Maltbury
Staging the Gulf
6th Sep 2007 - 11:31:47
The Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre sits proudly on the roof of the vast Mall of the Emirates, right alongside the indoor ski slope with its real snow. It could only be Dubai. DUCTAC, as it is universally known, is a superb facility with proscenium arch and studio theatres designed to the very highest specifications.
In 2005, Maltbury exhibited at the PALME trade show in Dubai. DUCTAC project managers met MD Philip Sparkes and a flexible package of Metrodeck was agreed for seating tiers in the studio space.
This equipment enables a range of layouts to be built so that the space can respond to the needs of future shows. The theatre and arts complex opened in 2006 and now runs a busy schedule of drama, dance and musical performances.
Gulf neighbours Doha College in Qatar managed a whirlwind purchase in February this year. New head of Drama Paul McCracken ordered a Maltbury Playhouse Staging Kit and within a month it was in Doha supporting Joseph’s technicolour dreamcoat. Now GCSE and BTec students taking drama or music have an infinitely versatile resource to draw upon.
Since the production of "Joseph", where the staging made "a tremendous difference" according to Assistant Principal Mark Leppard, it has been used for a music competition. And before the summer holidays it will also feature in "Waiting for Godot", a children’s theatre piece and a school "Pop Idol" competition. Beyond that, the only limit is their imagination.