An international art collective that began in Japan more than 20 years ago, teamLab, has become renowned globally for its innovative digital installations, with immensely popular locations all over the world, from its native Japan to China, the USA, the Netherlands, and Saudi Arabia. With the collective opening its latest museum in Abu Dhabi – a 17,000 sq m multisensory experience on Saadiyat Island – Miral, in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT Abu Dhabi), ensured that the opening was marked in style, engaging HQ Worldwide Shows (HQWS) to produce a spectacular inauguration ceremony. Reflecting on the…
Author: Peter Iantorno
The word ‘immersive’ is thrown around with increasing regularity nowadays, often used to describe a production that has some particularly engaging video content or an innovative audio solution. However, in this increasingly crowded segment, a truly immersive production stands out by engaging multiple senses simultaneously and drawing in the audience to become part of the show – an unusual feat that was achieved in spectacular fashion by Dragone’s latest Saudi Arabian production, SOUK WONDERS. Held over 20 days in Riyadh as part of Diriyah Season 2025, SOUK WONDERS was an extraordinary fusion of culinary delights, art, and breathtaking performances set…
Held every four years, World Stage Design (WSD) is the first and only designer-led exhibition showcasing and celebrating performance design from individual designers worldwide. With previous editions having taken place in Toronto, Seoul, Cardiff, Taipei, and Calgary, the 2025 event is set to make its Middle East debut when it arrives in Sharjah from 18-25 October. “Think of it as the ‘Expo’ for the global performance industry,” began WSD Project Director Jacqui George, when asked to describe what we can expect from the event, which will be co-produced by Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) and International Organisation of Scenographers Theatre Architects and Technicians (OISTAT). WSD will comprise four…
Having led the delivery of some of the UAE’s most important and impressive events – including the Special Olympics, Al Hosn Festival, and several Eid Al Etihad celebrations – over the past decade, Tim Elliott and his company, People, have become interwoven into the fabric of UAE culture. An ardent advocate of the arts, passionate about sustainability, and committed to supporting the next generation of production talent, the People CEO continues to bring his creative flair, hard work and dedication to everything he turns his hand to. Growing up in the UK, Elliott’s passion for the arts was ignited from…
With the demand for environmentally friendly live events increasing all over the world, the Middle East is a region that is making great strides in its approach to sustainability. Among the companies and organisations trying to lead the change in the region is Showpower. Made up of a team of sustainable power experts, the company is seeing greater demand than ever for alternative power solutions for the region’s live events. “The tide is certainly turning, and people want to challenge the status quo,” began Paul Schurink, Showpower’s co-CEO. “The region is already known for delivering productions on another scale, so…
Since the establishment of TPiMEA back in 2016, our scope has certainly expanded as the live events market in the region grows and matures. The most obvious example of this is Saudi Arabia, but another country that is growing in stature on the international stage is India. While India is of course in South Asia, the country’s live events industry is linked closely with the Middle East. In fact, our previous edition’s cover stars, Coldplay, following their Abu Dhabi performance, paid a visit to India, as the next stop on their world tour. As well as becoming a common stop-off…
The family entertainment sector is growing quickly in Kuwait, with more and more shows taking place in the country every year. One series that has stood the test of time is Zain – an annual production that has taken place at The Arena for each of the past four years, telling a different story surrounding the same character every year. For this year’s production, Fearless Zain, Lighting Designer Luke Gregory Bonner of Curiome was tasked with creating a design that would complement the ethereal staging and scenic elements, helping to portray the vision of Director, Samir Abdel Massih, and Producer,…
With 500 attendees and 26 awards up for grabs, the TPiMEA Awards returned for its seventh edition, once again celebrating excellence in the Middle East events industry. The preparation for the Awards often begins long before we are able to celebrate the esteemed winners, with arrangements for this year starting with the selection of a new venue for this edition – Soho Garden, Palm Jumeirah. Winners on the night included Coldplay’s Music of the Spheres World Tour – the mammoth stadium run that has been touring worldwide for three years – for achieving the feat of being Abu Dhabi’s largest…
With an all-star lineup packed with some of the most popular Afrikaans artists backed by an expert creative and technical team with a genuine passion for the project, it’s no surprise that Afrikaans is Groot (AIG) is one of South Africa’s most popular annual events. A celebration of Afrikaans music and culture, the event has become so popular that last year’s iteration saw nine shows take place over two consecutive weekends, with more than 70,000 people flocking to Pretoria’s SunBet Arena to take in the spectacular cultural experience. Produced by Coleske Artist Management under the leadership of Technical Director Ian…
Founded in 1981 by Ofer Lapid under the name Lighting Unlimited, Gearhouse South Africa began as a modest operation with limited resources but a clear ambition to support the region’s emerging events industry. Over the decades, it has grown into a leading technical production provider, now operating as the cornerstone of the Gearhouse Group of Companies. Based out of Johannesburg, with additional facilities in Cape Town and Durban, the company has built a reputation for delivering integrated solutions across a full spectrum of live events, from intimate gatherings to large-scale international productions. At the heart of Gearhouse’s success lies its…
In an era where the scale and ambition of live events continue to soar, the desire for highly trained and reliable on-site personnel has never been greater. Meeting that demand head-on is THE Production TEAM – a UK-founded company, part of Spendlove Group, rapidly expanding its footprint across the region. At the helm of the Middle East Operation is Ann Dacumos – an experienced events professional with a track record of successful projects in the region, supported by Daniel Clark, the Group General Manager, whose global perspective continues to shape the company’s delivery, “Our knowledge of the industry is undoubtedly…
What is Spectera and what industry need does it address? Spectera is the world’s first bidirectional wideband solution. Using the ground-breaking WMAS (Wireless Multichannel Audio Systems) technology, Spectera greatly reduces wireless system complexity, while at the same time considerably increasing capability, enabling time-saving workflows and offering full remote control and monitoring, including permanent spectrum sensing. The wideband solution will be ideal for large productions, whether in the touring, broadcasting, or theatre fields, or in any other area that requires multichannel audio setups. Spectera satisfies customers’ needs – ease of use, operational reliability and flexibility. It offers less hardware, drastically reduced…
