ARTISTIC MARVEL
Over 530 artists from around the world came together at Al Majaz Amphitheatre to stage 1001 Nights: The Last Chapter, dubbed the biggest and most powerful adaptation of One
Thousand and One Nights, to mark the start of Sharjah’s reign as the Unesco World Book Capital on Tuesday.
— Photo by M. Sajjad
sharjah — Aerial stunts, acrobatics, dance, acting, visual wonders, magical figures with supernatural powers ... it was all there to make it a night to remember for thousands of spectators as Sharjah began its reign as the Unesco World Book Capital on Tuesday. Oh, there was a horse-riding show, too!
Over 530 artists from around the world came together at Al Majaz Amphitheatre to stage what is being dubbed the biggest and most powerful adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights.
The 1001 Nights: The Last Chapter live entertainment show is the product of collaboration among the heads of Multiple International and Artists in Motion, choreographers associated with recent Cirque du Soleil productions, and top orchestra talents.
His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, was among the thousands of spectators, who were wowed by the show. Taking to the stage before the show, Sheikh Sultan said “Our ancestors” had left “great knowledge” as their legacy. “We in Sharjah are working to encourage creativity so as to build a great nation. We have to instil knowledge in the minds of new generation to ensure a better future,” he added.
Sheikh Sultan bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, head of the inauguration ceremony committee of the Sharjah World Book Capital (SWBC), had earlier said that the show would take Sharjah’s “cultural and humanitarian message to the world through an untold story of Scheherazade”.
He stressed that the show’s spirit lies not only in its central characters and their adventures — but also in “the vision of the entire team behind the epic production”. A multicultural team of 537 artists and technical experts from 25 nations came together to bring that vision to life.
The premise of the show is offered in three quests for the “ultimate truth”, which were undertaken by Scheherazade’s children — Fayrouz, Kader and Amin — the protagonists of the show.
The production featured live en
tertainment technologies that the region has never seen before. It took the audience on an audiovisual voyage through riveting acrobatics and aerial stunts, dance, acting, live music by a 51-piece orchestra, costumes cut from a 1km-long fabric, and a spectacular stage set-up. The entertainment production will stage one show daily till April 27.
The epic journeys undertaken by the show’s characters took them down deep canyons and across the seas, leading them to discoveries of true love, courage and wisdom.
Spectators were also able to enjoy the entertainment experience in three languages — Arabic, English and French.
Dressed in costumes from various cultures, performers and artists unravelled the mysterious world within which the story of Scheherazade is set.
Behind the scenes
The two men who led the creation of 1001 Nights: The Last Chapter said the show would “change the face of live entertainment”. Philippe Skaff, one of the most acclaimed creative professionals in the Middle East, along with Canadian artist and former Cirque du Soleil actor Sébastien Soldevila, were at the helm of the production.
“You will be living a dream,” said Skaff, director of creation of The
Last Chapter, ahead of the show. “The production will hold its ground as the most spectacular stage adaptation of the most decorated folktale in Arab culture, and reinforce Sharjah’s status as a centre of excellence in entertainment.
“It is the most immersive experience yet into the One Thousand
and One Nights anthology, developed by some of the world’s best theatrical and technical teams.” Show director Soldevila said The
Last Chapter would be “awe-inspiring”, asserting that it would be a spectacular experience for the whole family, not to be missed.
“The show will allow us to revisit one of Arabia’s most-loved folk classics, freshly interpreted by best in the world of live entertainment. We are bringing a new way of storytelling, never experienced before by culture enthusiasts.”