Perform Sharjah Returns for its Fourth Season This Fall

Perform Sharjah is back for its fourth season this autumn, bringing an exciting celebration of contemporary performing arts to audiences across Sharjah and Khorfakkan. Running over two months, the programme showcases the diversity and richness of global performance, with an impressive line-up of local, regional, and international artists.

From intimate productions to large-scale shows, the season continues to expand the possibilities of performance by staging works in public spaces, community hubs, and unexpected venues.

One of the season’s highlights is the launch of Music on the Barge, a new initiative that will transform Khalid Lake and the surrounding park into a vibrant open-air stage. Over three nights, a purpose-built floating platform will host musical performances, blending culture, nature, and community in an unforgettable experience.

The 2025 edition also introduces two ambitious co-productions. In Laaroussa Quartet, Tunisian artists Selma and Sofiane Ouissi take inspiration from women potters of Sejnane, whose handmade clay dolls—laaroussa—symbolize tradition, creativity, and resilience. Presented in the courtyard of Al Qasimiyah School, the piece celebrates cultural transmission through movement. Meanwhile, Moroccan choreographer Radouan Mriziga presents Magec / The Desert. This performance weaves text, sound, and choreography to frame the desert as a source of wisdom and reverence rather than exploitation.

Returning to the programme is Ahmed El Attar’s Arabic adaptation of Duncan Macmillan’s one-act play Every Brilliant Thing. First staged during Perform Sharjah’s inaugural season, the play features actress Nanda Mohamed and invites audiences in both Sharjah and Khorfakkan to participate in a moving yet uplifting account of living with depression. This interactive performance blurs the line between actor and spectator, fostering shared empathy and dialogue.

Other standout works include Muhanad Kareem’s adaptation of Olga Tokarczuk’s novel Drive Your Plow Over the Bones of the Dead, which confronts animal cruelty and explores displacement and violence in today’s world. Chilean artist Luis Guenel offers Minga of a House in Ruins, drawing from the Patagonian tradition of collectively moving houses to explore the concept of home through interwoven narratives.

Audiences will also see the versatile Nanda Mohamed take on a dual role in Searching for Love, which she directs and performs alongside violinist Mohamed Sami. The lyrical duet combines music and poetry to reflect on a couple at a turning point in their relationship. Additionally, the artist duo Claire & Anthony present Souvenirs, a delicate yet humorous performance using music, dance, and shadows to illuminate the open spaces of Sharjah with stories of dreams, regrets, and imagination.

By blending new commissions, adaptations, and site-specific performances, Perform Sharjah 2025 reaffirms its place as a bold and inclusive platform for the performing arts. If you would like to attend these exciting events, book your tickets here.