If Anton Chekhov were alive today he would chuckle at how his plays are being adapted by some of Dubai’s drama enthusiasts.
The theatre production Chekhov’s Cigarette comprises four plays – two of them by the 19th-century Russian writer – put together by the Dubai Drama Group (DDG) in a 75-minute show that opens today and runs until April 12, all with a common theme of self-reflection and deception set to humour.
“Chekhov was well known for his full-length plays with deeper meaning and dramatic element,” says Cliff Single, the chairman of DDG.
“What is interesting is that when he began writing, he wrote a lot of short comedy and comedy has had a resurgence.” Evils of Tobacco and A Proposal, Chekov’s one-act plays, will be performed alongside 10,000 Cigarettes, by the Australian playwright Alex Broun, and A Matter of Husbands, by the Hungarian writer Ferenc Molnár. The length of the plays range from between 12 and 25 minutes. Chekhov’s Cigarette is a wry take on the drama principle Chekhov’s Gun, which emphasises the elimination of everything that is not relevant or necessary to the story: “If you say in the first chapter that there is a rifle hanging on the wall, in the second or third chapter it absolutely must go off. If it’s not going to be fired, it shouldn’t be hanging there.”
And so each play will be character-centric, with minimalist sets. “With this kind of show, we prefer not to overdo it,” says Single.
The group has also taken dramatic licence with Chekhov’s works to present their unique perspective. For example, Vikram Ahuja, who has directed 10,000 Cigarettes, has increased the original 10-minute play to 12 minutes.
• Chekhov’s Cigarette will be staged at the jamjar in Al Quoz, Dubai, from today until April 12. Show starts at 7.30pm, entry is free; suggested donation is Dh50
* Afshan Ahmed
Milestones on the road to union
1970
October 26: Bahrain withdraws from a proposal to create a federation of nine with the seven Trucial States and Qatar.
December: Ahmed Al Suwaidi visits New York to discuss potential UN membership.
1971
March 1: Alex Douglas Hume, Conservative foreign secretary confirms that Britain will leave the Gulf and “strongly supports” the creation of a Union of Arab Emirates.
July 12: Historic meeting at which Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid make a binding agreement to create what will become the UAE.
July 18: It is announced that the UAE will be formed from six emirates, with a proposed constitution signed. RAK is not yet part of the agreement.
August 6: The fifth anniversary of Sheikh Zayed becoming Ruler of Abu Dhabi, with official celebrations deferred until later in the year.
August 15: Bahrain becomes independent.
September 3: Qatar becomes independent.
November 23-25: Meeting with Sheikh Zayed and Sheikh Rashid and senior British officials to fix December 2 as date of creation of the UAE.
November 29: At 5.30pm Iranian forces seize the Greater and Lesser Tunbs by force.
November 30: Despite a power sharing agreement, Tehran takes full control of Abu Musa.
November 31: UK officials visit all six participating Emirates to formally end the Trucial States treaties
December 2: 11am, Dubai. New Supreme Council formally elects Sheikh Zayed as President. Treaty of Friendship signed with the UK. 11.30am. Flag raising ceremony at Union House and Al Manhal Palace in Abu Dhabi witnessed by Sheikh Khalifa, then Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
December 6: Arab League formally admits the UAE. The first British Ambassador presents his credentials to Sheikh Zayed.
December 9: UAE joins the United Nations.
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
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
