The Sound of Music being a worldwide success, many people think no further than North America, Europe and possibly Australia and New Zealand. Surprisingly, it was also popular in parts of the Middle East, particularly in Israel, Egypt, Beirut and Iran. The film was a major success in the post-Second World War period when European powers were dismantling their colonial rules, and countries such as Syria, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt were gaining or regaining their independence. Surprisingly, considering how politically volatile parts of the Middle East have been in recent years, there has been a growth in the market for stage musical theatre. Popular Productions, a company based in London and Dubai, have successfully staged The Sound of Music in Dubai, Bahrain and Qatar, each time with British casts and orchestras playing to a combination of local and ex-pat audiences.