The worry that there’s not much to do entertain the kids once the stifling heat of the UAE’s summer begins to take its toll is fast becoming an archaic notion. Consider this year’s Abu Dhabi Summer Season: across the emirate, cultural events started in the beginning of June and will continue until September 5, just around the time that schools are back in session.
As Sultan Al Dhaheri, acting executive director of tourism at the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, puts it: “There will be fun for all. We aim to make Abu Dhabi an attractive place to spend the summer.”
Shaun The Sheep
The unusually bright sheep Shaun lives on the traditional, small, British Mossy Bottom Farm with his flock. The seven-minute stop-motion animated television episodes, created as a spin-off of Wallace & Gromit – has taken on the guise of a sitcom, with every episode centring around the farm animals' attempts to add excitement to their mundane lives and then panicking as their plans snowball into hilarious escapades.
The live show is no different.
Shaun, his friends from the flock and the sheepdog Bitzer are playing around their favourite tree in the field and soon discover it will soon be chopped down by the Farmer, who is unaware of his animals’ human-like qualities. It’s up to the flock to find a way to stop the Farmer and save their beloved tree.
• July 23 to 25 at Al Raha Beach Theatre; July 31 to August 1 at Al Ain Municipality Theatre. Tickets cost from Dh75 to Dh225
Barney World Tour
No child is a stranger to the loveable, friendly and innately optimistic purple dinosaur who tends to break into song and start dancing at a moment's notice, and has been gracing television screens since the early 1990s. In this live extravaganza, Barney and his friends – BJ, Cousin Riff and Baby Bop – travel to France, Japan, India, China and Mexico, where they will be learning about the language and culture in each new country. Favourite songs from the TV show will undoubtedly make an appearance, especially cult favourite I Love You, You Love Me. This is as good a time as any to introduce your preschooler to Barney and his treasure trove of educational messages.
• July 23 to 25 at Madinat Zayed Theatre; July 30 to August 1 at Emirates Palace. Tickets are Dh75 and Dh95
Sesame Street Live, Elmo Makes Music
Get ready for Elmo and his famous friends to sing nearly two dozen songs in this 90-minute, Broadway-style musical production. Beloved characters Ernie, Bert, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, Oscar the Grouch, Grover and, of course, Elmo take to the stage and bring to life favourites such as Elmo's World, The Alphabet Song, C Is For Cookie and Bert's Disco. There are lessons to be learnt as well: sharing, acceptance of different cultures, celebration and acceptance of differences and the value of teamwork are all continuing themes through the show and a new band is about to be formed on Sesame Street. An instrument can be anything from a pot and spoon to a rubbish-bin lid, and the audience is welcome to join in. There's no doubt that this show will be a favourite for all ages; don't forget that this is one of the longest-running children's television series since its premiere in 1969, with versions of the show created in more than 20 countries. In fact, the Arabic version of Sesame Street – Iftah Ya Simsim – will be returning to television screens across the region this year, after filming wrapped up in Abu Dhabi earlier this year.
• August 6 to 8 at du Forum; August 15 and 15 at Al Ain Municipality Theatre. Tickets cost from Dh95 to Dh195
• Tickets for all shows can be purchased from www.tixbox.com
artslife@thenational.ae
