This Dubai-based litigation finance expert is a ‘class act’

37-year-old British consultant gets candid about his passion – theatre

■ ■ be required to put in around 15 hours a week towards a production or performance outside his regular work hours. Different roles call for different inputs in terms of effort and time, with directors invariably under greater pressure.

Family support

“My family is very supportive as my time with theatre means I get to spend less time with them,” he said.

Siklos’ take on the UAE theatre scene is candid. “There are four-five well-known groups that regularly put up plays. We have hundreds of good actors, but many times in the wrong roles. Casting is very important, but good directors are few in number. If a play isn’t good, audiences blame the actor. It is actually the director’s fault.”

He said every time he goes to London, he can’t help comparing theatre in his home and host countries.

“In terms of our performances, we are just as good. But where we still don’t match up is with technical expertise, sets, props, costumes etc. We don’t have the required budgets,” he noted.

Courtesy: DDG Jonathan Siklos (centre) with members of the Dubai Drama Group, the oldest theatre company in the city.

Courtesy: Sharjah Police Within minutes after bidding started the price of plate No 7 shot up to Dh5 million from Dh1 million.