Serious Stages and Atlantic Enterprises were contracted by Le Public Systeme to provide a custom structure for the staging of the spectacular production. The largest temporary stage ever erected in the MENA region, Serious Stages and Atlantic utilised numerous Antonov aircraft to fly out the massive amounts of equipment required. The structure consisted of a 38m SPACE roof stage on a 12m high leg with two adjoining 38m wide SPACE buildings, which functioned as the world's largest 'cowsheds'. The build was project managed by Atlantic's Shane McCarthy and David Fletcher with design and engineering support being handled by Serious Stages' team back in the UK.
Both Steven Corfield (Serious) and Shane McCarthy (Atlantic Enterprises) were determined that given the scale and complexity of the build that it was essential that safety should be paramount and built into the project from the start, despite a short lead in time. Two main areas of concern were the scorching temperatures and the extreme heights involved in completing the custom roof structures. Shane McCarthy developed a detailed build schedule and TAO worked closely with both companies in the development of detailed method statements, risk assessments, lifting plans, worker welfare strategies and a Construction (Design and Management) phase plan.
With Head of TAO Andy Cotton committed to other projects, TAO's Ben Price was dispatched to Tripoli to conduct third party assurance of the safety systems put in place on-site, including work programming given the intense heat, work at height compliance, lifting operations and workplace transport.
Andy Cotton said: "In light of recent tragic events related to the construction of temporary demountable structures, it is critical for companies to take stock of the hazards associated with such activities. We have a long standing arrangement with Serious to provide additional support for their proactive stance to safety management, and we were delighted to be asked to contribute to such a high profile event."
The biggest party in Libyan History took place on 1 September 2009 in Tripoli. Performances included a two--hour history of North Africa performed by 800 dancers. There was a pre-dawn feast with floats, dancing and horsemanship, and bands from around the world performed at the parade.
The Maltese President and his Serbian counterpart, Boris Tadic, attended, with other guests including the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, the Emir of Qatar and the King of Jordan.
(Jim Evans)
