Abu Dhabi Festival gears up for exciting first-week of activities

Reflecting on the first week of Festival activities, Her Excellency Mrs Hoda I. Al Khamis-Kanoo, Founder and Artistic Director of the Abu Dhabi Festival, said: "Our tenth year starts strong on March 3 and continues with myriad activities for the public throughout the month of March. As in previous years, we hope to offer something for everyone across the diverse and multi-faceted community of Abu Dhabi; from re-enactments of Shakespeare's greatest works and workshops for students, to a showcase of contemporary Arab art and the much anticipated Young Artists' Day. In doing so, the arts shall contribute to the building of a dynamic and creative environment in the UAE that expands our horizons and inspires society. We look forward to welcoming audiences to this year's Festival as we celebrate the wealth of national, regional and international visual arts, music, theatre, and dance."

The festival kicks off March 3 with 'Romeo and Juliet' by UK theatre company Globe Education at Shakespeare's Globe, following on from their sell-out runs of Macbeth (in 2011) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (in 2012). Shakespeare's most famous love story is specially geared toward younger audiences, injecting new energy and relevance into this timeless work. Public performances take place on March 3rd and 4th at Abu Dhabi Theatre, Breakwater. In tandem, Globe Education will run a series of workshops for students starting March 3.

March 5 marks the opening of '25 Years of Arab Creativity,' a carefully curated exhibition of innovative works from a plethora of contemporary artists of Arab origin, in partnership with the Institut du Monde Arabe at The Gallery - Emirates Palace. Running until Sunday, March 31st, the exhibition offers an unprecedented opportunity to experience a cross-section of contemporary art from across the region in addition to an accompany programme of tours, workshops and family activities.

Capping off the first week, Young Artists' Day, an annual highlight of the Festival, is an opportunity for Abu Dhabi to discover the Emirate's up and coming young musicians, with 15 secondary school students performing an original composition from their residency with The Declassified Ensemble selected by Carnegie Hall. Daytime and evening performances will take place on March 9 at Abu Dhabi Theatre.

Meanwhile, female undergraduates at the campuses of federal universities located in Al Gharbia and Abu Dhabi City will be treated to traditional textile workshops by Al Ghadeer, the UAE Red Crescent micro-financing initiative that empowers underprivileged women using time-honoured crafts native to the UAE.

Throughout the month of March, educational workshops, masterclasses and talks take place throughout the UAE in the presence of national, regional and international artists and practitioners, in keeping with the Festival's strong focus on education and community outreach.