Interview with Maggie Hannan
Artistic director of Resuscitation Theatre
When and where did you first become involved in Theater?
All my life. My grandmother was an actress and my whole family is involved in the arts in one way or another.
When did you transition from performer to director? Was it something you always wanted to do or did it 'find' you?
Well basically, when I got too old to dance anymore I began choreographing. And then when I started teaching A Level theatre studies in the UK, I caught the bug. And now I have many plays in me that I need to do!
When did you move to the UAE?
2008, but we were here 1984-1988 also.
Your recent works have combined classical theater plays with local Emirati actors.
How did this idea come about and how has this unique casting choice affected the play?
Well, living in the UAE, it's a no brainer that Emiratis should be involved. I am absolutely passionate about that. There seems to be a passive acceptance of film, but live theatre is very much in its infancy here.
How and when did Resuscitation Theater come about?
Resuscitation theatre was born as part of a school community project that was funded by a national lottery grant in 2001 in the UK. We actually did The Cocktail Party at that time, but it was a very different animal to what it is now!
Can you tell us a little bit about the play you are going to present in DIPAF? What will the audience expect?
The Cocktail Party takes place on the Centrepoint stage...with the audience. The actors will move from one side of the stage to the other throughout the performance and the audience will follow the actors. The play is only an hour long, so there is no time to become bored!!! Haha...the audience is free to sit on the stage floor and we may put some chairs around, but essentially the show and the audience are mobile.
The Theatre Experiment
ACT II The Cocktail Party
by Resuscitation Theatre
Date: Friday, December 2, 2011
Venue: Centrepoint Theatre, DUCTAC, MOE
Doors Open: 02:00 pm
Show Starts: 02:30 pm
Tickets: AED 100
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