Sharjah gears up for first enactment of ‘1,001 Nights’

It’s the final stretch for Sharjah and the Al Majaz Amphitheatre, which will offer its world-class stage for the first enactment of its original production, ‘1001 Nights: The Last Chapter’, next Tuesday, April 23.

The spectacular show inspired by One Thousand and One Nights will be a grand public announcement of Sharjah officially assuming its role as the 2019 Unesco World Book Capital title, on World Book Day.

Produced by Al Majaz Amphitheatre, developed by Multiple International in collaboration with 7 Fingers and AIM, the production will be staged once every evening, from April 23–27. CC and talented artists representing 25 nationalities. Over 1,000 hours of training have gone into creating this epic production, poised to add another glorious feather to Sharjah’s cultural hat.

Audiences will be able to enjoy the show in three languages at the same time – Arabic, English and French. The story will be brought to life by an awe-inspiring ensemble of 13 performing arts including acting and dancing, horseback riding, skilled acrobatics, and a live 51-piece symphony orchestra.

The first show will be staged at the Al Majaz Amphitheatre, next Tuesday, April 23. Doors open at 7pm and the show starts at 9pm. Tickets are available for purchase on Platinum List.

Sharjah is the 19th city in the world to hold this prestigious international cultural title, which was bestowed on it by Unesco in recognition of its efforts to promote a culture of reading in the region and around the world.

The international artistes, who have extensive experience of performing in iconic entertainment shows including Cirque du Soleil Canada and Broadway, are part of a unique alliance of 537 acrobats, innovators, technologists and storytellers representing as many as 25 nationalities.

The artistes, hailing from Mexico, France, UK, Brazil, Belarus, Slovenia, Japan, US and Canada, will wow the audience with a spectacle of 13 performances that blend music, light, and impeccable performances, before they all come together in one amazing frame that will combine artistic perfection of gymnastics, acrobatics, and horse riding, among others, taking the audience on one-of-a-kind journey.

The stellar cast of performers includes Slovenian Silvia Vrskova, who has been part of the dancing teams accompanying Celine Dion and Gloria Estefan, and taking part in international performances such as ‘The Fiddler on the Roof’ and ‘Angels in America’. Vrskova also took part in the 87th Oscars and Tony Awards functions.

French dancer Kyra Jean Green was one of eight choreographers selected to present their works in Copenhagen’s Choreographic Competition in August 2016. She also won the Prix Coup de Coeur du Public at Festival Quartiers Danses in September 2016 and in 2018. She has choreographed performances for Hubbard Street II, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Cadence Progressive Contemporary Ballet, Companhia Rudá, and The Dancers’ Space.

After graduating from St Paul Performance Institute in 2007, Alexandre Hill has worked with top choreographers and performed in several countries around the world. He also choreographed many performances for the Fashion & Design Festival in Montreal between 2016-2017, including for some of Professor Adonis Volanakis’ works in the United States.

Also taking part in the ‘1001 Nights: The Last Chapter’ ensemble is Guillaume Michaud. The exceptional talent started dancing at the age of six. He studied at Louise Lapierre Danse, and the École supérieure de ballet du Québec, before taking part in a series of television shows, and at Cirque du Soleil. He also joined Ballets Jazz De Montreal, where he performed on international stages for four years before he signed a contract with MGM for a resident production the in Macao region of China.

From Mexico comes Ricardo Castaneyra, who specialises in circus arts, especially aerial acrobatics, alongside his teammates Olivier Lomio and Didier Stowe, professional trampoline artists. The latter participated in the 2013 ‘Festival De Monte Carlo’ and received a bronze medal and prize of the public as part of the troupe ‘Catwall Acrobats’.

The 21-year-old Japanese aerial silks and straps performer, Mizuki Shinagawa, is also a part of the massive Al Majaz Amphitheatre production.