Robert Bathurst is a British actor who starred in the comedy drama series Cold Feet. He is in Dubai to appear in Alex, a one-man play based on The Daily Telegraph cartoon strip of the same name, at the Madinat Theatre in Dubai.
It's when I feel most confident and terrified in equal measure. There's nothing better than when it's going well.
When I left university there were all these people in my year saying that they were going to work in banks. I didn't know anything about that world or even how they knew it was what they wanted to do. Now I'm spending my career satirising them.
Yes, I've followed the Alex strip since the beginning. He gave non-city people an insight into that world and he gave city people an uneasy feeling that there was a mole in the bank.
A lot of directors don't have ears. Especially on television, they are just interested in the images and don't care about whether the sense of a line is being mangled. I've worked with a few good ones and the Alex director Phelim McDermott is one of them.
You want me to say Lear or Prospero, something definite like that, a role that satisfies my artistic ambitions. Well, here it is: my ideal role is a big part with lots of words.
Working with someone you admire can be disappointing. I'd take the risk with Philip Seymour Hoffman.
As a youngster going to the theatre I probably said, "I want to do that" when watching Michael Gambon.
I can't remember making such a promise; however, there are sometimes moments in a long run when the appeal begins to wane. I haven't reached that with the Alex show. What happens is that when you are doing telly you want to be doing theatre and vice versa. Actors are terrible moaners and those in work always forget what it's like to be unemployed.
I don't identify with him at all. Unlike him I'm still free to go to South Africa and the United States - he's running out of continents where he's welcome. As far as he's concerned, though, he's a great bloke.
The computer failed one night (it's just me on stage with the cartoons) so we had a five-minute break to reboot it. Someone looked down from the circle and in the audience below there was a sea of BlackBerrys, loads of Alex types using the opportunity to catch up on their emails.
We were never trapped together very often. Usually the scenes involved only two or three of us and we'd be like ships in the night. Every series we'd do an episode somewhere like Ireland or Australia. That was fun; they were the only occasions when we spent time as a group.
Every job has its challenges and each one has the prospect of humiliating failure. Alex is unlike anything I've seen or done and was by no means a certain success. I once did a two-hour stage monologue about cannibalism which was a challenge, not least for the audience. At least Alex has laughs.
Very much. I think Alex has found his natural home.
Madinat Theatre, tomorrow and Thursday, 8.30pm (04 366 6546). Dh195 for ticket with programme or Dh300 for VIP tickets, which include a programme, a copy of the Alex playscript, and a reception with Bathurst.
Guide to intelligent investing
Investing success often hinges on discipline and perspective. As markets fluctuate, remember these guiding principles:
- Stay invested: Time in the market, not timing the market, is critical to long-term gains.
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THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Financial considerations before buying a property
Buyers should try to pay as much in cash as possible for a property, limiting the mortgage value to as little as they can afford. This means they not only pay less in interest but their monthly costs are also reduced. Ideally, the monthly mortgage payment should not exceed 20 per cent of the purchaser’s total household income, says Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching.
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Also, shop around for the best mortgage interest rate. Understand the terms and conditions, especially what happens after any introductory periods, Ms Glynn adds.
Using a good mortgage broker is worth the investment to obtain the best rate available for a buyer’s needs and circumstances. A good mortgage broker will help the buyer understand the terms and conditions of the mortgage and make the purchasing process efficient and easier.
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MATCH INFO
Qalandars 109-3 (10ovs)
Salt 30, Malan 24, Trego 23, Jayasuriya 2-14
Bangla Tigers (9.4ovs)
Fletcher 52, Rossouw 31
Bangla Tigers win by six wickets
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
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Transmission: Single-speed automatic
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A little about CVRL
Founded in 1985 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory (CVRL) is a government diagnostic centre that provides testing and research facilities to the UAE and neighbouring countries.
One of its main goals is to provide permanent treatment solutions for veterinary related diseases.
The taxidermy centre was established 12 years ago and is headed by Dr Ulrich Wernery.
Factfile on Garbine Muguruza:
Name: Garbine Muguruza (ESP)
World ranking: 15 (will rise to 5 on Monday)
Date of birth: October 8, 1993
Place of birth: Caracas, Venezuela
Place of residence: Geneva, Switzerland
Height: 6ft (1.82m)
Career singles titles: 4
Grand Slam titles: 2 (French Open 2016, Wimbledon 2017)
Career prize money: $13,928,719
How to avoid crypto fraud
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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