• This is not just another school performance. The academy will be the first UAE school to present the hour-long production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August this year. Antonie Robertson/ The National
    This is not just another school performance. The academy will be the first UAE school to present the hour-long production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August this year. Antonie Robertson/ The National
  • First dramatised by fifth-­century Indian poet Kalidasa, it is the story of Shakuntala, who lives in a hermitage in the forest and falls in love with King Dushyanta during his visit. He marries her before returning to his kingdom, but the maiden is cursed by a sage, erasing the king’s memory of her and forcing her to leave the forest. Antonie Robertson / The National
    First dramatised by fifth-­century Indian poet Kalidasa, it is the story of Shakuntala, who lives in a hermitage in the forest and falls in love with King Dushyanta during his visit. He marries her before returning to his kingdom, but the maiden is cursed by a sage, erasing the king’s memory of her and forcing her to leave the forest. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Oliver, who has been directing musicals for more than 25 years, is a believer of deconstructionist theatre. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Oliver, who has been directing musicals for more than 25 years, is a believer of deconstructionist theatre. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • he organisers of the fringe asked him to keep it low-key because of the time constraints, but he refused to tone it down. “Anyone who knows me knows that I’m very la-di-da. Everything has to be louder and bigger and I don’t know how to do simple.” Antonie Robertson / The National
    he organisers of the fringe asked him to keep it low-key because of the time constraints, but he refused to tone it down. “Anyone who knows me knows that I’m very la-di-da. Everything has to be louder and bigger and I don’t know how to do simple.” Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The music, primed with a lot of percussion against tracks ranging from pop, rap and guitar ­solos, are complemented with a monochromatic set design and flowing black-and-white stylised costumes. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The music, primed with a lot of percussion against tracks ranging from pop, rap and guitar ­solos, are complemented with a monochromatic set design and flowing black-and-white stylised costumes. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Most of the dresses will be actual mixed-and-matched garments from commercial stores and embellished with beads and studs by Oliver himself. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Most of the dresses will be actual mixed-and-matched garments from commercial stores and embellished with beads and studs by Oliver himself. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Achieving the modern rock base in six-part harmony has been an intense journey for the students. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Achieving the modern rock base in six-part harmony has been an intense journey for the students. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • The production concludes with Oliver’s If only the world loved each other there'd be peace number. Antonie Robertson / The National
    The production concludes with Oliver’s If only the world loved each other there'd be peace number. Antonie Robertson / The National
  • Shakuntala will be performed on May 13, 14 and 15 at Gems Modern Academy’s theatre hall from 8pm. Tickets are priced at Dh50 and can be booked on 04 326 3339. Antonie Robertson / The National
    Shakuntala will be performed on May 13, 14 and 15 at Gems Modern Academy’s theatre hall from 8pm. Tickets are priced at Dh50 and can be booked on 04 326 3339. Antonie Robertson / The National

Dubai Modern Academy takes a rock opera to Edinburgh Fringe Festival - in pictures

Olga Camacho

May 11, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

Gems Modern Academy have been invited to stage their rock-opera version of the classic Indian drama Shakuntala at the upcoming Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

On Stage