Dubai is getting ready for a new stage production of Cinderella, and young performers across the city are being invited to audition for a place in the cast.
New Covent Garden Theatre, the performing arts venue inside Mall of the Emirates, is opening casting for its upcoming festive production, giving children and teenagers in Dubai the opportunity to audition for a professional theatre production.
The Cinderella casting call in Dubai is scheduled for Saturday, September 26, 2026, with separate registration times for junior and senior performers. The casting announcement is expected to attract families looking for opportunities in theatre, acting and live performance ahead of the festive season.
The audition will take place at New Covent Garden Theatre at Mall of the Emirates, a venue that has established itself as a home for musical theatre, comedy, dance, concerts and family entertainment.
Cinderella Casting Call Details
The September 26 audition is divided into two age groups, allowing the production team to assess younger and older performers separately.
Juniors, ages 7 to 12
- Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
- Sign-in: 9:30am
- Location: New Covent Garden Theatre, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
Seniors, ages 12 to 17
- Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026
- Sign-in: 1:30pm
- Location: New Covent Garden Theatre, Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
The age brackets overlap at 12, so parents should check the latest casting instructions from the theatre before attending if a performer is exactly 12 years old.
Adult casting has not yet been announced as part of this initial round. Further information is expected to be released separately.
For anyone planning to audition, arriving in advance of the designated sign-in time is advisable. Casting sessions can involve registration, waiting periods and multiple stages of assessment, particularly when a production is seeking a large group of young performers.
A New Cinderella Production for Dubai
The upcoming production will bring the classic Cinderella story to the stage as part of the theatre's festive programming.
While the full creative team, production schedule and detailed performance dates have not yet been released, the casting announcement confirms that the production will be looking locally for young performers.
That makes the project particularly relevant to Dubai families. Rather than being an entirely imported production, the casting process creates an opportunity for young people living in the UAE to compete for roles in a major theatrical production taking place in the city.
For aspiring performers, the opportunity goes beyond simply appearing in a school or community production. A professional theatre environment can provide young actors with exposure to rehearsals, stagecraft, choreography, live audiences and the discipline required to work as part of a larger production.
Why Young Performers May Want to Audition
For children and teenagers interested in acting, musical theatre or performance, an open casting call can be a valuable introduction to professional auditions.
Performers do not necessarily need to be experienced stage professionals to benefit from the process. Auditions can help young people understand how casting works, how to present themselves in front of a creative team and how to perform under the pressure of a formal audition environment.
A production such as Cinderella can also involve considerably more than acting. Depending on the final staging, young performers may be involved in ensemble scenes, movement, choreography, singing or other elements of live theatre.
For parents, it is also an opportunity to explore an extracurricular activity that combines creativity, confidence and teamwork.
The production's local casting approach is particularly relevant in a city with a growing performing arts scene. Dubai's entertainment calendar now includes theatre productions, concerts, comedy shows, dance performances and children's programming throughout the year.
About New Covent Garden Theatre
New Covent Garden Theatre is located on Level 2 of Mall of the Emirates and describes itself as a Dubai performing arts and entertainment hub.
The venue was founded by international pop star Lisa Scott-Lee and West End performer Johnny Shentall and was established to provide a platform for both international and local performers.
According to the theatre, its 600-seat venue hosts a wide range of productions, including musical theatre, ballet, opera, comedy, children's entertainment, Arabic shows and live concerts.
The theatre also houses Pineapple Dance Studios Dubai, giving the wider venue a strong connection to dance and performing arts education.
Its location inside Mall of the Emirates makes the Cinderella casting call accessible to families from across Dubai, with the mall connected directly to the Dubai Metro and offering extensive parking facilities.
What Parents Should Know Before the Audition
Families considering the audition should pay close attention to the age category and sign-in time.
Junior performers aged 7 to 12 are scheduled to sign in from 9:30am, while senior performers aged 12 to 17 are scheduled to sign in from 1:30pm.
Parents should also allow additional time for parking, finding the theatre and completing any registration requirements.
Theatre auditions can be busy, particularly when an open casting call is promoted to the wider community. Arriving at the appropriate time rather than immediately before the session begins can make the experience less stressful for both performers and parents.
It is also worth checking the theatre's latest casting information before travelling, as production requirements and audition instructions can change.
More Than a Holiday Show
Cinderella is one of the best-known fairy tales in popular culture, making it a natural choice for a family-oriented theatrical production.
The story has been adapted countless times for stage and screen, while the combination of romance, fantasy, comedy and music makes it particularly suited to a festive theatre season.
For Dubai audiences, however, the appeal of this production may extend beyond the story itself.
The casting call gives local families a chance to become part of the production rather than simply attending as an audience. For a young performer, being selected could mean months of rehearsals followed by the experience of performing in front of a live audience at one of Dubai's established entertainment venues.
The project also reflects the growing range of opportunities available to young people interested in the performing arts in the UAE.
What Happens Next
The September 26 casting session is the immediate date to remember for young performers interested in Cinderella.
Full performance dates, ticketing information and additional casting announcements have not yet been confirmed in the information currently available.
Once the production schedule is announced, families will be able to determine when the final show will take place and how to purchase tickets.
For now, the most important step for aspiring young performers is to prepare for the audition and make sure they have the correct information before arriving at New Covent Garden Theatre.
Dubai's next fairy tale may already have its venue. On September 26, the search begins for the young performers who could bring Cinderella to life on stage.
