Joined by comedian Paul Chowdhry, Joanna Lumley will perform at Dubai Opera this October.
You may only know Joanna Lumley from her hilarious portrayal of the blunt, champagne-guzzling, chain-smoking Patsy Stone in the television series Absolutely Fabulous, but with a career that spans over four decades, she’s quite the multihyphenate. Actress, author, activist, voiceover artist, model, humanitarian — not only has Lumley lived many lives, but she’s also a great storyteller, making the upcoming Me & My Travels a highlight on the events calendar.
Taking place at Dubai Opera on 6 October, the new show will take audiences through Lumley’s eclectic adventures worldwide, recounting some never-before-heard stories. Later in the show, she will be joined on stage by friend and producer Clive Tulloh, who will ask the actress all the questions that you’ve always wanted to ask – submitted by the audience – making the show a unique and intimate experience.
For the uninitiated, Lumley’s breakout role as a spy named Purdey in The New Avengers came about in 1976, but before that, she began as a model and Jean Muir’s muse in London during the swinging 60s. Her role as Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous made her a degenerate role model for a generation, earning her two BAFTAs and establishing her as one of the best comedy actresses of her time. For 25 years, the adventures of Patsy and Edina sporadically graced our screens, culminating in AbFab: The Movie in 2016.
But Lumley’s presence on stage isn’t the only thing to look forward to. She will be followed by actor and comedian Paul Chowdhry, who will return to the city to perform at Dubai Opera on the same night. Incidentally, this unmissable evening comes courtesy of GME Events, which has organised headline shows in the likes of Coca-Cola Arena, Etihad Arena, Dubai Opera and more. Returning after his sold-out show at Coca-Cola Arena in 2020, Chowdhry will bring the signature wit and versatility that has made him the most successful British Indian stand-up comedian in history.
In a remarkable feat, Chowdhry completed his highly acclaimed Family-Friendly Comedian tour across the UK from 2021 to 2023, which saw three extensions due to overwhelming demand. This tour garnered widespread praise, culminating in a sold-out run at the prestigious Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2023, where it received rave reviews and ratings ranging from 4 to 5 stars.
In August 2019, Chowdhry’s record-breaking stand-up tour, Live Innit became a global sensation as an Amazon Prime original special, reaching audiences in over 200 countries. This followed the immense success of his Live Innit tour, which included two nationwide extensions and sold-out shows at prestigious venues such as Hammersmith Apollo. Chowdhry also made history as the first British Asian stand-up comedian to sell out Wembley Arena’s 10,000-seat capacity, with a total of approximately 100,000 tickets sold throughout his tour.
Priced from AED 195, tickets are available now at dubaiopera.com
DSCVR: Joanna Lumley and Paul Chowdhry. Dubai Opera, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, Dubai. @dubaiopera
