Eric Dury, British actor and educator in UAE theatre for 25+ years, dies
Eric Dury, a British actor and university educator who worked in UAE theatre since 1999, has died. Gulf News reports he died on Saturday night after a prolonged battle with leukaemia.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2Eric Dury, a British actor and university educator who spent more than 25 years performing on UAE stages, has died. The NationalN “Eric Dury, the British actor and university educator who spent more than 25 years performing on UAE stages, has died.” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “Dury, who spent more than 25 years in the UAE as an actor, educator and passionate supporter of the local theatre community” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 1The National said the news was announced on Sunday in a statement shared by Alex Broun, festival director of Short+Sweet Dubai, and that Dury's age and cause of death were not disclosed. The NationalN “The news was announced on Sunday in a statement shared by Alex Broun, festival director of Short+Sweet Dubai and a long-time figure in UAE theatre.”“Dury's age and cause of death were not disclosed.” Read at The National ↗ Centre · 1Gulf News later reported that his wife, Shereen Shabnam, confirmed he died on Saturday night after at least four weeks in hospital following a prolonged battle with leukaemia. Gulf NewsN “died on Saturday night after spending at least four weeks in hospital following a prolonged battle with leukaemia” Read at Gulf News ↗
Centre · 2Dury, also known as Roslee Abdullah, moved to the UAE in 1999 and worked mostly with Dubai Drama Group, with roles including Max in The Homecoming, Polonius, the Player and the Gravedigger in Hamlet (2017), and the Player in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. The NationalN “moved to the Emirates in 1999 and became a regular presence on the independent theatre circuit. Much of his work was with Dubai Drama Group.” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “He arrived in the UAE in 1999 and became closely associated with the Dubai Drama Group” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 2He also acted for Raw Theatre (Count De Guiche in Cyrano de Bergerac), Danú Dubai Theatre (the Arms Dealer in The Al-Hamlet Summit) and Tall Tales Productions (Steve in Just Like That). The NationalN “he played Count De Guiche in Raw Theatre's” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “Steve in Tall Tales’ Just Like That” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 2He had a long association with Short+Sweet Dubai, a festival of 10-minute plays, winning Best Actor in 2016 for New Year's Eve and finishing runner-up in 2017 for The Coming Out. Gulf News says he performed there from 2014 to 2017 and judged in 2018, 2019 and 2026. The NationalN “He won its Best Actor award in 2016” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “performing in the festival between 2014 and 2017 before returning as a judge in 2018, 2019 and most recently in 2026” Read at Gulf News ↗
Centre · 2In 2025 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award; The National calls it the inaugural DXB Theatre Awards, while Gulf News calls it the UAE Theatre Awards. The NationalN “In 2025, Dury received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural DXB Theatre Awards” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “he received the UAE Theatre Awards Lifetime Achievement Award” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 2Alongside acting he taught English language at the University of Sharjah and later Zayed University. The NationalN “Dury worked in English language education at the University of Sharjah and later Zayed University.” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “working as an educator at the University of Sharjah and Zayed University” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 2Before the UAE he spent years in Malaysia, where The National says he performed as Eric Roslee and archival listings place him in Kuala Lumpur by 1987 and on the staff of the national arts academy by 1999. Gulf News adds that he performed at festivals in Edinburgh, Singapore and Perth. The NationalN “During his time in Malaysia, he performed under the name Eric Roslee.” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “His performing career also took him to festivals in Edinburgh, Singapore and Perth.” Read at Gulf News ↗
Centre · 2Broun's statement called Dury "part of the fabric of the community" and, per Gulf News, "one of a kind: generous, distinctive, passionate about theatre and always memorable on stage". Performer Lamya Tawfiq called him one of the community's "greatest", and Danú Dubai Theatre called him "a true gentleman". The NationalN “Eric was part of the fabric of the community” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “Eric was one of a kind: generous, distinctive, passionate about theatre and always memorable on stage”“a true gentleman, a wonderful actor and a hugely valued member of the UAE theatre community” Read at Gulf News ↗ Centre · 2His Janazah was held on Sunday after Asr prayers at Al Qusais Cemetery Mosque in Dubai. He is survived by his wife Shereen; The National names a daughter, Tash, while Gulf News names a son, Adam, and a daughter, Natasha. The NationalN “Dury is survived by his wife Shereen and daughter Tash.” Read at The National ↗ Gulf NewsN “He leaves behind his wife Shereen, his son Adam and daughter Natasha” Read at Gulf News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets run respectful obituaries focused on Dury's career and standing in the UAE theatre community. The National leads with the announcement and a career retrospective; Gulf News leads with confirmation from his wife and adds community tributes.
- Emphasis
- Stage roles, Short+Sweet Dubai awards, teaching posts, and tributes from Broun, Lamya Tawfiq and Danú Dubai Theatre. The National also covers his Malaysian career and a 2022 Ramadan interview.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The National does not give the cause of death or the date of death. Gulf News does not cover his Malaysian archive history or the 2009 film City of Life.
- Charged language
- “Much-loved”“Beloved”“true stalwarts”
- For example
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“Eric was part of the fabric of the community: an actor who continued to perform across decades” — The National
“His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from actors, theatre groups, former students and colleagues” — Gulf News
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Eric Dury, a British actor and educator, has died after more than 25 years in UAE theatre.
- He moved to the UAE in 1999 and worked with Dubai Drama Group, Raw Theatre, Danú Dubai Theatre and Tall Tales.
- He won Short+Sweet Dubai Best Actor in 2016 and was runner-up in 2017.
- He taught at the University of Sharjah and Zayed University.
- He received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.
- His Janazah was set for Sunday after Asr prayers at Al Qusais Cemetery Mosque, Dubai.
Where accounts differ
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Cause of death and family details
- Centre
- The National said cause of death was not disclosed and named a daughter, Tash. Gulf News, quoting his wife, reported leukaemia and named a son, Adam, and a daughter, Natasha.
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Name of the 2025 award
- Centre
- The National: inaugural DXB Theatre Awards. Gulf News: UAE Theatre Awards.
Alex Broun person
As festival director of Short+Sweet Dubai, Broun shared the announcement and paid tribute to Dury as a long-standing, much-loved member of the community.
“announced on Sunday in a statement shared by Alex Broun, festival director of Short+Sweet Dubai” — The National
““Eric was a much-loved actor, educator and member of the UAE theatre community for more than 25 years,”” — Gulf News
Eric Dury person
In a 2022 interview with The National, Dury spoke about faith and family during Ramadan and the example he and his wife wanted to set for their daughter.
“it encourages my wife and I to be better people” — The National
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre2 articles
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Much-loved UAE theatre veteran and educator Eric Dury dies
Sympathetic Obituary built around Dury's long stage career, awards and teaching, with archival detail on his earlier Malaysian work.
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Beloved UAE theatre veteran and educator Eric Dury dies
Sympathetic Obituary confirmed by his wife, adding cause of death and a series of tributes from colleagues and theatre groups.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 4 Oct 12:22 First The NationalN Much-loved UAE theatre veteran and educator Eric Dury dies
- 4 Oct 17:15 +4h 53m Gulf NewsN Beloved UAE theatre veteran and educator Eric Dury dies
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.