Special Performances for Saudi Arabia's National Day
|
In 2018, Cirque du Soleil helped celebrate Saudi Arabia's 88th Anniversary
by assembling the largest number of artists ever for a special event. The
record-breaking production, designed exclusively for the occasion, took place
at the King Fahd International Stadium in front of 27,000 attendies and many
millions more via television broadast. The presentation was so successful that
Cirque du Soleil was invited to perform again the following year, albeit with
a less-flashy production. While the 2018 show was for
one-night only, the 2019 version presented 14 shows over a five-day period at
the Dhahran Expo in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
|
|
| Dates: | Year 1: September 23, 2018
Year 2: September 19-23, 2019
Year 3: September 20, 2022 |
| Type: | Special Show |
| Location: | Year 1: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Year 2: Dammam, Saudi Arabia
Year 3: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia |
|
| |
 |
|
[ Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 ]
|
 |
2018 • SAND
This record-breaking performance –
which featured Cirque's largest number of artists ever assembled for a
special event – celebrated a future "Beyond the Horizon". The production,
exclusively designed for this occasion, took place at the King Fahd
International Stadium in Riyadh in front of 27,000 attendees – making it
one of the biggest Cirque du Soleil productions ever created for a customized
event. A tailor-made 85 x 40-meter stage was designed and constructed especially
for the occasion.
"This Cirque du Soleil event [provided] the Saudi audience with an enthralling
international entertainment experience, mixed with locally-relevant content,"
said Abdulrahman bin Nasser Al Khalifa, General Manager of Communications and
official spokesperson of the General Entertainment Authority.
As the sun sets on the horizon, a tribe of nomads gather on the
dessert dunes in search of an oasis when a raging sandstorm sweeps across their
encampment. The desert dwellers are whisked off to a surreal world and the wheels
of the future begin to revolve. The encampment turns into a magical oasis where
waterfalls flow upwards, and when the great falcon spreads its wings, a new sun
rises over the horizon.
The visual theme of the King Fahd International Stadium’s exterior is
reminiscent of Bedouin tents. This design will be explored on stage as well, thus
creating 'a theatre within a theatre' experience. The four elements will come into
play with the tent structures and four enchanting mashrabiya-inspired lanterns to
immerse the audience in a surreal realm where tradition inspires the future. The
production blended the latest technological innovations in stagecraft, large-scale
video projections, special effects, and fireworks with Cirque du Soleil’s signature
style acrobatics.
Acts
- Opening/Prologue
- Aerial Silk
- Suspended Pole
- Rotating Ladder
- Free-Flying Hoverboard
- Unicycling
- Hip-Hop Dancing
- German Wheel
- Trick Cycling
- Electric Motorcycles
- Trampowall
- Cyr Wheel
- Trapeze
- Aerial Sphere
- Fire Manipulation
- Russian Swings
- Fireworks Finale
 |
2019 • Amal and Fakhar
The show is about siblings, Amal and Fakhar, and their difference in opinion.
One is ready to explore the world and the future while the other fights against change.
The inspiration behind Amal and Fakhar is based on empowerment, family, and land.
Empowerment is giving power for both men and women, recognizing each strength and
weaknesses and finding balance despite the differences. The second inspiration is
family, that life, individuals, and families are never perfect but they can still be
amazing if people stand by and support those people they love. And lastly is land,
how proud and rich Saudi Arabia is in tradition and culture but slowly opening its
doors to welcome new changes.
Creative Team
Benjamin Dupont Show Director
Bernadett Zsoka Seles Director's Assistant
David Poulin Director of Creation
Simon Lachance Technical Director
Michel Deguire Production Director
Martin Bolduc Line Producer
Olivier Landreville Set Designer
Bruno Rafie Lighting Designer
Benjamin Dupont Video Content Designer
Félix-Antoine Couturier Music Composer
Jonathan Dauphinais Music Composer
Matthew Sparks Human Performance Designer
Benoit-Swan Pouffer Choreographer
Miodrag Guberinic Costume Designer
Heidi Douchet Makeup Designer
Acts
- Opening
- Duo Chinese Pole
- Interlude
- Rola Bola
- Solo Aerial Strap
- B-Boy and Hair Hanging
- Diabolos
- Clown
- Hand Balancing
- BMX
- Aerial Beam
- Korean Plank
- Final
 |
2022 • Sarwat Watan ("The Wealth of a Nation")
"A journey that unites through art and humanity."
In September 2022, Simone Ferrari & Lulu Helbaek wrote and directed Cirque du
Soleil's new show 'Sarwat Watan', a powerful and immersive show about the journey
of three travelers, who immerse themselves in a new culture and place, where the
West and Middle-East meet. A show that focuses on the theme of travel, travel that
enriches us, changes us profoundly, making us grow, meeting the different and making
it part of us through mutual acquaintance. A journey that unites through art and
humanity. With gravity-defying numbers and daring performances between earth, sky
and water, the show blended theatrical language and Nouveau Cirque. “Sarwat Watan” was
staged in a custom-built theatre in Ryiadh, KSA where thousands of people saw it
live over several evenings, and was seen by millions in a live broadcast event for
the 92nd National Day of KSA.
Creative Team
Lulu Helbek Show Director
Simone Ferrari Show Director
Stéphane Roy Set Designer & Props Co-Designer
Madeleine B-e Props Co-Designer
Mathieu Poirier Light Designer
Finn Ross Video Designer
Adam Young Video Designer
Jerome le Baut Acrobatic Designer
Nicolas Vaudelet Costume Designer
Bob & Bill Music Composers
Mélissa Colello Choreographer
Anthony Venisse Choreographer
Gabrielle Brulotte Make-Up Designer
Fabrice Becker Creation Director
Acts
- Opening
- Aerial Pole
- Interlude
- Banquine
- Duo Trapeze
- Cyr Wheel
- Aerial Strap
- Diabolos
- Teeterboard
- High Wire
- Duo Hair Suspension
- Hoop Manipulation
- Singing Interlude
- Flying Trapeze
- Finale
- Bows
|
|
|
|
|
[ You are here:
Grand Chapiteau |
Creations | SAND ]
