From cultural performances to cricket matches to workshops and a comedy show, there are plenty of things to check out around town this weekend. Here are the highlights:
Ballet Phillippines
Contemporary dance troupe Ballet Philippines will perform in Qatar tonight (Aug. 12) as part of its Gulf tour. “Master Pieces: Celebrating a Tapestry of Filipino and Friendship” is a mix of classical ballet and modern and contemporary dance.
The show, which is being brought to the region by the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs’s cultural diplomacy unit, will be held at Katara Cultural Village’s Drama Theater from 7pm to 9pm. It is free and open to the public.
According to the Philippine embassy in Doha:
“Master Pieces offers to the peoples of Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) not only the hand of friendship from the Philippines, but also a memorable evening of cultural experience. These works reflect Filipino creativity, introspection, and celebration of life’s meaningful phases and milestones.”
India-Pakistan cricket friendly
As part of Independence Day celebrations for both countries, Ibn Ajyan Projects is hosting two friendly cricket matches between Indian and Pakistani teams this weekend at Asian Town (formerly West End Park).
Visitors are invited to cheer on their favorite teams during the competition.
The first match will be held on Friday, Aug. 14 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm, followed by a cultural program from 9pm to 11pm. The second will be held on Saturday, from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. More information can be found here.
Art and photo workshops
As part of Qatar Summer Festival activities, Katara Art Studios is hosting a series of workshops through Aug. 20.
Today, Aug. 12, there is an art of paper folding and plaster molding class for children ages eight to 15 years old. Tomorrow, Aug. 11, Steff Corsage will hold a practical photography session to reach people how to go beyond the automatic settings in their DSLR cameras. That workshop costs QR1,100/person.
To register, send your name and number to [email protected] or call 44080233 or 44081357.
Mathaf exhibition winds down
This weekend will be your last chance to check out internationally-acclaimed Egyptian artist Wael Shawky’s two film trilogies – Cabaret Crusades (2010 – 2015) and Al Araba Al Madfuna (2012 – 2015) at the Arab Museum of Modern Art (Mathaf).
The show centers on Shawky’s fascination with literature and history through fictional and documentary narratives, specifically those in Amin Maalouf’s book The Crusades through Arab Eyes (1983) and Mohamed Mustagab’s short stories Dayrout Al-Sharif (1983), which form the basis of the two trilogies.
Marionette characters made of ceramic and glass are also on display, along with storyboard drawings depicting figures and landscapes used in the films. The exhibition, which opened in March, runs until Aug. 16 and is free for visitors. It is open to the public from 11am to 6pm every day except Fridays, when it opens from 3pm until 8pm.
Bonus:
- Summer Festival: As part of the annual summer festival, an “Entertainment City” will be open at the Doha Exhibition Center for the entire month of August. The venue includes amusement park rides, games and shows, as well as a food court. Timings from Saturday to Wednesday are 1pm to 11pm, and from Thursday to Friday, 1pm to midnight. For more information on the summer fest, see our story here.
- Filipino comedy show: Doha-based comedians Jay-R Paz and Gerald Duterte will perform at the Grand Palace Hotel’s Coal restaurant on Aug. 14 from 7pm to 11pm. The duo will also perform on Sept. 4 at the Grand Regal Hotel from 7pm to 11pm. More information about the show can be found here.
Wha are your plans for the weekend? Thoughts?
