(Incurable Illness) Shines at Dubai Festival for Youth Theatre

This comedic play was presented by a group of actors from the Sharjah for Capability Development Foundation, who brought the characters to life in a unique style.

The plot centres around "Khalfan," a man who is overly concerned with his health and heavily reliant on medicines and folk remedies. Khalfan finds himself surrounded by people who exploit his health anxieties for their own benefit, portraying reality in a comedic and satirical way.

Director Zainab Al Mulla stated, "I wanted to provide a delightful experience for the audience by using Italian Commedia dell'arte. I aimed to adapt this technique in the script to make it relevant and accessible to the Emirati community."

Zainab explained that the play sheds light on the psychological and mental constraints we often impose on ourselves, raising the question, "Should we overcome these illusions, or are they part of our lives that we need to accept?"

A notable aspect of the play is the use of Commedia dell'arte, characterised by masks and archetypal characters that add a vibrant theatrical element. This technique allows actors to improvise, bringing more interaction and movement to the performance, which resulted in a display brimming with energy.

(An Incurable Illness) highlights the prominent role of the Rubu’ Qarn Centre for Theatre and Performing Arts in supporting and nurturing young talent in directing and acting. The actors from the Sharjah for Capability Development Foundation delivered impressive performances, embodying the characters with great professionalism, reflecting their advanced skills and confidence in handling theatrical scripts.

The play successfully combines comedy with philosophy, provoking questions about the illusions we live with daily and their impact on our lives.