‘1001 Nights’ – a blend of reason, courage and heart

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed Al Qasimi, Head of the inauguration ceremony committee of the Sharjah World Book Capital (SWBC), has noted that the ‘1001 Nights: The Last Chapter’ show will take Sharjah’s cultural and humanitarian message to the world through an untold story of Scheherazade.

The massive stage production will be writing a new chapter in the development of integrated live shows showcasing the best of regional and global performance arts.

Sheikh Sultan Bin Ahmed stressed that the show’s spirit will not only be carried by its central characters and their adventures on stage but is reflected in the vision of the entire team behind this epic production. A multicultural team of over 500 artists and technical experts from 25 nations have come together on one stage to bring this vision to life.

The Head of the inauguration ceremony committee of the (SWBC) shared that the premise of the show is offered by three exciting quests for the ultimate truth, which will be undertaken by Scheherazade’s children – Fayrouz, Kader and Amin – the protagonists of ‘1001 Nights: The Last Chapter’. To be unveiled at Sharjah’s

world-class Al Majaz Amphitheatre, the production will feature never-seen-before live entertainment technologies in the region.

The Al Majaz Amphitheatre production, developed by Multiple International in partnership with 7Fingers and Artists In Motion will unveil this Tuesday, April 23. It’ll take audiences on a surreal audiovisual voyage through riveting acrobatics and aerial stunts, dance, acting, live music by a 51-piece orchestra, costumes cut of 1 km long fabric, and a spectacular stage setup.

The first-of-its-kind, live entertainment production in the region will inaugurate Sharjah as Unesco World Book Capital 2019 and offer one daily show for five days till April 27.

 The epic journeys undertaken by the show’s characters that’ll take them down deep canyons and across the seas, will lead them to true love, courage and wisdom, creative an immersive entertainment experience that audiences will be able to enjoy simultaneously in three languages – Arabic, English and French.

Dressed in costumes from various cultures, performers and artists will unravel the mysterious world within which this story of Scheherazade – one that has never told before – is set.

Magical figures with supernatural powers, imaginary forms and symbols will take stage for an extraordinary performance that will include a horse-riding show and dazzling light effects by live production experts and technicians.

The multicultural artistes ensemble of ‘1001 Nights: The Last Chapter’ includes 32 professionals including 22 Canadians, two artists each from the UK, Brazil, and Mexico, and one artist representing Belarus, Slovenia, USA and Japan. The 90-person music recording team for the show comes from France, Czech Republic, Holland, Serbia, Algeria, Lebanon, Armenia and Canada have designed the show’s content.

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.

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.