35 to attend theatre academy with Spacey

Sharjah — After receiving more than 300 applications from talented young people across 16 countries in the Middle East and North Africa, 72 were shortlisted and invited to audition in Sharjah for the inaugural ‘Home Grown’ philanthropic theatre programme, a joint venture between the Middle East Theatre Academy and the Kevin Spacey Foundation.

After live auditions where participants performed various artistic pieces — from musicals, television shows and plays — 35 young men and women were selected to attend the academy in January at the Sharjah Institute for Theatrical Arts under the patronage of Shaikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of the Ruler of Sharjah and Chairperson of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs.

Candidates were asked to submit a YouTube video of their performance as part of the application process upon which their selection was based. They were given the opportunity to meet with other auditionees in a practical group workshop which included training in teamwork, movement and physicality.

Finalists included young men and women from the UAE, Palestine, Syria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Lebanon, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

Academy Award-winning actor Kevin Spacey will be present at times throughout the project and will lead expert classes for participants in addition to observing rehearsals. The opening performance will take place in Sharjah on January 25, 2015 at the Sharjah Institute for Theatrical Arts.