All about the Fringe Festival in Sharjah
The streets and stages of the cultural capital of the UAE will be the backdrop for The Fringe Festival Sharjah. The 2020 edition of the international Fringe festival has finally come to the Middle East to enchant audiences from across the UAE.
The last edition of the world’s largest arts festival took place in the Scottish capital with a record-breaking 3000 plus performances. The 2019 Fringe Festival in Edinburgh was a huge success and some astounding theatre, music and performances left the audience spell bounded.
You can expect the same energy in Sharjah as incredible performers from across the globe will showcase their talents. For 17 days and 1,100 hours, fifty artists will display their creativity and diversity at what is one of the world’s largest arts and entertainment festival. You can expect to be enthralled by the displays which will feature 600 performances ranging from street dances, art, folk music and more.
The UAE residents can take advantage of this first-of-its-kind opportunity to meet the international Fringe community, so come fully prepared to be thoroughly entertained.
All about the Fringe Festival in Sharjah
The show will kick off on January 16th 2020 and will run until 1st of February 2020. The 2020 Sharjah Fringe Festival will host over 600 shows covering art, theatre and street performances.
The Organisers
The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) in partnership with The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) will host the event. The National Arts Festival, South Africa will organise the performances. Dolphin Creative, the Dubai-based event management company is also on board to help with the operations.
Shurooq COO Mr Ahmed Al Qaseer said:
“By bringing Fringe to Sharjah, we want to send a message that ours is ‘a city of choice’. Through Fringe, we want the 200-plus nationalities residing in the UAE to connect with the global language of arts. At the same time, we can build bridges with other cultures through the Sharjah Fringe Festival.”
What to expect at the festival?
The Sharjah International Fringe Festival will feature thirty-five productions. Attendees will have a choice to watch theatre, dance, music, circus acts, magic, comedy and various other forms of interactive entertainment.
Some of the performances at the Fringe Festival in Sharjah include:
- The Amazing Bubble Man from the US
- Stick Stones Broken Bones from South Africa
- The Tom Thum beatbox act from Australia
- I Hate Children’s Show
- 30 plus street productions outdoor
Fringe Festival Sharjah Tickets
Fringe Festival Sharjah Tickets are available online on the official website. Please note that tickets are available for each performance. The Fringe Festival Sharjah ticket prices range from AED 30 to AED 50 depending on the performance/show you select. All school/university students and residents over sixty years get a concession on their tickets. They’ll have to pay AED 20 to AED 40 per ticket. Kids less than two years don’t require tickets.
Of course, you can watch some performances for free. However, you will have to buy at least one ticket to enter the venue. If not sold out completely, tickets will be available for sale thirty minutes before the performance starts.
Sharjah International Fringe Festival Venues
The Sharjah International Fringe Festival will be held across three venues in Sharjah.
Al Noor Island
Al Noor Island is a popular destination, especially amongst locals. It has a botanical garden on Lake Khalid. Beautiful wooden walkways link the various sections of the garden. Programs will be held in the informal seating area and the open playground. The venue has a limited capacity – it can accommodate only 50 visitors so seats are likely to fill up quickly.
- Location: Al Noor Island, Buhairah Corniche Road, Khalid Lagoon
Al Majaz
Al Majaz is further subdivided into two sections, Al Majaz 1 and 2. Al Majaz 1 is a temporary theatre and has a capacity of 450 seats. Similarly, Al Majaz 2 in the heart of the recreation area of Al Majaz Park can accommodate 300 visitors. Both venues have a box office and ablution facilities. The recreation area of the Al Majaz Park between the waterpark and the miniature golf course will host a number of events.
- Location: Al Majaz Water Front
Al Qasba
Al Qasba also has two areas dedicated to performances. The Masrah Theatre has a capacity of 252 seats. The climate-controlled auditorium is located in the Al Qasba Shopping Complex.
Al Qasba 2 is a temporary setup, located on the banks of Al Qasba Canal. It is an open-air venue with a roof structure with a capacity of 276 seats. You’ll find the main Fringe festival information point and box office here.
- Al Qasba 1: Block B, Al Qasba, Buhaira Corniche
- Al Qasba 2: Al Khan Corniche Street Qanat
The Fringe on the Streets
Eight pitches have been placed on the walkways between Al Qasba, Al Majaz and Al Noor. You can enjoy 300 hours of family entertainment on these streets. The performances start at 02:30 pm and continue until 11:00 pm.
Fringe Festival Sharjah Call Centre
For any queries regarding International Fringe Festival 2019, you can call at +971-6-556-0777.
Here’s all that we can expect from the Fringe Festival Sharjah. Fringe Festival is one of the world’s largest arts and entertainment festival. As stated earlier, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for UAE residents. Book your tickets now so you don’t miss out on what would easily be one of the most prominent events of 2020.
Even if you have missed out on a New Year holiday in UAE, there is still plenty on offer. Besides the Fringe Festival, you can also attend some amazing events in Dubai during January. Similarly, there are some annual celebrations in Dubai, you could be a part of.
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