Anthea

Anthea did what she felt was right, always. If she thought someone needed help, she would be the first person there, going out of her way to do the best she could. If she thought of someone, she would reach out and call. No wondering, no second guessing. Perhaps that is the biggest lesson I learnt from Anthea. And it is a lesson one must take to heart. So, pick up that phone, call that person you’ve been meaning to call. There isn’t always time, you know.

What was striking about her, also, was that she was such an astute observer. Perhaps that’s what made her such a fine actor. She would notice things that most wouldn’t and then she’d pass on these little nuggets of wisdom and insight that would go a long way in keeping the show on the road. As a director, more than her wonderful acting abilities, it was this innate quality that shone out when working with her. Not to mention the cakes, the pastries, the yummy stuff that somehow magically mushroomed around her.

Then there is the childlike glee she took in most things. Her approach to life was one of joy and wonder. She lit up the room with her laughter, her lilting voice carrying across far, and when you heard it, you knew that happiness was around.

So, there you have it, that impossible combination of the Elder Statesman and the Inner Child. That was Anthea. Some stars just shine too bright and are gone too soon. And those left behind can only feel blessed to have been touched by them.

Goodbye, dear, dear Anthea, I hope I can presume to speak on behalf of the Dubai Theatre community—so many of whom have now spread their wings all around the world—by saying that you will be missed, you are remembered ever so fondly, and thank you for just being you.

Third Half wins big at The Junction Awards 2019

In a fun night at The Junction, Dubai, Third Half bagged three awards, including Best Play.

Winners all...

Nilesh Deshpande won Best Actor for his sensitive and poignant portrayal of a Parkinson's Hero in Still Dancing.

A moment from Still Dancing

We also won Best Original Script as well as Best Play for Sutradhar. 

A moment from Sutradhar

 Find a full list of nominees here, and the winners in all categories here

Third Half at the awards

We are thankful to The Junction for recognizing the efforts of all the theatre enthusiasts in the city.

Third Half at the awards

 Third Half once again establishes itself as a pioneer in Original Theatre content in the UAE.

Still Dancing

Third Half Theatre in association with social enterprise Movement Mantra proudly presents Still Dancing, an original theatre production to raise awareness about Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in the UAE.

Based on a true story, the play is an attempt to humanize PD and show the real-life issues and challenges faced by people with PD and their families. It is an attempt to sensitize the general public, dissolve the stigma associated with PD and create awareness on the possible interventions available for people afflicted with the condition in the UAE.

The story follows a family's history. While our focus has been on Parkinson's, we thought it just as important to highlight the effect of the condition on the caregivers and the immediate family as well. At its heart, it is a story of any family, really. The specific details and struggles may vary, but we all go through the ups, the downs, the joys, the sorrows that reaffirm our faith in family values.

Movement Mantra uses dance as a tool to motivate PD heroes to be more active and take control of their condition. We thus have a deeply personal play, and an expression of the emotions associated with the play through dance, music, and poetry as well. Brought to you by a cast selected from an open audition and a team featuring Dubai’s multicultural talent, Still Dancing is a portrayal of the struggles and triumphs of the human spirit.

The play will be staged at The Junction, Al Serkal Avenue on Friday the 12^th of April 7:30 pm, and Saturday the 13^th of April 2019 at 3:30 and 7:30 pm to support our effort in raising PD awareness. Tickets available on Platinumlist and directly at the venue.

The theme of this year is to #StartAConversation. We hope the play not only raises awareness on PD but also moves the audience to start their own conversations about the condition, and movement in general. We could all benefit greatly from the simple act of making movement our mantra.

See you there!

Audition Announcement for our play in April to spread awareness on Parkinson’s

Third Half Theatre is proud to collaborate with Social Enterprise Movement Mantra to create an Original theatre production aimed at raising awareness for Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in the UAE.  The play will be staged at The Junction, Al Serkal Avenue from 11th to 13th April. It will be the only initiative of its kind in the Middle East to give voice to this condition during Parkinson’s month and will Premiere on World Parkinson’s Day.

Audition Details

Project	:	A Play to raise awareness for Parkinson's
Writer/Director	:	Sanjeev Dixit
Audition Dates	:	Saturday 16th Feb 2019, 4:00 to 7:30 p.m. Monday 18th Feb 2019, 7:00 to 9:30 p.m.
Venue	:	Malhaar Centre for Performing Arts 1302, Tiffany Towers, Cluster W, JLT, Dubai
Casting for	:	9 Characters, 4F, 5M. Various ages (+21)

Auditions are open to all nationalities. Please come prepared with a short monologue.

Kindly register here for the auditions.

Prior registration is not mandatory but will help us organize the auditions better. If you have any further questions, message us on facebook or drop us a line at ThirdHalfTheatre[at]gmail[dot]com.

Based on a true story, the play is an attempt to humanize PD and showcase the issues and challenges faced by people with PD and their families. It is a unique take on the condition seen through the journey of a family of a real-life PD Hero who succumbed to the disease in 2009.  While celebrating the struggles and triumphs of the human spirit, it is also an attempt to sensitize the general public, dissolve the stigma associated with the disease, and create awareness on the possible interventions available for people afflicted with the condition.

Rehearsals are scheduled to start from late February for 3 sessions a week.

See you at the auditions, all the best!

Sutradhar

Third Half Theatre proudly presents its very first original full-length production.

Sutradhar is a play in English inspired by the Natyashastra, Greek Classics, and Japanese Noh. Using techniques that have been around for millennia, Sutradhar presents a classic tale derived from the Indian epic Mahabharata to a modern, multicultural audience.

Sutradhar, an Indian word which literally translates to ‘the one who holds the strings’, implies a mastermind, a puppeteer even—a controller of the fortunes of those influenced, or manipulated. Yet, as the play asks at one point, “aren’t we all at some time both the puppeteer and the marionette?”

Approaching characters from the Mahabharata with a unique, modern perspective—even though the play is set in Indian antiquity—allowed us as a team to contextualize and explore these iconic characters in a new light and with a certain awe.

The team features some of the finest talent from Dubai, all of whom were selected from an open audition. Familiar faces join a fresh crop of young theatre enthusiasts to bring you a labour of love that promises to be a truly unique theatre experience.

Grab your tickets from Platinumlist and make a beeline for The Junction, Al Serkal Avenue on Thursday the 15^th, Friday the 16^th of November 7:30 pm, and Saturday the 17^th of November 2018 at 4:00 and 7:30 pm to support an original production created from scratch right here in Dubai. Early bird tickets and group discounts are available for a limited time only. Tickets also available directly at the venue.

See you there!

Third Half Theatre presents…

Sutradhar

Writer & Director: Sanjeev Dixit

Cast: Ajay Simha, Allinson Aranha, Apoorva Mehra, Ashleigh Adonis, Assyl Yacine, Benjamin Samuel, Chineme Prince, Hamza Merchant, Joshua Johnson, Karan Sharma, Kuv Sharma, Nourah Almaiman, Richa Anand Nigam, Sayed Taifur, Shereen Saif, Xec Mohsin

A kingdom under siege. As the King contemplates surrender, his daughter comes to accept that her betrothal will form part of the terms. When events take a turn for the worse, her brother is left to deal with the consequences. Love and duty are sacrificed to the politics of betrayal, and vengeance.