When Kerry Ellis performed an intimate and socially distanced show in a small London club earlier this month, the emotion was palpable.
As well as the good cheer her renditions of Christmas classics inspired, a sense of gratefulness was also etched on audience members' faces.
Everyone was living in the moment, because who knows what the pandemic will bring tomorrow?
Speaking to The National before her appearance in the much larger Christmas musical celebration, Jingle Bell Rock, at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Friday, December 18, Ellis says the pull of live performance has never been stronger.
“I feel that no matter where you are, people are desperate to get back into theatres,” she says.
“And when we haven't had that for almost a year, it makes everyone quite emotional. It makes it a sense of occasion. I definitely felt that during the UK show last week and it will be the same in Dubai. It will be something to cherish.”
The tragedy of the West End
That sense of occasion has been truly underscored this week with the British government's recent decision to put London under the toughest lockdown measures from Wednesday, December 16, to halt the spiralling rates of Covid-19 infections.
The news deals another blow to the city's cultural heart, the West End theatre district, with venues shutting doors once again after a steady comeback for productions including the musical Six, Love Letters, Everybody's Talking about Jamie and a concert version of Les Miserables.
Ellis is acutely aware of the pain caused by the latest and necessary government measures.
A fixture of the scene, she is hailed as the "UK's leading lady of musical theatre" with a two-decade career of star turns in Les Miserables, Wicked, Oliver! and Cats.
Ellis, 41, says the damage caused to West End, both economically and culturally, is incalculable.
“It is tragic and not only for the faces you see on the stage, but for the many people backstage, front of house, the crews and producers,” she says.
“I am also really worried about the effect on the many regional theatres outside. So many of them rely on big shows during this time to set them up for next year. I hope that they get a bit of support and funding to have another shot.”
A glass half full
The precarious situation has forced performers to work off script. With venues shuttered, Ellis says the creative buzz migrated online with a number of singers using social media to perform live-streamed concerts, provide workshops or simply engage with fans.
Ellis did all three with the launch of her podcast Keep Calm and Kerry On, in which she chats with fellow West End colleagues such as singers Shaun Escoffery, Samantha Barks and choreographer Arlene Phillips about the heart of their craft.
“This is something that I would never have done if it wasn’t for this situation because I am normally working or travelling for a show,” she says.
“But these conversations were important because it gave us a chance to reflect on what we do. I loved how even during this time, these conversations were really positive and it shows that people in the scene remain resilient with a glass half full approach.”
The big comeback
Ellis can’t guess when curtains will be raised again in the West End. What she is sure of, however, is that it will return with a bang.
“Once we have the vaccine and everybody can get back into fully capacitated venues, then I think it's just going to boom,” she says.
As for what shows people will flock to, Ellis predicts it will begin with fan favourites before people branch out to more experimental productions.
"There will be a bit of people going back to what they know and shows like The Lion King can be considered a safe bet," she says.
"But the West End always thrives due to its diversity with shows and plays big and small. This is the spirit of it and people love to be there and feel it."
West End matters
Until then, the UAE will get a chance to experience some of its key talents with Ellis joined on stage by the The Barricade Boys, a much-loved male vocal ensemble who appeared in Les Miserables.
The concert, Ellis says, is not only dedicated to the resilient spirit of her stage peers facing an uncertain future back home, but an example of the West End’s contribution to the world.
Ellis hopes the theatre community are not forgotten as part of the UK’s recovery plans.
“There is a growing general respect to what we do, especially in these times,” she says.
"What we are doing is not just providing escapism, but creating a sense of togetherness and well-being which is vital for mental health. What we do is more important, perhaps, than some sections of the government have been led to believe."
Jingle Bell Rock featuring Kerry Ellis and The Barricade Boys at the Dubai World Trade Centre. Friday, December 18. Show times are 3pm and 8pm. Tickets from Dh175 at dubai.platinumlist.net
QUARTER-FINAL
Wales 20-19 France
Wales: T: Wainwright, Moriarty. Cons: Biggar (2) Pens: Biggar 2
France: T: Vahaamahina, Ollivon, Vakatawa Cons: Ntamack (2)
Other key dates
-
Finals draw: December 2
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Finals (including semi-finals and third-placed game): June 5–9, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-off draw: November 22, 2019
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Euro 2020 play-offs: March 26–31, 2020
Everybody%20Loves%20Touda
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Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
McLaren GT specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 630Nm
Price: Dh875,000
On sale: now
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
LIGUE 1 FIXTURES
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Friday
Nice v Angers (9pm)
Lille v Monaco (10.45pm)
Saturday
Montpellier v Paris Saint-Germain (7pm)
Bordeaux v Guingamp (10pm)
Caen v Amiens (10pm)
Lyon v Dijon (10pm)
Metz v Troyes (10pm)
Sunday
Saint-Etienne v Rennes (5pm)
Strasbourg v Nantes (7pm)
Marseille v Toulouse (11pm)
The figures behind the event
1) More than 300 in-house cleaning crew
2) 165 staff assigned to sanitise public areas throughout the show
3) 1,000 social distancing stickers
4) 809 hand sanitiser dispensers placed throughout the venue
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Where can I submit a sample?
Volunteers can now submit DNA samples at a number of centres across Abu Dhabi. The programme is open to all ages.
Collection centres in Abu Dhabi include:
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
- Biogenix Labs in Masdar City
- Al Towayya in Al Ain
- NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City
- Bareen International Hospital
- NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
- NMC Royal Medical Centre - Abu Dhabi
- NMC Royal Women’s Hospital.
Pakistan Super League
Previous winners
2016 Islamabad United
2017 Peshawar Zalmi
2018 Islamabad United
2019 Quetta Gladiators
Most runs Kamran Akmal – 1,286
Most wickets Wahab Riaz –65
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Leap of Faith
Michael J Mazarr
Public Affairs
Dh67
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
The fake news generation
288,000 – the number of posts reported as hate speech that were deleted by Facebook globally each month in May and June this year
11% – the number of Americans who said they trusted the news they read on Snapchat as of June 2017, according to Statista. Over a quarter stated that they ‘rarely trusted’ the news they read on social media in general
31% - the number of young people in the US aged between 10 and 18 who said they had shared a news story online in the last six months that they later found out was wrong or inaccurate
63% - percentage of Arab nationals who said they get their news from social media every single day.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
If you go
Flying
Despite the extreme distance, flying to Fairbanks is relatively simple, requiring just one transfer in Seattle, which can be reached directly from Dubai with Emirates for Dh6,800 return.
Touring
Gondwana Ecotours’ seven-day Polar Bear Adventure starts in Fairbanks in central Alaska before visiting Kaktovik and Utqiarvik on the North Slope. Polar bear viewing is highly likely in Kaktovik, with up to five two-hour boat tours included. Prices start from Dh11,500 per person, with all local flights, meals and accommodation included; gondwanaecotours.com
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
OPINIONS ON PALESTINE & ISRAEL
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
If you go
The flights
There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.
The trip
Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.
The trip was organised by Bulguides (www.bulguides.com), which organises guided trips throughout Bulgaria. Guiding, accommodation, food and transfers from Plovdiv to the mountains and back costs around 170 USD for a four-day, three-night trip.
The specs
Engine: 3-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 400hp
Torque: 475Nm
Transmission: 9-speed automatic
Price: From Dh215,900
On sale: Now
'I Want You Back'
Director:Jason Orley
Stars:Jenny Slate, Charlie Day
Rating:4/5
THE DETAILS
Director: Milan Jhaveri
Producer: Emmay Entertainment and T-Series
Cast: John Abraham, Manoj Bajpayee
Rating: 2/5
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sept 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
