Blurring the Boundaries
- Lauren Noble
- Oct 10
- 6 min read
Spotlight on MT ROX by Lauren Noble
There was a time not too long ago - though perhaps longer than some of us care to admit - when being a millennial in a club meant crowded dancefloors, bright lights, and popular anthems. But now I want you to imagine what it would be like to trade the usual chart-toppers for a deafening performer-led chorus of Wicked's Defying Gravity or to watch an entire table taking on the choreographic excellence that is... well... basically everything from High School Musical to Hairspray. Well, you don't actually have to imagine what that would be like any longer because Lucky Voice is proud to present their MT ROX takeovers every Friday night for the next two months.
Walking in expectantly at the start of the night, it was immediately obvious that the atmosphere was much less like a nightclub and much more like we were all stepping into a cabaret-concert hybrid, awaiting the arrival of the live performers to guide us through our evening of entertainment and excess. This was a night where every voice knew the score, every lyric landed, and everybody in the room performed their assigned role as both Broadway audience and West End stage performer with aplomb. It was as though the velvet curtain of a back alley theatre had been pulled back, not to reveal a stage, but to blur the boundaries to such an extent that all of us were suddenly cast in the same iconic production for a limited one-night-only run. And what a run it was! The rhythm of the evening shifted seamlessly between the worlds of live and recorded music. Divided into three acts, the talented troupe of live performers held the room in awe as they belted out familiar favourites like Loathing and You're The One That I Want before dazzling us with ensemble numbers from musicals like The Greatest Showman and Mamma Mia. With a spritz of Disney and a flourish of Richard Rodgers, the classics added a nostalgic and sometimes unabashedly vintage atmosphere into the mix. Then, in perfect synchronicity, the audience took over between each act. A throng of voices filled the makeshift auditorium, dance routines became dance battles and lyrics and librettos were woven into the night like we had been rehearsing this for weeks! The interplay between staged performances and shared singalongs kept the night alive with energy, anchored always by our shared passion for musical theatre and the type of community this world has created for so many of us in the UAE.
And where else could such a phenomenon find its home in Dubai but at Lucky Voice? Nestled in the city’s nightlife landscape, Lucky Voice has become known as a destination for those who believe that an evening out is best remembered through the songs shared and the laughter between friends. With mirrored panels, neon accents, and an industrial-chic bar, the venue is as much a stage as it is a gathering place. It evokes the atmosphere of an experimental theatre space while still holding the warmth of a place to celebrate and let loose together. MT ROX has found the perfect home here, where imagination meets performance and the power of the people really does take centre stage.
Behind the glitter of opening night lies the story of how MT ROX came to be. The concept is the brainchild of Talya Mitchell who is supported from the wings by Delyse Mitchell, her mum. This mother-daughter duo blend Del's expertise as a UK variety agent with Tal's love of musical theatre after her own childhood was filled to bursting with memories of the variety industry itself. The result is an event that celebrates attitude as much as talent. These are skilled performers who not only deliver the songs but bring characters to life, letting the irreverent and cheeky spirit of MT ROX breathe in every corner of Lucky Voice. I was grateful to be invited to a rehearsal before curtain-up to conduct a few interviews and provide a few notes using our Collab Company belief in advancing the arts through acts of camaraderie over competition in all things theatrical in this region. It was clear as I watched from the empty floor of Lucky Voice that the process for everyone has been both frenetic and fulfilling. Every decision was about maximising the skills of the troupe and ensuring the event offered something fresh. At the heart of this was the steady support of Lucky Voice itself. Known across Dubai as a destination for unforgettable nights out, the venue was chosen for its readiness to back the takeover series in full. Algis and April, as representatives of a cross-continental brand, attended rehearsals throughout and saw the vision through, ensuring that every aspect we have all come to love about Lucky Voice also contributed to the immersive theatrical tone of the MT ROX takeovers.
The troupe bring a plethora of talent and experience from across the worlds of gig culture, musical theatre, artistry and arts education to the series. Emma Jane Dunne, fresh off her turn as one of The Pawn Trio in Collab Company's Checkmate the Musical champions the throwbacks, relishing the blend of nostalgia and creativity that allows her input to shape certain performances. Stuart Gibson - educator, director and lover of the classics - was asked about his thoughts on a completely new concept for the UAE. "We have seen the expansion of the concepts in places like New York and London so the potential for expansion here in Dubai is huge." Jack Bruce - a standout, scene-stealing, force of comedic brilliance and recent Dubai Theatre Award winner for MTDXB's fabulous Guys and Dolls this past year - embraced his first live gig of this kind in the UAE, noting how the audience-performer exchange has so much potential. For him, the site-specific nature of Lucky Voice who permitted the team rehearsal space during the day (something our industry is in desperate need of in Dubai) elevates the night into something special but also something much more refined. For me, watching from the dancefloor of Lucky Voice on that opening night, it was also about the charged nature of what it means to bring together various abilities into the same theatrical space. From triple-threat performers like the captivating Kirstie Edwards alongside seasoned musical mavens like Glenn Atkinson, Stuart Gibson and Jack Bruce, to the rich vocal stylings and notable character choices by Claire Bennet alongside the mellifluousness of pop princess Emma Jane Dunne and the powerful presence of Talya Mitchell herself, this cast literally had it all! With a constant rotation of talent in the form of singers frequenting different themed events with MT ROX, the search for performers to join them is an ongoing aspect of the work they are doing in Dubai.
And, of course, it doesn’t stop with theatre! The West Enders Dance Party is just one part of a larger series, with each Friday promising something different for our delectation and delight. Audiences can look forward to nights like the upcoming Halloween Brunch and the Party On deep dives into the decades, where the classics reign supreme and where you will find me on the dancefloor this evening! It's quite literally a treasure trove of possibilities with something for every taste.
What makes MT ROX remarkable is how it bridges familiar traditions with bold experimentation. For some, it is pure nostalgia. For others, discovery. For all, it is a reminder that theatre is not just for stages. It belongs to communities, to friends gathered around a table, to voices that dare to rise above the music.
Dubai has always been a city of stories. Lucky Voice and MT ROX are simply adding a new chapter - one where the spotlight belongs to anyone who is brave enough to sing!
Collab Company wishes to extend our gratitude to Lucky Voice Dubai and MT Rox Events for making this #collabinconvo possible. For more information, please check out the official website of MT ROX Events and give both brands a follow on socials: MT ROX and Lucky Voice.
© Written by Lauren Noble for Collab Company | 2025
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