Meera Al Midfa is one of the 35 selected for the theatre programme. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
Meera Al Midfa is one of the 35 selected for the theatre programme. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Emirati Meera Al Midfa shortlisted for Home Grown theatre programme



When the Emirati film student Meera Al Midfa was asked to audition for a spot in the Home Grown theatre initiative set up by the Middle East Theatre Academy and Kevin Spacey Foundation, she was asked what she’d bring to the table if selected. The answer was that she plans to lead by example.

“Not many Emiratis, especially Emirati women, pursue theatre or acting,” says the 24-year-old, who recently graduated with a bachelors in arts degree from the American University of Sharjah.

“I would like my participation to encourage others who want to pursue it but haven’t because it is regarded as something you don’t typically do, either because of familial or societal restrictions.”

Midfa also wants to help build local theatre in the UAE. “Theatre is close to my heart and I hope to use the experience of being trained by professionals and Kevin Spacey to further the scene here.”

Midfa began acting on stage in 2008, taking on roles in university plays and appearing in a production of Sweeney Todd at Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre.

“When I was younger, I’d put on these shows for my family, acting like a movie star,” she explains.

She hopes the Home Grown workshop will open up many possibilities and strengthen her skills, not just in acting, but production and stage management.

“The arts industry in the UAE still needs to grow just enough to be able to provide thespians with the opportunity to pursue it as a profession,” she says. “The Home Grown programme is definitely a step forward for theatre in the UAE.”

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Name: Almnssa
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Based: Gaza
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From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

The specs

Engine: 1.5-litre turbo

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Graduated from the American University of Sharjah

She is the eldest of three brothers and two sisters

Has helped solve 15 cases of electric shocks

Enjoys travelling, reading and horse riding

 

Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5

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Age: 23

Occupation: Founder of the Studio, formerly an analyst at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering

Favourite hobby: playing the piano

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Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 
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Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Nayanthara: Beyond The Fairy Tale

Starring: Nayanthara, Vignesh Shivan, Radhika Sarathkumar, Nagarjuna Akkineni

Director: Amith Krishnan

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Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

Cricket World Cup League 2

UAE squad

Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind

Fixtures

Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
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Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: ARDH Collective
Based: Dubai
Founders: Alhaan Ahmed, Alyina Ahmed and Maximo Tettamanzi
Sector: Sustainability
Total funding: Self funded
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Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode

Directors: Raj & DK

Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon

Rating: 4/5