripathi, Siddhaarth Chakravarthy and Neeraj Nagarajan (India)

Director: Daksh Tripathi

ITC: Modern School Dubai

Cast:  Daksh Tripathi (Nice), Stuti Sawhney (Terry), Siddhaarth Chakravarthy (Jerry),  Neeraj Nagarajan (Hon'ble Jerk), Insia (Hon'ble Jerk)

2. THE TRAGEDY OF DOCTOR FAUSTUS

Pride took over intelligence, which brought Dr. Faustus to his knees however in vain. He thought, trading his soul and having his will came easy but in the end he lost both his pride and life.

Writer: Christopher Marlowe (UK)

ITC:  GEMS New Millenium School

Directors: Divya Joyce and Stella Laus

Cast: Abbas (Dr Faustus), Gautam (Mephistophiles), Dane (Good Angel), Ranya (Lucifer), Sunhari (Bad Angel), Meera (Narrator)

3. PASSIVE SMOKERS

The story revolves around the plight of women  working in beedi making (cigar rolling) factories and farms and their families.

Writer: Supriya and Milind Vinod ( India)

ITC: Sutradhar

Directors: Supriya and Milind 

Cast: Dr.Pallavi Baratake(Elderly Women), Pravin Attardey ( Contractor) ,Nitesh Ghodake( Bride groom), Sadia Pathan(Bride)

4. WORK!

Two men fight for an upcoming promotion, only to begin to wonder how much they're willing to give up to climb the corporate ladder.

Writer:  Mohamed Abid (Canada)

Director: Mohamed Abid

Cast: Ferris Elaraby (Johnny), Danyal Imraan Saleem (Boss), Mohamed Abid (Rob), Julia Bayoumi (Wife/Mother)

5. SPRITIUAL FRAUD

The story of a victim of racism and discrimination in his home land and imprisoned on an Island for life because he rejected the system, And now the life he is facing is an example of what happens when a men choose to stay rather than exile.

Writer: Xolisile W. Dolo (SA)

ITC: Mzansi Abroad

Director: Xolisile W. Dolo

Cast: Actor 1 (Xolisile W. Dolo)

6. PICK ME

A Dubaicentric job-hunting comedy.

Writer: Doug Mackay (UK)

Director: Sahajpal Oberoi

Cast: Pratik Bhatia (Neil Finlay), Bretta Bangera (Alexa Barantes), Nikhil Mittal (MM), Ryan D'Sa (Senior Manager), Shaina D'Souza (Mariam Harfoosh), Sonali Aswani (Poorvi Sen), Neilav SN (Anand Thomas), Sahajpal Oberoi (David Scales), Doug Mackay (Online CV template)

7. BLUE BENCH

An young boy sneaks backstage at dodgy travelling circus. He instead finds himself confronted by a haunting grotesque figure that will change his life forever, and learns the secrets of the BLUE BENCH.

Writer: Aleks Merilo (USA)

ITC: The Drama Galleries

Director: Asad Siddique

Cast: Aadi Patel (Youth), Benjamin Samuel (Faceless Man), Syed Shah Quadri (Ringmaster)

8.  SOMETHING HAPPENED

You can run as far as you like, but the past still catches up. When Anthea's busy schedule is interrupted by a shocking incident she is forced to stop running and face the truth - as hard as that may be.

Writer: Alex Broun (Australia)

Director: Caroline Hamren

Cast: Caroline Hamren

9. TIMESAVERS

He was her first customer, and time was their only transaction. A give and take that no 'time' saw coming. 

Writer:  Barry Wood (UK)

ITC: MacGyvers & Co

Directors: Saloni Mehta and Aashna Khemani

Cast: Aditi Nath, Saloni Mehta

1. EXPIRY DATE

Jim is getting dressed for his wedding. He is suddenly greeted by an uninvited guest who wants him to change his mind. Would he take his advice or would he go through with the wedding?

Writer: Madhurima Ray (India)

ITC: Drama Galleries

Director: Sarfaraz Ahmed

Cast:  Sikendar Hemani (Jim), Ahmad (Future Jim), Garima Himthani (Clara)

2. THE 6-DAY JOB

In the privacy of his therapist's office, the patient suffers an existential crisis stemming from his most renowned work. 

Writer: Dan O'Day (USA)

ITC: Thinking Couch Productions

Director: Ryan D’sa

Cast: Nikhil Mittal (The Therapist), Ryan D’sa (The Patient)

3. ORPHEUS

Through an unfortunate turn of events, the fates of street-smart Quinn and idealistic farm-boy Silvio became inextricably linked. Will they be able to bridge their differences and overcome the enormous obstacles that life has presented them?

Writer: Arzoo Malhotra (USA)

Director: Arzoo Malhotra

Cast: Farzana Palathingal (Quinn), Hamza Merchant (Silvio), Rami Boraie (Bus Ticket Teller), Vikas Rajput (Station Attendant)

4. 15 SECONDS

Things take an interesting and fun turn when two people make eye contact for the first time. 

Writer: Ken Levine (USA)

ITC: H72 Productions

Director: Monica Chatterjee

Cast: Monica Chatterjee (Laura), Piyush Harwani (Josh) 

5. MUM HAD SAID

The sound, smell & scene; all are familiar. The cries of help too. World's getting louder, sadder & dirtier. Terror is in our face. Everyone's running, screaming. But, does there lay an escape? Tomorrow, it could be us in her shoes.

Writer: Purva Grover (India)

Director: Kripa Kotriwala

Cast: Kripa Kotriwala (Child), Rashmi Kotriwala, (Mother )

6. MORE THAN A HEADSTONE

What would do when you lose someone? Each one has his way of coping. But some will take it too far

Writer: Julie Johnston (Canada)

ITC: Dubai Drama Club

Director: DDC ensemble

Cast: Marija Gregoric (Tess), Jeet Dhindsa (Jim), Sadiya Kazmi (Penny), Dina el Sehrawi (Rose)

7. THE PANEL

An idealist, a cynic, an opportunist and a poet discuss women's issues on a talk show. What could possibly go wrong?

Writer: Najwa Yassir (Canada/Palestine)

Director: Najwa Yassir

Cast: Ashleigh Adonis (Cherry), Nourah Almaiman (Hala), Khalid Bilal (Kareem K), Assyl Yacine (Abes), Hani Yakan (Sameer).

8. PRECIPICE

Two colleagues hang out on the edge of a ledge. Apart from finding out they might be in love with each other, what else do they let slip?

Writer: Alex Dremman (AUSTRALIA)

ITC: South Parade 

Director: Meghana Mundkur

Cast: Alina Islam (Sameera), Pranav Nasta (Arjun)

9. INDULGE ME

An angry, edgy teen having a bad day. A grumpy old cynical janitor whose perpetually rude and sarcastic. Both of them are free to leave the conversation at any point. Yet something holds them back.

Writer: Sid Abbas (UAE)

ITC: H72 Productions

Director: Roli Agrawal

Cast: Sid Abbas (Tony Brown), Soumya Mehta (Michelle Miller)

10. SAD AND GLAD

Jimmy loses his girl, but gains another

Writer: Neil Simon (USA)

ITC: American School of Dubai

Directors: Gemma Jones, Shirley Thomson, Phil Ridley

Cast: Jared Barney (Jimmy), Mayssa Mansour (Sandrine), Joelle Chalfoun (Villian)

1. THE MYSTICAL SELENA

A classic tale of a magicians rivalry, who will lose?

Writer: Amit Dhawan (India)

ITC: Heriot Watt Drama Club

Director: Amit Dhawan

Cast: Shifa Ahsan (Selena), Amit Dhawan (Derek), Anchala Prem (Angelica), Pavani (Bartender) 

2. I LIKE CHOCOLATE... IS THAT SO BAD?

A group of addicts attending rehab to help tame their addiction and talk about their experiences in group therapy, "Chocoholics Anonymous". 

Writer: Katie Lee (Australia)

ITC: Drama Galleries

Director: S. Aisha Atif

Cast: Prateek Suresh Devadiga (Josh), Ramzunsiha Andiyur (Leah), Syed Imad Quadri (Kevin), Niharika Chintakayal (Demi).

3. WHAT’S A LITTLE AXE BETWEEN FRIENDS

Just because your job is to execute someone it doesn't mean you can't be friends

Writer: Joe Starzyk (USA)

Director: Anna Yahn

Cast: Karan Sharma (Executioner) Majed AlZubaidi (Prisoner)

4. MATING

Love and Mating? There's no logic to these things. You meet someone and you fall in love and that's that.

Writer:  Edith Weiss (USA)

Director: Saif Khan

Cast: Medhat Mustafa, Carine Bouery

5. INVISIBLE THREADS

Connections between people can run deep and it is so profound the extent we would go to for someone we love. We only truly appreciate this when all distractions of life are removed. 

Writer:  Zainab Mashoor    (Sri-Lanka)

Director: Zainab Mashoor & Dilumi Dissanayake

Cast: Advait Kulkarni(Temba), Aadi Patel (Zamu), Iman Ameerzeb (Sage) 

6. TO JUMP FROM A BURNING BUILDING

Sally is in a coma after being hit by a car. She has watched her life disintegrate over the past year and no longer wants to live.

Writer: Pete Malicki (Australia)

Director: Jithin George

Cast: Abhay Singh Chawan ( Kyle), Aradhita Basu (Sally's Conciousness), Emily Thomas (Leila), Hina Khan ( Comatose body) Xec Mohsin (Nurse)

7.  SOUVENIR

An interrogation, where the leading question is not who the criminal is, but what is the crime that has been committed.

Writer: Siddharth Bala Kumar (India)

ITC: University of Wollongong in Dubai

Director: Siddharth Bala Kumar

Cast: Jainney Thakker (Marge), Karan Mehta (Nate), Arya Anil (Clarice D’Souza), Siddarth Shankar (Leonard)

8.  KILLING ME SOFTY

When a normal day at restaurant brings out hostile memories from the past, how far would you go to delight them. It's pay back time. Revenge is a dish best served COLD

Director: Tabassum Inamdar Writer : Tabassum Inamdar (Indian)

Cast: Sandeep George (Customer), Sonal Bhatnagar (Waitress), Tabassum Inamdar (Cook)

9. THERE’S ONE BORN EVERY MINUTE

What do we mean by the term psychopath? We have probably all met psychopaths and perhaps still know some today. But can we identify them, and is it even possible that they recognise themselves in that way? We doubt it.

Writer: Chris McDermott (UK)

Director: Greg Lunn

Cast: Chris McDermott (George), Greg Lunn (Eric/George’s father/Reporter/Judge)

1. ESCURIAL 

The story is about the extremely difficult relationship between the king and the jester. As the dying queen is agonizing, the two men, ignoring their ranks, face the crisis of their friendship. All this under the burden of the mourning.

Writer: Michel De Ghelderode (Belgium)

Language: Arabic

Director: Fady Zaky

Cast:  Fady Zaky (The King), Mody (The Jester Folial), Samar (News Presenter/Ring Girl)

2. CHENDAMELAM

When the village of Perungotukkara decides to bring back a festival that had been on hold for a few years, a conflict arises as a female elephant is used as the festival mascot. Tensions flare, accusations are made and sides are taken.  

Writer:  Johny Johnson & Subin Samuel (India)

Language: Malayalam

Director: Subin Samuel

Cast: Rahul Johnson (Ramesh), Jovin George (Toby), Krishna Shankar (Chairman), Nithin Antony (President), Rashmi Nair (Jalaja), Roby Oommen (Velichapadu), Preveen Kumar (Businessman), Kavya Shine (Event Management Crew), 

3. A KITE

An artist searching for answers in a competition knowing that crimes will be against the game. He searches for his freedom and decides to meet the audience before the competition starts asking "to act is to live? And to live is to act?"

Writer: Jihad Al Andary (Lebanon)

Language: Arabic

Director: Jihad Al Andary

Cast: Jihad Al Andary

4. URDU KI YAAD MEIN

"When Counselor  Sahib struggles to write his first speech the lady “Urdu” tries teaching him grammar through various characters. What ensues is a funny yet poignant story of how the beautiful language is being underutilized and ruined in the present times."

Writer:  Shafaq Zehra & M. Ali (Pakistan)

Language: Urdu

ITC: Szabist University

Director: Shafaq Zehra & M.Ali

Cast: Sania Saleem (urdu) Usama Zafar (Counselor sahib) Adnan Anayat (jama)Hanifa Arif (Wahid) Masood Gohar (Muzakar) Neha Ajmal and Faraz Hashim. (Ilfaz mutazad) Shafaq Zehra (Narrator)

5. TOBA TEK SINGH

A few years after the 1947 Indian partition, inmates of the mental asylums are to be exchanged as per the intellectuals of the society. There is confusion, laughter, tears and quest for a place called home. A satire by Manto.  

Writer: Saadat Hasan Manto (Pakistani)

Language: Urdu

ITC: Dawn Theatre Productions 

Director: Huda Bhaldar 

Cast: Tabassum Inamdar (Narrator), Syed Siddique (Narrator), Benjamin Samuel (Bhishan Singh), Saif Khan, Rahul Taneja, Pratik Bhatia, Lavina Dudani, Mandeep Walia, Naveen Goveas, Mohsin Sheikh, Azaz Malik.

6. MAIN BHI

The story of a middle class family trying to survive, during difficult and hostile economical environment, all around. An alternate  viewpoint on a recently focused social issue, under the effects of harsh realities of life.

Writer: Dr. Shailesh Upadhyay (India)

Language: Hindi

ITC: Theatrewallas

Director: Dr. Shailesh Upadhyay

Cast: Bhagyashree Chandan (Vani), Nidhi Rawal (Shanta Bai), Baby Aneri Rawal (Vacha), Vikram Sharma (Abbas), Pathik Dalal (Tej Pratap), Dinesh Balani (Tough Guy 1), Dushyant Barot (Tough Guy 2), Nilesh Patel (Tough Guy 3)

7. VIRTUAL REALITY

A story of every household, an old couple staying alone while their son stays abroad. The father attempts to create a VIRTUAL situation to console his wife. What awaits when REALITY clashes?

Writer: Pradipto Dutta (India)

Language: Bengali

Director: Pradipto Dutta & Shilpi Dutta

Cast:  Anindya Chattopadhyay (Parimal), Koyeli Banerjee (Purnima),  Pushan Sengupta (Asim), Lalpi Ghosh (Parul)

8. KALEIDOSCOPE

There are triggers for nostalgia. Anything that makes you travel back in a time machine. A mid aged woman stumbles upon one such thing. Like many different shapes through kaleidoscope her past unwinds taking us along down memory lane.

Writer: Prakash Kelkar (India)

Language: Marathi

Director: Nilesh Deshpande

Cast: Mugdha Dhomkar 

9. TRIDHA

A manager of a very successful band is in love with three women of his band - lyricists, composer and the Singer. Unable to decide who is the most creative of the lot he seeks guidance from a spiritual guru. Will he get his answers?

Writer:  Supriya and Milind Vinod (India)

Language: Marathi/Hindi/Urdu

Director: Supriya and Milind Vinod

Cast: Dr. Pallavi Baratakke(Varsha) Dr. Ketaki Wagh(Ketaki) Mallika Kilpady (Mallika), Shivraj Wagh (Meth),Pravin Atterday (Guru)

10. AAKHRI SAWARI

A perfect husband and father, tormented by a mysterious parcel he receives from an anonymous sender has to make a life-changing decision. He shares his problems with his cab driver who listens patiently and tries to help. What the cab driver offers changes both of their lives forever. 

Writer: Divyajoth Singh (India)

Language: Hindi

ITC: Theatrewallas

Director: Prakash Soni

Cast:  Prakash Soni (Passenger), Sunil Jasuja (Taxi Driver)

1. BHEDIA

Mr. H has taken shelter in a magical tree that provides everything he desires he is however tired and bored and wants to go down. However under the tree is a dangerous wolf who is waiting down to eat him and he does not have the required courage to kill the wolf.  

Writer: Farooq Sarwar (Pakistan)

Adapted by Prakash Soni

ITC: Theatrewallas

Director: Sunil Jasuja

Cast: Rahul Taneja

2. VIGILANTE

A mother has taken it upon herself to be the vigilante and she has good reasons for the same!

Writer: Paula Armstrong (Australia)

Language: English

Director: Huda Farid

Cast: Huda Farid

3. KEEPING ANNABELLE

A woman has been kidnapped and held captive in a dark basement. Only something has gone terribly wrong and her kidnapper is dangerously upset. A gripping dialogue between a kidnapper and a victim

Writer: Rachel Welsh (UK)

Language: English

ITC: H72 Productions

Director: H72 Ensemble

Cast: Monica Chatterjee (Victim), Somiya Mehta (Kidnapper)

4. AZADI

Imagine being born in paradise and losing your complete identity one day with nowhere to go. A tale of constant state of fear of human-mind living in a stateless world post aftermaths of war-torn nations.

Writer:  Karan Sharma (India) 

Language: Hindi

Director: Karan Sharma

Cast: Karan Sharma 

5. SURAJ MERA DUSHMAN

Writer:  Aisha Sheikh (Pakistan) 

Language: Urdu

Director: Aisha Sheikh

Cast: Aisha Sheikah

6. DEDH INCH UPAR

A common man living a simple married life was arrested by the Gestapo police on charges of carrying illegal chits. After 15 years, sitting in a Bar he takes a swing in past and through many beautiful memories, still searching answers.

Writer: Nirmal Verma (India)

Adapted by Prakash Soni

ITC: Theatrewallas

Director: Rahul Taneja

Cast: Sunil Jasuja

7. BLANK SLATE  

Two strangers clash at an art exhibition.

Writer: Daliya Habib (British-Pakistani)

Language: English

Director: Daliya Habib

Cast: Kasia Truscott (Samantha), Kristian Kolandjian (Dante)

8. ONE QUICK KISS

Were the 30 pieces of silver worth the life of an innocent man? Judas logs his final confession to the people for the terrible deed he has committed.

Writer: Shekinah Jacob (New Zealand)

Language: English

ITC: H72 Productions

Director: Rohit Prakash

Cast: Rohit Prakash

9. MAIN IK SHEHAR HOON

I am a street with no inhabitants. An exile with no beginning or end.

A home to the homeless. A path to the pathless.

A once upon a time to a happily ever after.

I am Life that lived making a living for all, but never once was I ever touched. Seen. Felt. Perhaps, I don't exist?

Writer: Durdana Farid (Pakistan)

Language: Urdu

Director: Lakshmn Rao

Cast: Lakshmn Rao

10. SUBHANRAO CHE SAIRAT

A landlord “Subhanrao” hilariously explains his experience to his villager’s friends after watching record-breaking Marathi movie “Sairat”.  

Writer: Nilesh Ghodke(India)

Language: Marathi

ITC: Sutradhar

Director: Nilesh Ghodke

Cast: Nilesh Ghodke

1. A GAME OF KNIGHTS

American detective fiction authors Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler meet TV novelist Jessica Fletcher in a bar late at night to discuss the state of writing in America.

Writer: Mattie Haag (USA)

Director: Robert Haag

Cast: Sarah Potter (Jessica Fletcher), Farouk Bilbeisi (Raymond Chandler), Robert Haag (Dashiell Hammett)

2. WALLS

An abstract look at generational barriers.

Writer: Lindsay Price (Canada)

ITC: American School of Dubai

Directors: Gemma Jones, Shirley Thompson, Phil Ridley

Cast: Andrew Kim (James), Amina Elmasry (Joan), Leya Samhoun (Jane), Joshua Antero (Jamie)

3. CUTTING TIES

The choices you make will change the lives of these five people. Good, bad, right wrong...it is all in your hands. What will you choose?

Writer: Shanthanu V. (India)

ITC: AndWeAre 

Director: Jesika Modi

Cast: Matthew Barros (Jason), Janine Fernandes (Rhea), Shanthanu Venugopal (Narrator), Sarah Barros(Sanya), Amrit Iyer (Rishi) 

4. RED IS THE BLOOD OF THE PEOPLE

A piece of Malaysia’s nation-building history, Red is the Blood of the People is an attempt to reopen the wounds of colonial trauma, to make sense of how power continues to operate in historical narratives, and to understand, as descendants of colonized bodies, why the ghosts of our ancestors will continue to haunt us.

Writer: Tzy Jiun Tan (Malaysia)

ITC: The Collective

Director: Ethan David Lee

Cast: Lily Khamizan (Ensemble), Jamie Gabrielle Uy (Ensemble), Ming Ee Tham (Ensemble)

5. I REMEMBER YOU

1 room, 2 strangers. How did they get here? What’s their story? Should they be this vulnerable with each other?

Writer:  Johnny Sumelj, Australia 

Director: Shreya Maheshwari

Cast: Dharam Veer Sood(Max), Mira Shah (Annabelle) Charmaine D’souza (Cameo)

6. SHAKESPEARE – A TOTALLY MODERN TEENAGER

The thought of studying Romeo and Juliet was daunting for Miss Noris’ middle-graders but with a bit of imagination, using their favourite film characters, the students find a way to spice up the play in unusual ways.

Writer: Ellen Abraham-Williams (UK)

ITC: Raha Interntional School.

Director: Baran Basimi

Cast: Adam Aly (Louis/Friar Lawrence), Grace Robinson (student/Juliet), Viri Pineiro (student/Juliet), Renata Sultangareeva (Mia), Zain Khan (Tyler/Paris), Advait Arya (student/Romeo), Amy Cooper (Miss Noris), Lara Saleh (Julz/Juliet), Ibrahim Rostron (Peter/Paris), Mohammed AlHammadi (student/Romeo)

7. PETTY CRIMES

Amber and troy are enjoying a good meal on the job; one of them has an important Qs to ask but their job gets in the way.

Writer: Albert Jamae (Australia)

ITC: H72 Productions

Director: Dee Gee

Cast: Dee Gee (Troy), Farzana Palathingal (Amber)

8. MONET MONET MONET

When a Monet goes missing from an art gallery wall, police question a mysterious woman in pink caught on surveillance video. But is what they see the truth or just an impression of it?

Writer: Paulene Turner (Australia)

ITC: Drama Galleries

Director: Sikendar Hemani

Assistant Director: Zahra Patanwala

Cast: Cambell Tennis (SGT BODIE CORRIGON ), Gabriela Loana (VYETTE MYRES), Vaishali Balgu (Constable MIA SPENCER) ,Shriya Anup (Lady in pink) ,Sarfaraz Ahmad (Security)

9. THE NEXT STATION IS…

When stuck between the confines of life and art; remember "The stage is not merely the meeting place of all the arts, but is also the return of art to life". Oscar Wilde

Writer: Nourah Almaiman (KSA/USA)

ITC: Nabratuha Productions

Director: Nourah Almaiman

Cast: Sai Lakshmi (Passenger 1), Pahal Samyani (Passenger 2), Richa Anand Nigam (Passenger 3), Yasmien Mahmoud Ibrahim (Passenger 4), Ashleigh Adonis (Passenger 5), Sunetra Gupta (Passenger 6), Chineme Prince (Passenger 7), Nourah Almaiman (Passenger 9), Xolisile Dolo (Passenger 10)

10. LIFE

(Improvised)

A fully improvised play in real time bringing the drama of everyday life to stage. The story, characters and location are all improvised on the spot based on audience suggestions.

Writer: Ensemble (Improvised)

ITC: The Human Lab

Director: Naser Al Sughaiyer

Cast: Gauri Chadha, Osama Farooqui, Ahmed Al-Fadil (No pre-planned characters, all improvised)

1. A WHITE CHRISTMAS

A family Christmas dinner does not go as planned as Luke tries to fix something with a help of a little magic powder.

Writer:  Anchala Prem  (India)

ITC: Heriot Watt Drama Club

Director: Anchala Prem

Cast: Amit Dhawan (Luke), Niharika Chintakayal (Alex), Tania Patel (Selena), Shifa Ahsan (Nikki), Lionel Mendonsa (Phil), Layba Syed (Violet).

2. MIND GAMES

A troubled man must face the demons of his past once and for all.

Writer: Lee Cordner(UK)

ITC: Paribhasha(Bits Pilani Dubai Campus)

Director:Zaid Aftab

Cast: Zaid Aftab(John),Paridhi Garg(Sharon)

3. PROJECT DEFECTUS

Four school kids visiting a scientist’s laboratory discover his secret dystopian project. Will the kids outsmart a devious man bent on trampling humanity or become victims of his machinations?

Writer: Tvisha Mehra (India)

Director: Tvisha Mehra

Cast:  Dr Atmosphere ( Amit Ghosh ), Daisy (Pahal Samyani),  Myra (Nandini Bhattacharya),Aidan (Aaditya Gandhi ), Zach (Aryan Anand) ,Guard ( Hrishikesh Kalyanaraman)

4. ONCE UPON A TIME

Seemingly mature Jack & Jill, irked by everyday problems of their fantasy land contemplate on finding solutions for themselves and for their friend Simple Simon. 

Writer:   Joe Bergin (Ireland)

Director: Chineme Prince, Hamza Merchant

Cast: Sunetra Gupta (Jill) , Hamza Merchant (Jack) , Chineme Prince (Simon)

5. FAIRIES

Cutting a fairy tree would bring bad luck they said. But her family never did cut any. Then why did her mommy go? 

Writer: Adam Szudrich (Australia)

Director: Anushka Agarwal

Cast: Anushka Agarwal

6. TO RUSSIA WITH LOVE

It is a normal day for Gert, the teller, at The One Horse Town Bank. A masked man enters to rob the bank but he is not prepared for the obstinacy and inflexibility of the bank employee.

Writer: Corey Case (USA)

Director: Viji Sashikant

Cast: Viji Shashikant (Gert), Pushan Sengupta (Stan), Hitesh Tailor (Tom)

7. FAVORS

So if the husband and the best friend ride the wave, should the wife/best friend pay for the favor?

Writer: Julianne Homokay (USA)

ITC: Dubai Drama Club

Director: DDC group directing

Cast: Sadiya Kazmi (Pennie), Soni Chhabra (Allison)

8. A WOMB WITH A VIEW

It was time for yet another new kid to leave to her nest; but will she ever be prepared for what lies ahead? A story of a womb, from a different view. 

Writer:  Rich Orloff (USA)

ITC: MacGyvers and Co.

Director: Aditi Nath

Cast: Mira Dabhi (Supervisor), Joanna Sequeira (New Kid), Vidhi Bali (Assistant A), Aashna Khemani (Technician) & Aditi Nath (Assistant B)

9.

THE INTERROGATION ROOM

Set in a not-so-distant dystopian future, an investigative journalist, Raymond, finds himself lost in a quagmire of political intrigue as he is interrogated by the seasoned Officer Becket.

Writer: Sheldon John Dias (India)

Director: Sheldon John Dias

Music: David McCrahan

Cast: Eben Thomas (Officer S. Becket), Ron Thomas (Raymond Williams), Angeleena Joy (Mercy)

10. IT’S (NOT) MY BIRTHDAY

Writer:  Andrea Fergon (Country?)

Director: Andrea Fergon

Cast: Andrea Fergon

1.  BOYFRIEND 2.0

Two weeks after their break-up Daniel goes back to talk to Hayley and learns he's been replaced by a shiny new model boyfriend. Who will she choose? Her decision will affect the future of humankind. Only love can save us.

Writer: Paulene Turner (Australia)

Language: English

ITC: Short+Sweet Acting Group

Director: Samuel Marcos

Cast: Samuel Marcos (Daniel) , Naser Al Sughaiyer (Clark), Larissa Massih (Hayley)

2. THE SNOW ANGEL OF ANTARTICA          

A sisters journey to different parts of the world with her brother.

Writer: Vicki Connerty (UK)

Director: Priyanka Geriya

Cast: Priyanka Geriya

3. SAY NOTHING

A brief indiscretion prompts a conversation that will change both of their lives

Adaptation of Ne Dis Rien

Writer: Philippe Caure (France)

Director: Joelle Thomas

Cast: Emmanuel Brechard (Him), Joelle Thomas (Her)

4. A GLITCH IN TIME SAVES…

A timeless story of a quest for romance, or something like that...well, nothing like that. But hey, it's got a Time Machine, a particularly well-dressed gentleman, a particularly grumpy gentleman and some other shenanigans.

Writer: Johny Johnson & Sahil Hameed (India)

Director: Johny Johnson

Cast: Paurav Shah (Justin), Yash Bhardwaj (Mark), Keerthan Ganesh (Bartender), Ramya Bala (Delilah)

5. STAR POWER

A visit from a stranger regarding an overdue bill creates a galactic headache for Jeffrey.

Writer: Ted Wenskus (USA)

Director: Akanksha Goenka

ITC: H72 Productions

Cast: Ziyad Bangara (Jeffrey), Abbas Daruwala (Llyod), Rohit Prakash/Ahmed Syed (Martin)

6. THEATRE IN THE RED

An enthusiastic playwright looking for her script to be produced by a theatre is about to meet the veteran stingy owner of that Theatre. Is it going be so easy?

Writer: Joan Broadman (USA)

Director: Satyen Chandiramani

ITC: Tall Tales Productions

Cast: Malavika Varadhan (Marilyn), Hananah Zaheer (Jill)

7. FROG LOVES CHRISTY

So if the princess kisses the frog he becomes a prince, will she stay a princess?

Writer: Ann Wuehler (USA)

ITC: Dubai Drama Club

Director: DDC Ensemble

Cast: Marija Gregoric (Frog), Natalie Wehbe (Christy)

8. STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

There is a 72 % chance you might meet your compatible life partner in a Doctor’s office – Statistically Speaking!

Writer: John Gould (Australia)

Director: Pranav Nasta & Gabriela Porojan

Cast: Gabriela Porojan (Stephanie), Pranav Nasta (Milton)

9. BEST SERVED COLD

As a food critic ponders on a particularly unpalatable plate of potatoes, a mash-up of memories serves to remind him of the insipid indulgence that life has become.

Writer: Alan Robinson (U.K.)

ITC: H72 Productions

Director: Jaidev Sanketi

Cast: Paurav Shah (Reginald), Neha Kalvani (Waitress)

10. PLAYGROUND

The Playground. A place where kids play - and adults are not allowed. What could go wrong? Plenty!

Writer: Devised by the Company

ITC: Short+Sweet Acting Group

Director: Alex Broun

Cast: Somaya Abuelazm, Anushka Agarwal, Anam Ahmad, Larissa Al Massih, Sonal Bhatnagar, Carole Binbrek, John Buck, Caroline Hamren, Lara K, Kimberley Kovhiwa, Samuel Marcos, Devina Pande, Naser Al Sughaiyer, Alexandra Suvorova, Philipp Tachas, Nabeeha Zafar, 

1. THE POPSICLE BOY

The story is an adaptation of old folk tale Gingerbread men where the popsicle boy comes to life and starts his adventure.

Story based on Ginger Bread Man

ITC: GEMS Modern Academy

Director: School Ensemble

Cast: Myra Agarwal (Popsicle Boy), Baby - Ronit Rathi (Baby), Ihina Audhya (Jumping Rope Girl), Ayanah Chaudhry (Dog), Rayan Jamadar (Boy on Bike), Pari Bisht (Narrator), Manas Jain (Narrator)

2. FINAL CONSULTATION

Jack has been cured by Dr. Hakim. But of what? And in which life?

Writer: John Buck (UK)        

ITC: Short & Sweet Acting group

Director: John Buck

Cast: John Buck (Jack Young), Somaya Abu Elazm (Dr. Hakim), Gordon David (Male Nurse)

3. ROSIE THE RETIRED ROCKETTE 

If you are blinded by the light? And deserted by time? What would be left from your memories.

Writer: Daniel Guyton (USA)

ITC: Dubai Drama Club

Director: DDC group directing

Cast: Soni Chhabra (Rosie), Ghada el Kkhoury (Dawn), Apoorva Mehra (Christie), Fatiha Embakir (Ella)

4. EXCEPTIONAL

One woman delicately negotiates the subconscious prejudices that underline our interpersonal relationships, questioning the barriers between exception and exceptional.

Writer: Sahar Ali (Ireland)

Director: Sahar Ali

Cast: Sahar Ali

5. WORDS – SPOKEN, UNSPOKEN

Words. Words. This groundbreaking monologue is about words. Speaking the unspoken. Speaking the spoken. Speaking about violence against women because the story of women is the story of life itself.

Writer: Carol Michele Kaplan (UK)

Adapted & Designed by Prakash Soni

ITC: Theatrewallas

Director: Mandip Walia

Cast: Mandeep Walia

6. BIRTH OF AN ADVERT

Ad guys always find a way to entertain. A brainstorm session for the pitch of a product that some might find absurd; three ideas and a boss. Whose idea will you pick?

Writer: Kajal Naidu (Australia)

ITC: Short+Sweet Acting Group

Director: Ensemble

Cast: Anam Ahmad (The Boss), Nabeeha Zafar (Olivia) , Devina Pande (Anna), Kimberley Kovhiwa (Martha)

7. TO BE OR NOT TO BE

Once a popular stage actor now despises the drama industry; Banquo is challenged by his own blood when his daughter joins a drama group. As the curtain raises again in their lives their fate remains an intrigue. To be? Or not to be?

Writer: Deepanjan Banerjee (India)

Director: Pradipto Dutta & Dipanjan Banerjee 

Cast:  Amit Vikram Ghosh, Nandini Chatterjee, Shilpi Dutta

8. RESPONSIBLE

A married couple, a sweater, and a responsible stranger who is about to miss a flight

Writer: Bara Swain (USA)

ITC: Short+Sweet Acting Group

Director: Ensemble

Cast:  Philipp Tachas (Louis), Alexandra Suvorova (Jillian), Constanze (Dora ).

9. THE PROMISE OF YOU

A woman explains to her best friend and former boyfriend why she no longer accepts his fairy tales about their past love story.

Writer:  Daniel Martine (USA)        

Language: English

Director: Sarah Sailor 

Cast: Elsa Pottier

PLAYS NOT IN RUNNING ORDER

CINDELLALA (Winner Top 50 Week 1)

“A new pair of shoes can change a girl’s life”, keeping the famous maxim of Cinderella’s story in mind; a middle class woman is out in the black market of Dubai to find a branded pair of shoes at a low price accompanied by a desperate shopkeeper in her journey.

Writer:  Asad Raza Khan, Shafaq Zehra (Pakistan)

ITC: Tall Tales productions

Director:   Asad Raza Khan & Shafaq Zehra

Cast: Neha Ajmal (cindellala), Saif khan (Shopkeeper) Sana Rizvi, Adnan Inayat and Areeba Khan (Singers, extras)

PASSIVE SMOKERS (Winner Wildcards Week 1)

The story revolves around the plight of women  working in beedi making (cigar rolling) factories and farms and their families.

Writer: Supriya and Milind Vinod ( India)

ITC: Sutradhar

Directors: Supriya and Milind 

Cast: Dr.Pallavi Baratake(Elderly Women), Pravin Attardey ( Contractor) ,Nitesh Ghodake( Bride groom), Sadia Pathan(Bride)

MUM HAD SAID (Winner Top 50 Week 2)

The sound, smell & scene; all are familiar. The cries of help too. World's getting louder, sadder & dirtier. Terror is in our face. Everyone's running, screaming. But, does there lay an escape? Tomorrow, it could be us in her shoes.

Writer: Purva Grover (India)

Director: Kripa Kotriwala

Cast: Kripa Kotriwala (Child), Rashmi Kotriwala, (Mother )

INVISIBLE THREADS (Winner Wildcards Week 2) 

Connections between people can run deep and it is so profound the extent we would go to for someone we love. We only truly appreciate this when all distractions of life are removed. 

Writer:  Zainab Mashoor    (Sri-Lanka)

Director: Zainab Mashoor & Dilumi Dissanayake

Cast: Advait Kulkarni(Temba), Aadi Patel (Zamu), Iman Ameerzeb (Sage) 

URDU KI YAAD MEIN (Winner Top 50 Week 3)

"When Counselor  Sahib struggles to write his first speech the lady “Urdu” tries teaching him grammar through various characters. What ensues is a funny yet poignant story of how the beautiful language is being underutilized and ruined in the present times."

Writer:  Shafaq Zehra & M. Ali (Pakistan)

Language: Urdu

ITC: Szabist University

Director: Shafaq Zehra & M.Ali

Cast: Sania Saleem (urdu) Usama Zafar (Counselor sahib) Adnan Anayat (jama)Hanifa Arif (Wahid) Masood Gohar (Muzakar) Neha Ajmal and Faraz Hashim. (Ilfaz mutazad) Shafaq Zehra (Narrator)

BLANK SLATE  (Winner Wildcards Week 3)

Two strangers clash at an art exhibition.

Writer: Daliya Habib (British-Pakistani)

Language: English

Director: Daliya Habib

Cast: Kasia Truscott (Samantha), Kristian Kolandjian (Dante)

SHAKESPEARE – A TOTALLY MODERN TEENAGER (Winner Top 50 Week 4)

The thought of studying Romeo and Juliet was daunting for Miss Noris’ middle-graders but with a bit of imagination, using their favourite film characters, the students find a way to spice up the play in unusual ways.

Writer: Ellen Abraham-Williams (UK)

ITC: Raha International School.

Director: Baran Basimi

Cast: Adam Aly (Louis/Friar Lawrence), Grace Robinson (student/Juliet), Viri Pineiro (student/Juliet), Renata Sultangareeva (Mia), Zain Khan (Tyler/Paris), Advait Arya (student/Romeo), Amy Cooper (Miss Noris), Lara Saleh (Julz/Juliet), Ibrahim Rostron (Peter/Paris), Mohammed AlHammadi (student/Romeo)

FAVORS (Winner Wildcards Week 4)

So if the husband and the best friend ride the wave, should the wife/best friend pay for the favor?

Writer: Julianne Homokay (USA)

ITC: Dubai Drama Club

Director: DDC group directing

Cast: Sadiya Kazmi (Pennie), Soni Chhabra (Allison)

SAY NOTHING

A brief indiscretion prompts a conversation that will change both of their lives

Adaptation of Ne Dis Rien

Writer: Philippe Caure (France)

Director: Joelle Thomas

Cast: Emmanuel Brechard (Him), Joelle Thomas (Her)

TO BE OR NOT TO BE

Once a popular stage actor now despises the drama industry; Banquo is challenged by his own blood when his daughter joins a drama group. As the curtain raises again in their lives their fate remains an intrigue. To be? Or not to be?

Writer: Deepanjan Banerjee (India)

Director: Pradipto Dutta & Dipanjan Banerjee 

Cast:  Amit Vikram Ghosh, Nandini Chatterjee, Shilpi Dutta

PLAYS NOT IN RUNNING ORDER

CHECKMATE (Runner Up Top 50 Week 1) 

A harmless addiction or a passionate obsession? Penny likes to double check things!

Writer: Cerise De Gelder (Australia)

Director: Aradhita Basu

Cast: Aradhita Basu (Penny)

TIMESAVERS (Winner Wildcards Week 1)

He was her first customer, and time was their only transaction. A give and take that no 'time' saw coming. 

Writer:  Barry Wood (UK)

ITC: MacGyvers & Co

Directors: Saloni Mehta and Aashna Khemani

Cast: Aditi Nath, Saloni Mehta

INDULGE ME (Runner Up Top 50 Week 2)

An angry, edgy teen having a bad day. A grumpy old cynical janitor whose perpetually rude and sarcastic. Both of them are free to leave the conversation at any point. Yet something holds them back.

Writer: Sid Abbas (UAE)

ITC: H72 Productions

Director: Roli Agrawal

Cast: Sid Abbas (Tony Brown), Soumya Mehta (Michelle Miller)

WHAT’S A LITTLE AXE BETWEEN FRIENDS (Winner Wildcards Week 2) 

Just because your job is to execute someone it doesn't mean you can't be friends

Writer: Joe Starzyk (USA)

Director: Anna Yahn

Cast: Karan Sharma (Executioner) Majed AlZubaidi (Prisoner)

KALEIDOSCOPE (Runner Up Top 50 Week 3)

There are triggers for nostalgia. Anything that makes you travel back in a time machine. A mid aged woman stumbles upon one such thing. Like many different shapes through kaleidoscope her past unwinds taking us along down memory lane.

Writer: Prakash Kelkar (India)

Language: Marathi

Director: Nilesh Deshpande

Cast: Mugdha Dhomkar 

KEEPING ANNABELLE (Winner Wildcards Week 3)

A woman has been kidnapped and held captive in a dark basement. Only something has gone terribly wrong and her kidnapper is dangerously upset. A gripping dialogue between a kidnapper and a victim

Writer: Rachel Welsh (UK)

Language: English

ITC: H72 Productions

Director: H72 Ensemble

Cast: Monica Chatterjee (Victim), Somiya Mehta (Kidnapper)

DEDH INCH UPAR (Winner Wildcards Week 3)

A common man living a simple married life was arrested by the Gestapo police on charges of carrying illegal chits. After 15 years, sitting in a Bar he takes a swing in past and through many beautiful memories, still searching answers.

Writer: Nirmal Verma (India)

Adapted by Prakash Soni

ITC: Theatrewallas

Director: Rahul Taneja

Cast: Sunil Jasuja

RED IS THE BLOOD OF THE PEOPLE (Runner Up Top 50 Week 4)

A piece of Malaysia’s nation-building history, Red is the Blood of the People is an attempt to reopen the wounds of colonial trauma, to make sense of how power continues to operate in historical narratives and to understand, as descendants of colonized bodies, why the ghosts of our ancestors will continue to haunt us.

Writer: Tzy Jiun Tan (Malaysia)

ITC: The Collective

Director: Ethan David Lee

Cast: Lily Khamizan (Ensemble), Jamie Gabrielle Uy (Ensemble), Ming Ee Tham (Ensemble)

ONCE UPON A TIME (Winner Wildcards Week 4)

Seemingly mature Jack & Jill, irked by everyday problems of their fantasy land contemplate on finding solutions for themselves and for their friend Simple Simon. 

Writer:   Joe Bergin (Ireland)

Director: Chineme Prince, Hamza Merchant

Cast: Sunetra Gupta (Jill), Hamza Merchant (Jack), Chineme Prince (Simon)

A GLITCH IN TIME SAVES…

A timeless story of a quest for romance, or something like that...well, nothing like that. But hey, it's got a Time Machine, a particularly well-dressed gentleman, a particularly grumpy gentleman and some other shenanigans.

Writer: Johny Johnson & Sahil Hameed (India)

Director: Johny Johnson

Cast: Paurav Shah (Justin), Yash Bhardwaj (Mark), Keerthan Ganesh (Bartender), Ramya Bala (Delilah)

EXCEPTIONAL

One woman delicately negotiates the subconscious prejudices that underline our interpersonal relationships, questioning the barriers between exception and exceptional.

Writer: Sahar Ali (Ireland)

Director: Sahar Ali

Cast: Sahar Ali

PLAYS NOT IN RUNING ORDER

THE ROLE OF DELLA (Winner Top 50 Week 1) 

An eager young actress has her eye set on the role of Della, but can she convince a cold, sarcastic director that she's right for the part? A riveting and riotous look at the contemporary audition process, giving new meaning to the term "stealing a scene."

Writer: John Wooten (USA)

ITC: American School of Dubai

Directors: Gemma Jones, Shirley Thomson, Phil Ridley

Cast: Noor Chang (Elizabeth), Christina Azzi (Emma), TBD (Woman)

THE PANEL (Winner Top 50 Week 2)

An idealist, a cynic, an opportunist and a poet discuss women's issues on a talk show. What could possibly go wrong?

Writer: Najwa Yassir (Canada/Palestine)

Director: Najwa Yassir

Cast: Ashleigh Adonis (Cherry), Nourah Almaiman (Hala), Khalid Bilal (Kareem K), Assyl Yacine (Abes), Hani Yakan (Sameer).

A KITE

An artist searching for answers in a competition knowing that crimes will be against the game. He searches for his freedom and decides to meet the audience before the competition starts asking "to act is to live? And to live is to act?"

Writer: Jihad Al Andary (Lebanon)

Language: Arabic

Director: Jihad Al Andary

Cast: Jihad Al Andary

PETTY CRIMES

Amber and troy are enjoying a good meal on the job; one of them has an important Qs to ask but their job gets in the way.

Writer: Albert Jamae (Australia)

ITC: H72 Productions

Director: Dee Gee

Cast: Dee Gee (Troy), Farzana Palathingal (Amber)

STAR POWER

A visit from a stranger regarding an overdue bill creates a galactic headache for Jeffrey.

Writer: Ted Wenskus (USA)

Director: Akanksha Goenka

ITC: H72 Productions

Cast: Ziyad Bangara (Jeffrey), Abbas Daruwala (Llyod), Rohit Prakash/Ahmed Syed (Martin)