Ancient costume drama
DUBAI, 1 April (Reuters) - A team of British and French archaeologists working in Dubai, United Arab Emirates have unearthed ruins believed to date back to Shakespearean times.
Foundations uncovered so far include several Tudor-style cottages and a theatre believed to be a replica of the Globe.
Research leader Professor Pierre de Foutre of the University of Marseilles said several clues helped the team locate the Tudor settlement in the beachside suburb of Umm Seqeim.
"The modern name for the area is Al Wasl Road; this comes directly from its original name, Wassail Road, and there are even several well preserved Tudor houses," he said.
Dubai's minister for arts and culture, Sheikh Jamal Al Majnoon, said he was not surprised by the discovery.
"Dubai has a rich tradition of theatre and drama, far greater than Broadway or the West End," he said.
"We already have as many as two theatres and plan to increase theatre capacity 10% by 2050."
Volunteers at local historical society Jumeirah Archaeological Foundation have supplied the archaeologists with several valuable photographs dating from the early sixteenth century.
They provide a rare glimpse into the lives of Gulf Arabs in Tudor times, before the advent of oil and prostitutes.
Sheikh Jamal says the Globe theatre will be rebuilt once excavations are complete.
"We will open the new theatre with a gala night of stick dancing followed by a performance of Hair by the Sharjah Royal Players."
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Foundations uncovered so far include several Tudor-style cottages and a theatre believed to be a replica of the Globe.
Research leader Professor Pierre de Foutre of the University of Marseilles said several clues helped the team locate the Tudor settlement in the beachside suburb of Umm Seqeim.
"The modern name for the area is Al Wasl Road; this comes directly from its original name, Wassail Road, and there are even several well preserved Tudor houses," he said.
Dubai's minister for arts and culture, Sheikh Jamal Al Majnoon, said he was not surprised by the discovery.
"Dubai has a rich tradition of theatre and drama, far greater than Broadway or the West End," he said.
"We already have as many as two theatres and plan to increase theatre capacity 10% by 2050."
Volunteers at local historical society Jumeirah Archaeological Foundation have supplied the archaeologists with several valuable photographs dating from the early sixteenth century.
They provide a rare glimpse into the lives of Gulf Arabs in Tudor times, before the advent of oil and prostitutes.
Sheikh Jamal says the Globe theatre will be rebuilt once excavations are complete.
"We will open the new theatre with a gala night of stick dancing followed by a performance of Hair by the Sharjah Royal Players."
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
14 Comments:
Ok I know this is april fools, but why would I not even be surprised if it were true?
Happy April Fool's day to you too, SD!
They didn't mention in this context that the original plot of 'Much Ado about nothing' was of course set in Dubai. But surely everyone knows that.
Jamal al Majnoon is quite smart :)
the picture tells it all.. mind u i seen the real thing.. but would hate to imagine the UAE under tudor rule..
.. and in true Dubai form, this discovery coincided with the announcement of Shakespeare city, a truly unique development which will have freehold villas and apartments in the shape of The Globe theatre, but this one will be 3 times larger.
Surely you mean Sheikh Spear?
"but would hate to imagine the UAE under tudor rule.."
But the Tudor dynasty did include 2 Queens, so all is not lost!
The Kuwait Times did an 'April Fool' today (and then, very lamely, printed a full page 'gotcha' inside on page 4 - presumably as insurance against the howling bearded loonies who would demand immediate throat slitting if the 'joke' wasn't admitted) stating that alcohol would be permitted in May, after a 40 year ban.
Those crazy pranksters at the KT, must have gotten their info from the UAE model, where I understand the Faithful are barred and only Heathens are allowed a booze ration. Or something.
I just heard this on the BBC world service - - - the USAF has nuked Tehran.
how come you don't have a link to the original article on Reuters?
Aha! it's the April fool's joke!..
Sorry ... my fault... been taking you seriously....
Great. Photography was invented in Dubai 200 years earlier than in the rest of the world. And how nice were the cars in Shakespeare times in dubai..
SD-
Your article is obviously a hoax. Everybody knows that Williams Shakespeare was actually a sufi saint whose real name was Wali Mian Shaikh Peer!
The West changes his pious name to "Williams Shakespeare"! You dirty Westerners! :P
Oh come on Secret, you were going to do this last year...
Some of us really are elephants you know....
your blog reads like a top notch news channel, great stuff! a window to dubai
great stuff, a peep into dubai life. reads like a top notch news channel!
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