Un Air de Famille 2026 in Dubai

Un Air de Famille in Dubai brings one of France’s best-loved modern comedies to The Junction in Alserkal Avenue from Friday 20 to Sunday 22 November 2026. Performed in French by La Troupe de Culture Emulsion, Agnès Jaoui and Jean-Pierre Bacri’s play follows the Ménard family through a weekly Friday dinner that spirals out of control, as the tagline puts it, until unspoken truths explode.

The title translates roughly as “a family likeness”, and the film version was released in English as Family Resemblances.

The play: a family dinner that goes wrong

Every Friday night the Ménards meet at the café the family runs. In the original, it is a small, slightly tired bar called Au Père Tranquille, which Henri inherited from his father, and this particular Friday is meant to celebrate the birthday of Yolande, his sister-in-law. Nothing dramatic is planned: a drink, a meal, the usual small talk.

Of course, it does not stay that way. Old grudges surface, careless remarks land badly and, over the course of one evening in one room, each relative is forced to hear what the others really think. The production’s own description lists the line-up: a domineering brother, a resigned sister, a withdrawn brother-in-law and a mother who never quite stays out of things. In the original text, the characters are Henri, his brother Philippe and Philippe’s wife Yolande, their sister Betty, their mother, and Denis, the bar’s waiter.

What makes the play so enduring is how ordinary it all is. There is no villain and no grand plot twist, just a family that knows exactly how to wound each other, and the laughs come from recognising your own dinner table in theirs.

Jaoui and Bacri: a celebrated writing partnership

Agnès Jaoui and Jean-Pierre Bacri were one of the great writing duos of French theatre and cinema, known for sharp, natural dialogue and comedies about how people talk to those closest to them. Un Air de Famille premiered at the Théâtre de la Renaissance in Paris, with the two writers in the cast alongside Catherine Frot, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Wladimir Yordanoff and Claire Maurier.

It won two Molière awards in 1995, for best comedy and for Catherine Frot as best supporting actress, along with nominations in six more categories. Cédric Klapisch then turned it into a 1996 film with the same cast, which won three César awards, including best original screenplay for Bacri, Jaoui and Klapisch. In 2017 Jaoui directed a Paris revival at the Théâtre de la Porte-Saint-Martin, proof that the play still lands decades on.

Who are La Troupe de Culture Emulsion?

Culture Emulsion is one of the main names in French-language theatre in Dubai. The project began in 2013, staged its first show in January 2014, and is co-led by Stéphane Brismontier, often described as a pioneer of francophone theatre in the city, with his associate Cécile Herman. It started by bringing troupes over from France, then shifted its focus to local talent and its own company.

Today it runs a theatre academy with around 200 students aged from five to over 60, and it has taught more than 4,000 students and produced or brought in over 100 shows in the UAE. Its annual festival, Tous en Scène, reached its 13th edition at The Junction in June 2026. Its audience has grown from mainly French residents to the wider francophone community, including Lebanese, Moroccan and Tunisian theatregoers.

The venue: The Junction, Alserkal Avenue

The Junction is in Unit H72 at Alserkal Avenue, the arts district in Al Quoz known for its galleries, studios and independent cafés, and it is a regular home for Culture Emulsion’s productions. Brismontier has named Alserkal Avenue as his favourite cultural venue in the city.

By car, leave Sheikh Zayed Road at exit 43 for Al Manara, turn right onto Al Manara Street, go straight to the first junction, turn right onto 8th Street and take the second exit at the roundabout onto 17th Street; Alserkal Avenue is on the left. By Metro, the ticket page suggests taking the Red Line and finishing the trip by taxi or bus, as the venue is not next to a station. Most taxi drivers know Alserkal Avenue.

Who it suits

This is a natural choice for French speakers in the UAE and for anyone who knows the film and wants to see the stage original. The play is performed in French and the listing does not mention surtitles, so it is best for confident French listeners or advanced learners. If you enjoy comedies built on dialogue rather than slapstick, and family dramas that are funny because they are true, the Ménards will feel uncomfortably familiar.

The listing does not give showtimes for each of the three dates, so check your booking for the exact time. If your plans change, you can exchange your ticket with another fan.

For more theatre this month, browse our shows and theatre in Dubai, explore the art and culture calendar, see things to do in November, or find more things to do in Dubai.