Short+Sweet Theatre Dubai 2016

TOP 40

VENUE: THE JUNCTION, AL SERKAL AVENUE

TOP 40 Week 1 7.30 pm Fri Feb 3 and Sat Feb 4

TOP 40 Week 2 7.30 pm Fri Feb 10 and Sat Feb 11

TOP 40 Week 3 7.30 pm Fri Feb 17 and Sat Feb 18

TOP 40 Week 4 3 pm and 8pm Fri 24 Feb

WILDCARDS

VENUE: THE JUNCTION, AL SERKAL AVENUE

Wildcards 1 2.30 pm Sat Feb 4

Wildcards 2 2.30 pm Sat Feb 11

Wildcards 3 2.30 pm Sat Feb 18

WILDCARDS FINAL

VENUE: THE JUNCTION, AL SERKAL AVENUE

3 pm Saturday 25 February 

PEOPLE’S CHOICE FINAL

VENUE: THE JUNCTION, AL SERKAL AVENUE

8 pm Saturday 25 February

RED CARPET GALA FINAL

VENUE: THE MADINAT THEATRE, MADINAT JUMEIRAH

7 pm Friday 10 March

TOP 40 Week 1 7.30 pm Fri Feb 3 and Sat Feb 4

Note - plays are listed in running order

1. Smile for the Camera

Writer: Akshay Gehi (India/UAE) Director: Sikendar Hemani  ITC: Drama Galleries

Cast : Abraham Vaddakan (Raulph), Siddhant Singla (Ben), Syed Imad (Henry), Benjamin Samuel (John), Sanket Pathare (Barman)

After a long hard day at work, four miners decide to go drinking at an old bar suggested by their young new colleague. Watch out what happens when this tough lot loosens up to smile for the camera.

2: Killing Bambi

Writer: Lori Siekmann (USA)  Director: Aaqeel Shariff   ITC: Aish Outt Productions

Cast: Rohit Menon (Tom) Marija Gregoric (Beth)
Beth hates to drive Tom around and to add to her woes, Bambi comes along to spoil the party..... good lord…is he in trouble?

3. The Renaissance

Writer: Nilesh Deshpande (India/UAE) Director: Nilesh Deshpande Music & Lights: Neil  ITC: Natakwale

Cast: Advait, Aishwarya, Anvay, Aryan, Atharva, Dhruv, Ishaan, Saie, Srushti, Vedant, Yash

If people are trying to bully you and bring you down, you can either fight back or win them over with your kindness and helpfulness. The story of a 14 yr old boy who overcomes his problems and emerges victorious.

4. Auction

Writer: Peri Desai (Iceland/India/UAE)  Director: Peri Desai

Cast: Marie Dullaghan (Anna), Frank Dullaghan (Auctioneer)

Learn Anna’s story through the things she is selling today.

5. Murder by Midnight

Writer: Jeff Goode (USA) Directors: Aida Laubach and Lisa Harter   ITC: ASD Adult Theatre

Cast: Kristopher Williams (Dick Piston, hotel detective), Nadine Kabbani (Woman), Mark Schmidt (Bellhop)

Hotel detective Dick Piston has less than ten minutes to solve the brutal murder of a regular hotel guest or risk losing her case to the day shift. A ten-minute mystery.

6. Her 70th Birthday

Writer: Farheen Khan (UK/UAE) Director: Farheen Khan ITC: Orb Theatricals

Cast: Kuv Sharma (Tommy), Hiba Khan (Melanie), George Ansatasiades (Ryan), Justin Cipriano (Alan), Ruth Badley (Aunt B)

It's her 70th birthday, a time to celebrate her life with family and friends. Or is it? A story full of family drama, long lasting feuds and revelations. 

7. Checkmate

Writer: CJ Single (UK/UAE)  Director: CJ Single   ITC: Dubai Drama Group

Cast: Karl Lewisham (Robert), Adam Hackney (Sergei)

Two Chess players face off for one final contest. They've played this game many times before, but this time the stakes are higher than they can possibly imagine.

8. The Flowers

Writer: Pete Malicki (Australia) Director: Sabiha Majgaonkar ITC: Orb Theatricals

Cast: Joelle Thomas (Sam)

Sam is a walking disaster – for others. But there is something that doesn’t get affected by her cursed presence. Will this change the course of her life or is she doomed to be unbreakable but alone?

9. A Very Brief Encounter

Writer: Suzy Wilds (Australia)  Director: Osman Aboubakr   ITC: H72 Productions

Cast: Ramya Bala (Nisha), Jennifer Mauerhofer (Jo)

Life is a long a winding road

10. The Detective

Writer: Ritesh Soni  Director: Wayne Dorsey  ITC: Upstage Entertainment

Cast: Tashia Dorsey (Gerri), James Kinnard (Walter), Sandy Buckner (Anne), Kyla Dorsey (Madame Ose)

A woman suspects her husband’s suicide is actually a murder.  Without help from the police, she decides to hire two private detectives who have an unique way of solving crimes.

Wildcard Week 1 2.30 pm Sat Feb 4

Note - plays are listed in running order

1. Adopt or What?

Writer: Zakaia Cvitanovich & Sanoop Dinesh (Abu Dhabi)  Director: Sanoop Dinesh  ITC: Beyond the Veil

Cast: Ro Gilbert (Advika) and Sanoop Dinesh (Samar)

A couple, under tremendous pressure to procreate, discuss alternative ways of starting a family. But will their parents agree? Are they even ready to have a family?

2. Enjoy!

Writer: Pamela Western (Australia)  Director: Mara Carpencu Pop

Cast: Prithvi Nikhil Lopez (Waiter), Ahmed Syed (Jack), Preethi Vijayakumar (Alice)

Jack and Alice, about to split up, are in a trendy restaurant. They never actually get around to eating, or talking about their relationship, because an over enthusiastic waiter keeps interrupting them. 

3. Objectum Sexuality

Writer: Ron Burch (USA)  Director: Syeda Aisha Atif   ITC: Heriot-Watt University

Cast: Ram Sridhar (Dr. Santos), Syeda Aisha Atif (Ash)

Love comes in all shapes and sizes, in humans and in animals; But do we have the final definition of the word love? What is normal in love? Is love even normal?

4. The Lady and "The Tyger" or William Blake's "How I Met Your Mother"

Writer: Trace Crawford  Director: by the ensemble, with music by Majd Qasem   ITC: The American University in Dubai Theatre Society

Cast: Rasheed Hattab (Man) Anahit Tshughurya (Woman) Majd Qasem (Busker)

How do you meet a nice guy these days? Go online? Smile politely across a crowded room at a party? Or maybe you run towards him, screaming like crazy...

5.  Masochism Tango

Writer: Bruce Kane (USA)  Director: Vaishali Balgu   ITC: Drama Galleries

Cast: Sikendar Hemani (Ted) & Nisha bajaria (Babara)

Romance and commitment get turned inside out when two emotional masochists form a relationship based on mutual rejection featuring one man and one woman.

6. The Re-birth of a Pre-menopausal Widow

Writer: Tashia Dorsey  (USA/UAE) Director: Tashia Dorsey   ITC: Upstage Entertainment

Cast: Tashia Dorsey (The PM Widow)

The Pre-Menopausal Widow was reborn out of the suspicious and untimely death of her husband. Empowered by tragedy she builds a media empire empowering other women to soar like eagles.

7. No More Mr Nice Guy

Writer: Jonathan Rand (USA) Director: Gemma Taylor, Courtney Bennett, Phil Ridley  ITC: ASD

Cast: Tuana Fayyad (Detective Kimball) Hayden Leever (Detective Mills), Austin Turner (Sheldon), Wyatt Sage (Cop), Alizeh Habib (Cop)

Sheldon is the nicest guy in town but unfortunately by law this town prohibits being a nice guy. Will a crash course from a pair of local police detectives and a very special specialist, help him learn to be a jerk fast enough to stay out of prison?

8. When Babies Fly

Writer: Steve Korbar (USA)  Director: Preethi Vijayakumar

Cast: Mara Carpencu Pop (Susan), Prithvi Nikhil Lopez (Sean)

On a red eye flight from Dubai to London, a screaming child prompts a couple to find romantic attraction through their mutual dislike of children. If you've ever been on a flight with crying babies (who hasn't?!), this play will ring a bell.

9. A Foolish Boy

Writer: Beth Graham and Daniela Vlaskalic (Canada)  Director: Stephen Delano   ITC: Maplewood International School

Cast: Aryaan Ahmed, Safwan Khan, Omar Wehbe, Abdulla El Hage, Yaser Alkahlout, Hayder Abbas Hamad

Several actors retell a hilarious Serbian folk tale. Or is it Scottish? Italian? Or could it just be….Canadian?

TOP 40 Week 2 7.30 pm Fri Feb 10 and Sat Feb 11

Note - plays are listed in running order

1. Next

Writer: Jesse Macpherson (Canada/UAE) Director: Ryan D'sa   ITC: Orb Theatricals

Cast: Ryan D’sa (Director)  Nikhil Mittal (Writer) Joseph Peter (Thomas Johnson) Chris  McDermott (Boss)  Mara Carpencu Pop (Nancy) Hamza Merchant (Jean-Marc Garneux) Yash Bhardwaj (Gary Bent) Hazel Lucas (Nancy’s Mother)

The troupe have been rehearsing and preparing endlessly for their play, but every actor has their own agenda.

2. I Was There

Writer: Sam Guzman (USA) Director: Gemma Taylor, Courtney Bennett, Phil Ridley   ITC: ASD Student Theatre

Cast: Dania Abdul Rahman (Elizabeth) Seth McKenzie Cheer (Greg) Shahryar Hasnani (Aaron) Cyrstal Goh Rawding (Kristen) Anya Singh (Lauren) Kaan Akkaya (DJ) Megan Gupta (Becca) Amina Elmasry (Emily)

A group of students recount the intimate and horrific details of a school shooting. It’s a haunting examination told through a series of monologues about what leads someone to take the lives of their fellow students, and how those who survive cope with the tragedy.

3. Curtain Call

Writer: Seán Ó Súilleabháin (Ireland/UAE) Director: Seán Ó Súilleabháin

Cast: Campbell Tennis (Krapp)  Lucy McFeely (Nurse) Johnny Dillon (Lear)

An old actor’s last few moments on his death bed. Nobody has come to see him apart from two mysterious visitors from his past.

4. Happy Death Day To You (Lunar Eclipse Part 2)

Writer: Pawan Manghnani (India/UAE) Director: Pawan Manghnani    ITC: Aish Outt Productions

Cast: Zille Rehman (Vicky), Eccha Khemani (Anjali), Vikita Shahani (Zara), Punit Lalwani (Neel), Jannat Manghnani (Nisha), Pahal Samyani (Astral Being)

Friday 13th Feb 1983, 20 Years later. A rich NRI kid is celebrating his 21st birthday in Bhilwara, India which is now a sprawling urban city. The girls in his group are adventure junkies who want him to cut the cake in a haunted mansion on the hill realizing the secrets of the blood moon are still real.

5. Bake-Off

Author: adapted by Iobel Andemicael from a play by Alex Broun  Director: Lisa Harter, Iobel Andemicael & Aida Laubach

Cast: Lisa Harter (Trish), Iobel Andemicael (Belle), Aida Laubach (Nisrine)   

 Temperatures rise in the countdown to the Annual Dubai Expat Ladies’ Cake Bake-off

6. Leave this Town

Writer: Farheen Khan (UK/UAE) Director: Sandra Spencer

Cast: Ramilus Taha (Caine) Christina Blu (Kaycee) Marco Emilio Khalil Barghi (Adam) Lamya Tawfik (Irene) Ryan D'sa (Big Mo)

In an American town where nothing ever happens, will a stranger disturb the humdrum of rural life?

7. Diary of a Break-up/Break-down

Writer: Alex Broun (Australia/UAE) Director: Chandni Varma

Cast: Afaf Shawwa Bibi (Tina), Hussain Hadi (Tim)

We've all gone through a break-up at some point in our lives. Break-ups are tragic but the things they make you do are plain funny! Join Tim and Tina as they take you through their tragicomic break-up diaries.

8. The Landlady

Writer: Adaption from Roald Dahl’s short story The Landlady by Danú writers’ workshop (Ireland/Dubai) Director: Lucy McFeely   ITC: Danu Dubai

Cast: Ronan Dennehy (Billy Weaver) Aileen Kelly (The landlady)

Mr Billy Weaver has arrived in Bath to begin his new job as an accountant. Looking for a place to stay for the night, he enters a quaint Bed and Breakfast run by a friendly old landlady, who seems will do just about anything to keep her guests satisfied.

9. Lein Meta

Writer: Rosine Saad (Lebanon/UAE) Director: Rosine Saad

Cast: Abdallah Al Qassab (Abu Muhammad), Afra Atiq (Amna), Hala Bassar (Noora), Lamya Tawfiq (Subtitles flipper), and Fluffy (himself - voice off).

A play about how Emiratis are perceived by expats.

Wildcard Week 2 2.30 pm Sat Feb 11

Note - plays are listed in running order

1. The Gift

Writer: Najwa Yassir (Canadian-Palestinian/UAE)  Director: Najwa Yassir

Cast: Carla Risborg (Pauline)

Pauline has the gift of giving presents, but those closest to her don't always reciprocate. Why is it bad behaviour to be ungracious about receiving a terrible gift but good behaviour to give one?

2. The Turtle Doves

Writer: Priyanka Pratab & Seline Mary  Director: Benjamin Samuel

Cast: Benjamin Smuel

Turtledoves...they are the symbols of innocence, love, care and life long commitment

3. Bob Gets Cast Out of Hell

Writer: Robert O'Connell (USA) Director: Emaan Abdulaziz

Cast: Kevin Cremona (Devil), Anjaan (Angel)

Even devil gets sick of certain people. This particular devil seeks helps from the other side.

4. Dr. Love

Writer: Michel Nassar (Lebanon/UAE)  Director: Michel Nassar

Cast: Michel Nassar (Dr. Love), TBD (the girls)

Dr. Love's wisdom, live on stage, is one of his best lectures introducing the simple and effective methods of how to make a woman fall in love

6. Master? Who?

Writer: Sai Bhaswana Ghate (India/UAE) Director: Hitesh Rajani   ITC: Aish Outt Productions

Cast: Hitesh Rajani, Shruti Rameshan, Mariyam Kay, Krishika Mahesh, Vrinda Bhandula, Karan Hanj, Bernard, Priyanshu Dey, Dharsh Ramesh Jhamnani

An unconscious enslavement is underway, right from the dark halls of theatres to the buzz of a restaurant. Humans have progressed

and evolved into the Masters of Technology. The question to ask is, ARE we?

7. L'audizione

Writers: Pasquale Petrolo and Claudio Gregori (Italy) Directors: MichelaContini- Marco Fraschetti- NatasciaColautti

Cast: MichelaContini (Michela), NatasciaColautti (Natascia), Marco Fraschetti (the director)

Two actresses’ audition turns into a surreal situation when a gullible director is trapped in the confusing bubble between reality and fiction.

8. Electric Lamentations: Through The Shattered Glass

Writer: Al-Hurr Al-Dalli (Iraq/UAE) Director: Hurr Al Dali   ITC: Resuscitation Theatre

Cast: Al-Hurr Al-Dalli (Al) Faisal Al-Jadir (Himself)

Who is Al? An existential crisis in 10 mins or less.

9. Halloween

Writer: Sabiha Majgaonkar (India/UAE)  Director: Priyanka Gheriya   ITC: Orb Theatricals

Cast: Hetav Madani (Alex) Uzair Mustafa (Sam) Khalil Boukhris (Edward) Monica Chatterjee (Ellie) Fiza Afreen (Elaine) & Christopher McDermott (Mr. Ben)

A bunch of teenagers have given up celebrating Halloween, however they like to entertain themselves by watching and making fun of the other kids celebrating. Find out their story as they get ready to have some fun (again) this Halloween.

TOP 40 Week 3 7.30 pm Fri Feb 17 and Sat Feb 18

Note - plays are listed in running order

1. Unfinished Business

Writer: John McDermott (UK)  Director: Greg Lunn

Cast: Sarah Potter (Eedy) Carine Bouery (Shakespeare Actor) Hazel Lesley (Daisey) Jad Raouphel (Pete) Maurice Cassan (Macca)

A hiker, a Shakespeare actor, and a bar owner walk into a bar. The bar tender looks up and says 'Oh my Gawd'

2. Sinfully Yours

Writer: Biju Viswambaran (India/UAE) Director: Mili Baji

Cast: Mili Baji (Mia), Bindu Viswambaran (Susan), Biju Viswambaran (Jacob)                              

This is no ordinary family. A squabble between sinister siblings over the family inheritance brings out skeletons in the closet.

3. A Defenceless Creature

Writer: Neil Simon (USA)  Director: Gemma Taylor, Courtney Bennett, Phil Ridley  ITC: ASD Student Theatre

Cast: Dania Abdulla (Lady) Arman Sadighian (Banker) Hana Zaimovic (Banker Assistant) Emma Tarr (Banker Assistant)

An obnoxious peasant woman storms a bank and upbraids the manager for his gout and lack of money.

4. Press Pray

Writer: Seth Freeman (USA) Director: Roli Agrawal  ITC: H72 Productions

Cast: Lavina (Martha) Rhema (Voice from above)

A desperate 21st Century soul seeks refuge in an ancient house of worship and her prayers receive a very 21st Century response.

5. Going Once, Going Twice

Writer: Cerise de Gelder (Australia) Director: Joelle Thomas   ITC: Orb Theatricals

Cast: Sabiha Majgaonkar (Trish) Joelle Thomas (Grace)

Trish and Micheal’s dinner invitation is a great opportunity for Grace to push her agenda of Max’s promotion. Grace conveys this to Trish who is more than willing to help. However Grace finds something far more valuable that she desperately wants. Will Trish give this to Grace so easily?

6. Coming Out

Writer: Zorian Cross (India)  Director: Ankita Rao  ITC: H72 Productions

Cast: Eric Dury (Eddie) Abhijit Baruah (Patrick) Anish Rao (David)

A young and a successful man eagerly awaits the arrival of his family to disclose his 'secret'. How many skeletons will come tumbling out? 

7. A Lumberjack, A Eunuch and A Pope: Each man lives many lives

Writer: James Hutchison (Canada) Director: Kirin Hilliar

Cast: Greg Lunn (Mr. Kensington), Kirin Hilliar (Clerk), Justin Cipriano (Attendant)

Mr. Kensington has died without learning the true meaning of life and must plead his case for another chance or be returned to earth as a slug.  

8. Captain Everything

Writer: Pete Malicki (Australia)  Director: Gautam Goenka   ITC: H72 Productions

Cast: Asad Raza Khan

Join Captain Everything, the superhero of all superheroes, on his quest to rescue Princess Prettyface. A fast-paced comedy adventure with a terrible twist.

9. Punkedtuat!on

Writer: Lamya Tawfik (Egypt/UAE) Director: Lamya Tawfik

Cast: Phil Apaza (Exclamation Mark), Kirin Hilliar (Capital Letters), Michela Contini (Hashtag), Emma Haylan Hall (Colon), Sherouk Zakaria (Full Stop), Jasmin Neuschaefer (Left Parenthesis), Rami Bayram (Right Parenthesis), Carla Risborg (Lady 1), Lamya Tawfik (Lady 2)

They have been misused and abused and, frankly, they have had enough! This is a story about what could happen if you push the buttons of your buttons. WARNING: #itaintpretty

Wildcard Week 3 2.30 pm Sat Feb 18

Note - plays are NOT listed in running order

1. Collision

Writer: Factory Theatre Ensemble (UAE)  Director: Hazel Lucas   ITC: FATE

Cast: Anirudh Mahesh (Male) Melina Rad (Female) Lyra Christie (Chorus) Alicia Karskov (Chorus) Alisha Gupta (Chorus)

Collision: Short and Sweet throws a spotlight on the biggest global cause of death in young people...road traffic accidents, by examining one tragic real life story and the lives affected by one mistake.

2. Bondservant

Writer: William Orem (USA) Director: Mehak Srivastava  ITC: Manipal University

Cast: Siddique Mohialdin (Claude) Nidhi Kumar (Jane) Dania Rahman (Waitress)

The play encapsulates what could be phrased as 'bad date'; what could seem like the date of a lifetime, can sometimes easily end in a nasty surprise.

3. Between Thin Lines

Writer: Aswin Muraleedharan & Aman Bhatia (India/UAE)  Director: Aswin Muraleedharan & Aman Bhatia  ITC: University of Wollongong

Cast: Aman Bhatia (Lt. Karan Shergill) Arjun Kukreja (Lt. Ram Bhakshi) Shoeb Iqbal (Lt. Sarfaraz Khan) Harsha Limani (Anaya Bhakshi) Maanvi Veervani (Seher Khan) Muskan Lalwani (Durga Bhakshi)

They belonged to the two different armies and were border guards who meet unexpectedly during one of their duty patrol. Both of them shares stories on their family and life back at home and through their interactions they become inseparable friends, but soon tension broke out between India and Pakistan leading to a declaration of war between the both. Will the friendship survive the border turmoil? Find out.

4. Seven Children

5. Played for a Sap

Written by Rex Mcgregor (New Zealand) Director: Shifa Ahsan & Sadiya Parvez   ITC: Heriot-Watt University

Director- Shifa Ahsan and Sadiya Parvez

Actors -  Lionel Mendonsa (Mitch Blake) Kunal Bhatia (Bruno Fratelli) Shweta Kinkale (Ruby Fratelli) Garima Himthani (Coral Harris)

A woman persuades a private eye to blackmail her husband. But things don’t go as planned. Or do they? 

6. Avalanche

Writer: Sarah Greet (USA)  Director: Gemma Taylor, Courtney Bennett, Phil Ridley  ITC: ASD Student Theatre

Cast: Marieke Bosman (Clarice) Theo Gyra (Barry)

The trapped skiers wait for help that may never come.

7. A Street Art Showroom

Writer: Mohamed Abid (Algeria/Canada/UAE) Director: Mohamed Abid

Cast: Shahzayn Duraid (Security, Owner) Myrna Rafail (Art Enthusiast) Ferris Elaraby (Janitor, Usher) Mohamed Abid (Usher, Police)

When a bogus street art museum attracts an art enthusiast who's a bit TOO enthused, things go south quick as police, conspiracy theories, and scams get involved.

8. Just Playing

Writer: Ruth Badley (UK/UAE)  Director: Ruth Badley

Cast: Greg Lunn (Mike) Ahmed Syed (George) Ruth Badley (Director) Tim Badley (road accident victim / Mike 2)

Mike has stage fright and George, his blabbermouth co-star, isn’t helping.  And then there’s the script.  When two worlds collide, even the director won’t know who’s pretending! A black comedy about actors and acting.

TOP 40 Week 4 3 pm and 8 pm Fri Feb 24

Note - plays are listed in running order

1. Heaven Knows

Writer: Iobel Andemicael (USA/UAE)  Director: Gemma Taylor, Courtney Bennett, Phil Ridley   ITC: ASD Student Theatre

Cast: Danya Itani (Angel Eve) Fahad Alhaj (Angel Abel) Yasmine Barbes (Hannah) Ethan Samandan (Bilal) Dana Albraik (Alicia) Rania Khan (Penelope)

If you had the ability to see, and alter, the future of someone you loved, would you? Should you?

2. Blind

Writer: Chris McDermott (UK/UAE)  Director: Chris McDermott

Cast: Dima Al Sadi  (Blind woman one) Maria Gregoric (Blind woman two) Anna Z. Alexandra (Amy) Jojo Jose (George)

Hiba Khan (Sally)

Dancers: Dora Jerson, Jeena George, Monisha Sukumar, Sanjana Sajeev, Shalu Balagopal, Sudhakshina Shivkumar

Choreographer: Aishwarya Shivkumar of The Ripple Effect.

BLIND contrasts the difference between physical blindness and emotional blindness. The story incorporates Bollywood dancers whose sticks echo those of blind  people to song lyrics which tell us that Sally  “Was bound, was tired, Hadn’t seen a light so long” that she wanted to ‘Bang her head against the wall’.

3. This Was Our Music

Writer: Mike Rothschild (USA) Director: Jaidev Sanketi

Cast: Paurav Shah (Alan), Maha Husain (Denise)

Alan works as a radio jockey for a jazz radio station; a job and genre of music he loves very much. But along comes Denise, with some bad news - both for him and the few remaining lovers of jazz.

4. Playing Chicken

Writer: Phil Apaza (USA/UAE)  Director: Phil Apaza

5. Compos Mentis

Writer: Marilyn Millstone (USA) Director: Rashmi Kotriwala   ITC: H72 Productions

Cast: Anthea Mendonca (Alese Langford) Ramdas Rao (Robert Langford) Rashmi Kortiwala (Patricia Ambrose)

Latin phrase compos mentis: it means "of sound mind." "Of sound mind" means one is mentally competent. Robert and Alese Langford interview for a coveted spot at Silver Glades Senior Living. But is Silver Glades Senior Living ready for Robert and Alese? 

6. Da

Writer: Frank Dullaghan (Ireland) Director: Michael Haigney

Cast: Campbell Tennis (Da), Michael Haigney (Son)

Fathers and sons have complicated relationships walls can get erected without either knowing how or why, once a wall is there can it be taken down so easily? 

7. Blue Wire, Red Wire

Writer: Albert Jamae (Australia) Directors: Humera Sultana and Kailash Nair  ITC: Orb Theatricals

Cast: Humera Sultana (Trish) Kailash Nair (Marty) Deepen Gandhi (Gary)

Trish is strapped to a bomb with five minutes left on the clock. Despite the impending doom, she continues to complain about coffee to her rescuer Marty, the lead bomb squad diffuser.

8. Understanding Peanut

Writer: Rita Martinos (Lebanon/UAE)  Director: Jasmin Neuschaefer

Cast: Lamya Tawfik (Tania) Vaishali Balgu (Jasmine) Kuv Shurma (Greg) Jasmin Neuschaefer (Kay)

A young couple, wanting to uncover the mystery behind their dog’s sudden depression, hire a pet psychic. After the psychic reveals the dog’s once-best-kept secrets, she refuses to leave the house in fear for her life.

9. I Still Love You Two (Part 3)

Writer: Manish Keshwani  (India/UAE) Director: Manish Keshwani   ITC: Aish Outt Productions

Cast: Pawan Manghnani (Al), Hitesh Sukhnani (Lucky), Natalia Gusak (Riya)

A best man is similar to a dead body at a funeral. Ofcourse you're expected to be there, but if you say too much - people start freaking out. Sequel to I Love You Two (2014) & Prequel to I Loved You Two (2015) making it the first ever trilogy in Short+Sweet worldwide.

Wildcards Semi-finals 3 pm Saturday 25

Note - plays are listed in running order

1. ADOPT OF WHAT?

A couple, under tremendous pressure to procreate, discuss alternative ways of starting a family. But will their parents agree? Are they even ready to have a family?

Writer: Zakaia Cvitanovich & Sanoop Dinesh (Abu Dhabi)  Director: Sanoop Dinesh ITC: Beyond the Veil

Cast: Ro Gilbert (Advika) and Sanoop Dinesh (Samar)

2. SEVEN CHILDREN

“Tell her I look at one of their children covered in blood and what do I feel? Tell her all I feel is happy it’s not her.” “Don’t tell her that.”

Writer: Caryl Churchill (UK) Director: Alex Broun Presented by Short+Sweet Acting Group

Cast: Richa Anand, Pranita Das, Lorna Francine, Amna Khalid, Sai Lakshmi, Natajia Miller, Zeina Mosti, Subrata Singh, Venetia Tiarks-Clark, Geetha Balvannanaathan.

3.  THE GIFT

Pauline has the gift of giving presents, but those closest to her don't always reciprocate. Why is it bad behaviour to be ungracious about receiving a terrible gift but good behaviour to give one?

 Writer: Najwa Yassir (Canada/Palestine/UAE) Director: Najwa Yassir

Cast: Carla Risborg (Pauline)

4. AVALANCHE

The trapped skiers wait for help that may never come.

Writer: Sarah Greet (USA) Directors: Gemma Taylor, Courtney Bennett, Phil Ridley ITC: ASD Student Theatre

Cast: Marieke Bosman (Clarice) Theo Gyra (Barry)

5. MASOCHISM TANGO

Romance and commitment get turned inside out when two emotional masochists form a relationship based on mutual rejection featuring one man and one woman.

Writer: Bruce Kane (USA) Director: Vaishali Balgu  ITC: Drama Galleries

Cast: Sikendar Hemani (Ted) Vaishali Balgu (Babara)

6. MASTER? WHO?

An unconscious enslavement is underway, right from the dark halls of theatres to the buzz of a restaurant. Humans have progressed and evolved into the Masters of Technology. The question to ask is, ARE we?

Writer: Sai Bhaswana Ghate (India/UAE) Director: Hitesh Rajani   ITC: Aish Outt Productions

Cast: Hitesh Rajani, Shruti Rameshan, Mariyam Kay, Krishika Mahesh, Vrinda Bhandula, Karan Hanj, Bernard, Priyanshu Dey, Dharsh Ramesh Jhamnani

7. JUST PLAYING

Mike has stage fright and George, his blabbermouth co-star, isn’t helping.  And then there’s the script.  When two worlds collide, even the director won’t know who’s pretending! A black comedy about actors and acting.

Writer: Ruth Badley (UK/USA) Director: Ruth Badley

Cast: Greg Lunn (Mike) Ahmed Syed (George) Ruth Badley (Director) Tim Badley (road accident victim / Mike 2))

8. THE RE-BIRTH OF A PRE-MENSTRUAL WIDOW

The Pre-Menopausal Widow was reborn out of the suspicious and untimely death of her husband. Empowered by tragedy she builds a media empire empowering other women to soar like eagles.

Writer: Tashia Dorsey  (USA/UAE) Director: Tashia Dorsey  ITC: Upstage Entertainment Cast: Tashia Dorsey (The PM Widow)

9. L’AUDIZIONE

Two actresses’ audition turns into a surreal situation when a gullible director is trapped in the confusing bubble between reality and fiction

Writers: Pasquale Petrolo and Claudio Gregori (Italy) Directors: Michela Contini, Marco Fraschetti & Natascia Colautti

Cast: Michela Contini, Marco Fraschetti & Natascia Colautti

People's Choice Semi-finals 8 pm Saturday 25

Note - plays are listed in running order

1. The Lady and "The Tyger" or William Blake's "How I Met Your Mother"

Writer: Trace Crawford  Director: by the ensemble, with music by Majd Qasem   ITC: The American University in Dubai Theatre Society

Cast: Rasheed Hattab (Man) Anahit Tshughurya (Woman) Majd Qasem (Busker)

How do you meet a nice guy these days? Go online? Smile politely across a crowded room at a party? Or maybe you run towards him, screaming like crazy...

2. Happy Death Day To You (Lunar Eclipse Part 2)

Writer: Pawan Manghnani (India/UAE) Director: Pawan Manghnani    ITC: Aish Outt Productions

Cast: Zille Rehman (Vicky), Eccha Khemani (Anjali), Vikita Shahani (Zara), Punit Lalwani (Neel), Jannat Manghnani (Nisha), Pahal Samyani (Astral Being)

Friday 13th Feb 1983, 20 Years later. A rich NRI kid is celebrating his 21st birthday in Bhilwara, India which is now a sprawling urban city. The girls in his group are adventure junkies who want him to cut the cake in a haunted mansion on the hill realizing the secrets of the blood moon are still real.

3. Collision

Writer: Factory Theatre Ensemble (UAE)  Director: Hazel Lucas   ITC: FATE

Cast: Anirudh Mahesh (Male) Melina Rad (Female) Lyra Christie (Chorus) Alicia Karskov (Chorus) Alisha Gupta (Chorus)

Collision: Short and Sweet throws a spotlight on the biggest global cause of death in young people...road traffic accidents, by examining one tragic real life story and the lives affected by one mistake.

4. Her 70th Birthday

Writer: Farheen Khan (UK/UAE) Director: Farheen Khan ITC: Orb Theatricals

Cast: Kuv Sharma (Tommy), Hiba Khan (Melanie), George Ansatasiades (Ryan), Justin Cipriano (Alan), Ruth Badley (Aunt B)

It's her 70th birthday, a time to celebrate her life with family and friends. Or is it? A story full of family drama, long lasting feuds and revelations. 

5. Blind

Writer: Chris McDermott (UK/UAE)  Director: Chris McDermott

Cast: Dima Al Sadi  (Blind woman one) Maria Gregoric (Blind woman two) Anna Z. Alexandra (Amy) Jojo Jose (George)

Hiba Khan (Sally)

Dancers: Dora Jerson, Jeena George, Monisha Sukumar, Sanjana Sajeev, Shalu Balagopal, Sudhakshina Shivkumar

Choreographer: Aishwarya Shivkumar of The Ripple Effect.

BLIND contrasts the difference between physical blindness and emotional blindness. The story incorporates Bollywood dancers whose sticks echo those of blind  people to song lyrics which tell us that Sally  “Was bound, was tired, Hadn’t seen a light so long” that she wanted to ‘Bang her head against the wall’.

6. Bake-Off

Author: adapted by Iobel Andemicael from a play by Alex Broun  Director: Lisa Harter, Iobel Andemicael & Aida Laubach

Cast: Lisa Harter (Trish), Iobel Andemicael (Belle), Aida Laubach (Nisrine)   

 Temperatures rise in the countdown to the Annual Dubai Expat Ladies’ Cake Bake-off

7. I Still Love You Two (Part 3)

Writer: Manish Keshwani (India/UAE) Director: Manish Keshwani   ITC: Aish Outt Productions

Cast: Pawan Manghnani (Al), Hitesh Sukhnani (Lucky), Natalia Gusak (Riya)

A best man is similar to a dead body at a funeral. Ofcourse you're expected to be there, but if you say too much - people start freaking out. Sequel to I Love You Two (2014) & Prequel to I Loved You Two (2015) making it the first ever trilogy in Short+Sweet worldwide.

8. Killing Bambi

Writer: Lori Siekmann (USA)  Director: Aaqeel Shariff   ITC: Aish Outt Productions

Cast: Rohit Menon (Tom) Marija Gregoric (Beth)
Beth hates to drive Tom around and to add to her woes, Bambi comes along to spoil the party..... good lord…is he in trouble?

9. Punkedtuat!on

Writer: Lamya Tawfik (Egypt/UAE) Director: Lamya Tawfik

Cast: Phil Apaza (Exclamation Mark), Kirin Hilliar (Capital Letters), Michela Contini (Hashtag), Emma Haylan Hall (Colon), Sherouk Zakaria (Full Stop), Jasmin Neuschaefer (Left Parenthesis), Rami Bayram (Right Parenthesis), Carla Risborg (Lady 1), Lamya Tawfik (Lady 2)

They have been misused and abused and, frankly, they have had enough! This is a story about what could happen if you push the buttons of your buttons. WARNING: #itaintpretty

10. Electric Lamentations: Through The Shattered Glass

Writer: Al-Hurr Al-Dalli (Iraq/UAE) Director: Hurr Al Dali   ITC: Resuscitation Theatre

Cast: Al-Hurr Al-Dalli (Al) Faisal Al-Jadir (Himself)

Who is Al? An existential crisis in 10 mins or less.

11. A Defenceless Creature

Writer: Neil Simon (USA)  Director: Gemma Taylor, Courtney Bennett, Phil Ridley  ITC: ASD Student Theatre

Cast: Dania Abdulla (Lady) Arman Sadighian (Banker) Hana Zaimovic (Banker Assistant) Emma Tarr (Banker Assistant)

An obnoxious peasant woman storms a bank and upbraids the manager for his gout and lack of money.

Gala Final 7 pm Saturday 10 March

Note - plays are listed in running order

1. The Landlady

Writer: Adaption from Roald Dahl’s short story The Landlady by Danú writers’ workshop (Ireland/Dubai) Director: Lucy McFeely   ITC: Danu Dubai

Cast: Ronan Dennehy (Billy Weaver) Aileen Kelly (The landlady)

Mr Billy Weaver has arrived in Bath to begin his new job as an accountant. Looking for a place to stay for the night, he enters a quaint Bed and Breakfast run by a friendly old landlady, who seems will do just about anything to keep her guests satisfied.

2. I Still Love You Two (Part 3)

Writer: Manish Keshwani (India/UAE) Director: Manish Keshwani   ITC: Aish Outt Productions

Cast: Pawan Manghnani (Al), Hitesh Sukhnani (Lucky), Natalia Gusak (Riya)

A best man is similar to a dead body at a funeral. Ofcourse you're expected to be there, but if you say too much - people start freaking out. Sequel to I Love You Two (2014) & Prequel to I Loved You Two (2015) making it the first ever trilogy in Short+Sweet worldwide.

3. Checkmate

Writer: CJ Single (UK/UAE)  Director: CJ Single   ITC: Dubai Drama Group

Cast: Karl Lewisham (Robert), Adam Hackney (Sergei)

Two Chess players face off for one final contest. They've played this game many times before, but this time the stakes are higher than they can possibly imagine.

4. Coming Out

Writer: Zorian Cross (India)  Director: Ankita Rao  ITC: H72 Productions

Cast: Eric Dury (Eddie) Abhijit Baruah (Patrick) Anish Rao (David)

A young and a successful man eagerly awaits the arrival of his family to disclose his 'secret'. How many skeletons will come tumbling out? 

5. Bake-Off

Author: adapted by Iobel Andemicael from a play by Alex Broun  Director: Lisa Harter, Iobel Andemicael & Aida Laubach

Cast: Lisa Harter (Trish), Iobel Andemicael (Belle), Aida Laubach (Nisrine)   

 Temperatures rise in the countdown to the Annual Dubai Expat Ladies’ Cake Bake-off

6. This Was Our Music

Writer: Mike Rothschild (USA) Director: Jaidev Sanketi

Cast: Paurav Shah (Alan), Maha Husain (Denise)

Alan works as a radio jockey for a jazz radio station; a job and genre of music he loves very much. But along comes Denise, with some bad news - both for him and the few remaining lovers of jazz.

7. Master? Who?

An unconscious enslavement is underway, right from the dark halls of theatres to the buzz of a restaurant. Humans have progressed and evolved into the Masters of Technology. The question to ask is, ARE we?

Writer: Sai Bhaswana Ghate (India/UAE) Director: Hitesh Rajani   ITC: Aish Outt Productions

Cast: Hitesh Rajani, Shruti Rameshan, Mariyam Kay, Krishika Mahesh, Vrinda Bhandula, Karan Hanj, Bernard, Priyanshu Dey, Dharsh Ramesh Jhamnani

8. Understanding Peanut

Writer: Rita Martinos (Lebanon/UAE)  Director: Jasmin Neuschaefer

Cast: Lamya Tawfik (Tania) Vaishali Balgu (Jasmine) Kuv Shurma (Greg) Jasmin Neuschaefer (Kay)

A young couple, wanting to uncover the mystery behind their dog’s sudden depression, hire a pet psychic. After the psychic reveals the dog’s once-best-kept secrets, she refuses to leave the house in fear for her life.

9. Diary of a Break-up/Break-down

Writer: Alex Broun (Australia/UAE) Director: Chandni Varma

Cast: Afaf Shawwa Bibi (Tina), Hussain Hadi (Tim)

We've all gone through a break-up at some point in our lives. Break-ups are tragic but the things they make you do are plain funny! Join Tim and Tina as they take you through their tragicomic break-up diaries.

10. Renaissance

Writer: Nilesh Deshpande (India/UAE) Director: Nilesh Deshpande Music & Lights: Neil  ITC: Natakwale

Cast: Advait, Aishwarya, Anvay, Aryan, Atharva, Dhruv, Ishaan, Saie, Srushti, Vedant, Yash

If people are trying to bully you and bring you down, you can either fight back or win them over with your kindness and helpfulness. The story of a 14 yr old boy who overcomes his problems and emerges victorious.

11. Seven Children

“Tell her I look at one of their children covered in blood and what do I feel? Tell her all I feel is happy it’s not her.” “Don’t tell her that.”

Writer: Caryl Churchill (UK) Director: Alex Broun Presented by Short+Sweet Acting Group

Cast: Richa Anand, Pranita Das, Lorna Francine, Amna Khalid, Sai Lakshmi, Natajia Miller, Zeina Mosti, Subrata Singh, Venetia Tiarks-Clark, Geetha Balvannanaathan.

12. Captain Everything

Writer: Pete Malicki (Australia)  Director: Gautam Goenka   ITC: H72 Productions

Cast: Asad Raza Khan

Join Captain Everything, the superhero of all superheroes, on his quest to rescue Princess Prettyface. A fast-paced comedy adventure with a terrible twist.