Disney fans have something special to look forward to early next year thanks to Disney The Magic Box, a new immersive theatrical show coming to Abu Dhabi for the first time.
Unlike previous Disney productions in the Emirates, this show is being marketed as a multisensory journey, blending beloved stories, songs and characters into a nostalgic musical experience.
“Take a once-in-a-lifetime adventure through the universes of your childhood and immerse yourself in a theatrical masterpiece that celebrates Disney's timeless magic and origins like never before,” says the show's official website.
General admission tickets go on sale on Wednesday for shows that take place in January and February. Here’s what to know about it.
When is the show happening?
Disney The Magic Box will run from January 29 to February 9 at Etihad Arena. Performances are scheduled for Wednesday through Sunday. There are shows at 6.30pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 3pm and 8pm on Fridays; and 1pm and 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
How much are tickets?
Tickets start at Dh100 for shows on weekdays and Dh175 at weekends.
What is Disney The Magic Box about?
The show follows Mara on an enchanting journey into “The Magic Box”, where she encounters beloved Disney characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Donald and Daisy Duck, Goofy and more. Over 90 minutes, audiences will hear a medley of more than 75 Disney classics, including A Whole New World from Aladdin, Let It Go from Frozen, and We Don’t Talk About Bruno from Encanto.
Where is Etihad Arena?
The arena is located on Yas Island.
What else to know
Children under the age of three are not permitted. The show is recommended for ages six and up. The 90-minute performance does not have an intermission.
Moral education needed in a 'rapidly changing world'
Moral education lessons for young people is needed in a rapidly changing world, the head of the programme said.
Alanood Al Kaabi, head of programmes at the Education Affairs Office of the Crown Price Court - Abu Dhabi, said: "The Crown Price Court is fully behind this initiative and have already seen the curriculum succeed in empowering young people and providing them with the necessary tools to succeed in building the future of the nation at all levels.
"Moral education touches on every aspect and subject that children engage in.
"It is not just limited to science or maths but it is involved in all subjects and it is helping children to adapt to integral moral practises.
"The moral education programme has been designed to develop children holistically in a world being rapidly transformed by technology and globalisation."
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
