Sharjah Art Foundation launches 4th "Perform Sharjah"

The new season features a diverse selection of original productions that highlight the richness and variety of contemporary performance arts, showcasing works by leading local and international artists. The programme opens on 11 October at Africa Hall with Drive Your Plough Over the Bones of the Dead, directed by Muhannad Karim. The play is an adaptation of the Polish author Olga Tokarczuk’s novel, which tackles cruelty against animals with a firm voice and explores the themes of violence and displacement that dominate the modern world.

Dance performances inspired by craft and nature

The programme also includes two dance performances co-produced by the Foundation. The first, Quartet of the Doll, by artists Salma and Sofiane Ouissi, will be staged at Al Qasimia School in Sharjah. Inspired by the movements of traditional clay doll makers—known as al-aroussa in the Tunisian town of Sejnane—the performance celebrates craftsmanship, resilience and creativity, shedding light on the transmission of cultural knowledge across generations.

The second production, Magic/Desert by artist Radouan Mriziga, will be presented at Bait Obaid Al Shamsi. Drawing inspiration from the wisdom embedded in nature’s landscapes, the work fuses movement, text and sound in an artistic experience that venerates the desert as a revered landmark rather than a resource to be exploited.

Revisiting stories of emotion and belonging

Returning to Perform Sharjah after his participation in the inaugural 2022 edition, artist Ahmed El Attar presents his Arabic adaptation and direction of Every Brilliant Thing—a one-act play by British writer Duncan Macmillan. Starring actress Nanda Mohammad, the performance offers a moving and uplifting narrative about living with depression, inviting the audience to participate and blur the line between actor and spectator in a collective, live experience. It will be staged on 24 and 25 October in the Shajar car park in Aljada, and on 1 and 2 November in front of the Khorfakkan Amphitheatre.

Artists Epiana Garin and Louis Guinier will perform Minga of the Collapsing House at Al Qasimia School, drawing on the Patagonian tradition of relocating houses. The performance interweaves three stories that reflect on belonging and the spaces we inhabit.

Music, poetry and the power of imagination

Actress and director Nanda Mohammad also appears in Bandour A’al Hob (Searching for Love), a musical duet with violinist Mohammad Sami that blends poetry and music to explore a couple at a pivotal moment in their relationship. The performance will take place on 31 October at the Your Space venue in Aljada, and on 16 November at Al Dana Hall in Khorfakkan.

In another duet, artists Claire and Anthony present Souvenirs on 28 and 29 November in Arts Square, using music, dance and shadows to highlight Sharjah’s open spaces. With humour and tenderness, the work explores dreams, longing and the enduring power of imagination.

Music on the water

Held in both familiar and unexpected venues, Sharjah Performances offers an engaging mix of innovative and experimental shows. The spirit of the programme is embodied in Music on the Barge, a live music event that transforms Khalid Lagoon and its surroundings with performances on a floating stage. The concerts will feature three bands: Adiga, Noon, and Rohaniyat.