Akram Khan Company is bringing Thikra: Night of Remembering, its final touring production, to Abu Dhabi for two nights on 20 and 21 November.
The shows take place on Friday 20 and Saturday 21 November at the Cultural Foundation, Abu Dhabi’s cultural centre, which opened in 1981 beside Qasr Al Hosn. Akram Khan Company announced the work as its final touring production, and the tour runs through to March 2027.
Thikra is the Arabic word for memory and remembrance. The piece is a ritual in which women gather for one night to honour their ancestors. An all-female ensemble performs it, combining Bharatanatyam and contemporary dance, with an original score by Aditya Prakash.
Thikra: Night of Remembering is a work that is a personal and spiritual reflection on remembering on what we choose to carry forward and what we must lay to rest.
Akram Khan, Artistic Director and Co-founder, Akram Khan Company
Wadi AlFann, a contemporary arts destination in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, commissioned the production. AlUla’s ancient landscapes, mythology, and heritage inspired it, and it was created with visual artist Manal AlDowayan. In January 2025, it premiered outdoors in the AlUla desert, and an indoor version has toured since June 2025.
Both performances start at 8pm, and doors open 30 minutes earlier. The show runs for about 60 minutes with no interval, and latecomers are admitted only at a suitable break. Tickets start at AED 175 on Platinumlist, and access to your ticket before entering the theatre requires the Platinumlist app. Food and drink aren’t allowed inside.
The Cultural Foundation is on Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street (2nd Street), where parking is limited. Abu Dhabi Bus Station is 1.2km away. For more to do in the capital in November, see our guide to Abu Dhabi concerts in November.
