- What? Freej Folklore is a theatre production about Arab history and folklore, presented by the four delightful old ladies from the Freej cartoon series on TV.
- Where? Madinat Arena at Madinat Jumeirah
- When? Performance dates are 08 January to 17 January 2009 (no show on 12 January 2009). Most days have English show at 1900 (7pm) and Arabic show at 2115 (9:15pm). Fridays an additional Arabic show at 1530 (3:30pm).
- How much? Ticket prices are AED 200, AED 250, AED 300, AED 400, AED 450, AED 900, AED 1200. There's a buy-one-get-one-free special offer available until 08 (radio adverts) or 09 January 2009 (online ads). Update: Dubai Radio is still advertising buy-one-get-one-free as of 10 January 2009 but you're told the offer expires 08 January 2009. Go figure
- Tickets from where? Virgin Megastores, timeouttickets.com, tel Time Out Ticketline 800-4669 (toll free in UAE), or tel +971-4-2108567
- Organisers? Producers are Lammtara, and JBM
- Main Sponsors? Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and Nakheel
- Contact tel?
- Website? www.folklore.ae complete with painfully slow curtains closing and opening between each page selected
. Same website also at freejfolklore.com. Go to "The Show" > "Gallery" to see pictures. The Trailers section wasn't available when I checked.
Frrej Folklore is a theatre production that takes the audience through Arab history and culture. The stage production is a combination of dance, music, animation and theatre, featuring myths and legends from Arab literature and history. Expect lots of pretty lights, clever costumes, and acrobatics, along with film and sound effects. Director of Freej Folklore is Mohammed Saeed Harib, who is also the founder of Lammtara, the company that brought the excellent Freej animated TV series which features four old ladies living in Dubai discussing the world around them over coffee. The same four ladies take you through the Freej Folklore journey. Freej Folklore features large screens showing the Freej TV show characters Um Saeed, Umm Allawi, Um Saloom, and Umm Khammas, along with 100 other performers on stage, and consists of seven acts as follows:
- Act 1, "The Journey Begins": The 4 UAE ladies start their journey by heading to the Tree of Wisdom.
- Act 2, "Myths and Legends of the Arabian Gulf": The 4 Umms listen to a Genie storyteller.
- Act 3, "The Golden Age of Discovery": Learn about Arab contributions to mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, and literature. Don't forget your Algebra homework.
- Act 4, "Ibn Battuta": the story of the 14th century explorer Abu Abdullah Muhammad Ibn Abdullah Al Lawati Al Tanji Ibn Battuta, not the Ibn Battuta shopping mall in Dubai. Mr Battuta travelled for 30 years through Europe, Africa, the Middle East, India, and Asia.
- Act 5, "Meet the Creator": The 4 Ums meet the creator of Freej Folklore on stage. Apparently a significant episode in Arab history and culture.
- Act 6, "The UAE": UAE traditions and culture - pearl diving, falconry, fishing, horses, the desert, the sea, the oasis, the mountains.
- Act 7, "The Finale": The 4 Umms prepare to go home and look forward to a nice cuppa.