UAE: Hundreds of children will be taking the stage for a unique drama project

UAE: Hundreds of children will be taking the stage for a unique drama project

“Until this festival came along,” says Alba Rose, a drama educator at The Hive, “watching a play with your child meant a Dh200-Dh1,000 purchase for my son and I. Festivals like The Hive Theatre Festival ensure that all children, no matter what their parents do, or how much they can afford, access quality theatre. It removes the barriers that limit a child’s access to the arts. It tells a child that they too can be up on a stage, share a story and have the world listen. And that is the single most important takeaway from this project.”

This June marks the seventh edition of the The Hive Theatre Festival, the largest in the country with 44 plays and over 600 children performing on stage. It is a unique theatre project that showcases plays for children, by children, and is completely free to watch. Any child or adult can simply walk into the Zabeel Ladies Club and watch as many plays as they would like — for free.

Among the 44 plays being staged this year are interpretations of children’s classics like Cat in the Hat and Alice in Wonderland, and Roald Dahl favourites like James and the Giant Peach and Charlie