Robert Juliat Cyrano performs at La Perle
- Details
La Perle is a landmark for Dubai with a trio of firsts - Dragone’s first show in the Emirates, Dubai’s first large scale theatre dedicated to just one show and the only live residency ever to be performed in Dubai. Sixty five international artists are showcased against a dreamscape world in which they display their acrobatic, aquatic and aerial acting skills in a series of awe-inspiring stunts. 25m high dives and death defying stunts strive for attention with dancers and aerialists as the action centres in, around and above a 5.5m wide x 8m deep diving pool known as The Pit which overspills or recedes to fill and drain the wider stage at a moment’s notice.
The bespoke theatre is designed to gather its large audience around the irregularly-shaped performance arena and wet stage in just 14 rows of seats, giving perfect sightlines from every seat and guaranteeing each audience member a unique, close-up experience.
A complex, structured set and heavily reliance on projection combine to create the ambience of a grotto or cave. Directing the audience’s gaze through this to the show’s main protagonists are four Robert Juliat Cyrano 2500W HMI followspots, used with soft edge focus to gently direct the audience’s attention whilst simultaneously avoid breaking the spell.
The initial lighting design and specification by Enrico Bagnoli was implemented on site by his assistant Claude Plante, and programmed by Stephane Lecavalier and Nathan Files. The show is currently operated by the La Perle lighting operations team of Anton Montaut, head of lighting and video, Steve Critchley, assistant head of department and Michael Swan, lighting rover and board op sub.
“The four Cyrano followspots are mounted front-of-house, two on stage left and two on stage right, on two separate levels for maximum coverage as our theatre production is performed to a 270° audience,” says Montaut. “We use the in-house Cyranos to cover the main characters of the show and any speciality artists, high divers, flyers, acrobats and motorcyclists throughout the show, and for end-of-show bows,” explains Montaut. “Our most used, and therefore invaluable, feature is the Cyrano’s built-in frost which is used on around 90% of the followspot cues.”
The 90-minute La Perle by Dragone runs twice a day for five days each week at the new theatre located in Al Habtoor City’s Atrium complex and is set to become a major attraction in the region.
Robert Juliat Cyrano followspots and all the Robert Juliat portfolio of lighting products are distributed in the UAE by RJ’s exclusive distributor Venuetech.
(Jim Evans)
