Ceremonies in the Middle East
BRS is a long-trusted partner for creative productions in the Middle East. Together with our local collaborators, we have catered to the leading agencies of the region’s public sector.
Dubai
Expo 2022
With our long-time partners at Memories Events Management, we created several major ceremonies in the UAE, including the large-scale Dubai Expo 2022 Ceremony in Dubai. We brought the wildest landscapes to life via stunning motion designs, augmented reality and an immersive audio system. This hybrid experience took over Dubai’s Al Wasl Plaza for a sophisticated public sector ceremony.
Al Wasl is the historical name for Dubai but also means “connection” in Arabic, reflecting Dubai’s goal of bringing people together at this year’s Expo and the plaza’s physical location at the heart of the site. It also became the guiding notion for our large-scale hybrid arena production and connected the region’s rich history with bold visions for the future.
The 150-metre diameter Al Wasl Plaza is topped by a 65-metre-high dome with the capacity to serve as a 360 degree projection surface, and it was the central hub for the Dubai Expo 2022. The dome’s translucent quality enables its use as a projection surface — with the projections being visible both inside and outside the dome itself. Battle Royal Studios took advantage of this unique opportunity to unleash the full breadth of our hybrid creative impetus.
With a 2,000-strong marching crew, over 200 projectors, and a cutting-edge audio system topped with Augmented Reality elements, we created an exceptional experience. We merged the technology with carefully crafted immersive storytelling and choreography for this ceremony for a public institution. And we took it to a new level!
The live participants – including His Highness the Sheikh of Dubai – and the broadcast audience immersed themselves into Dubai’s history. From the days of the nomads to the modern age and beyond, we highlighted the achievements and the legacy of Dubai’s people. We crafted each era’s visual representation with great respect for the region’s great, colourful culture. In close cooperation with our local partner and lead Agency Memories Events Middle East, we created a cultural celebration worthy of the spectacular venue of Al Wasl Plaza.
Souk Okaz
Souk Okaz is an ancient trading place that might date back more than 1,500 years. The highlight of Taif Season is a beacon of Saudi Arabia’s transformation into a global tourist destination.
With lead agency Black Engineering, BRS created a major show experience to honour the history and legacy of the Souk as a communication hub, trading area and melting pot for arts, literature, and philosophy.
We took the 2,000 VIP guests on an emotional ride through the key eras and rich moments of the Souk. First-class music acts, a cast of over 160 performers, amazing young talents, live camels on stage, and an incredible 70m-wide video mapped stage treated the audience. The set was designed and constructed to imitate the original sacred rocks where many poetry competitions historically took place.
Over two incredible weeks on site, we crafted a ceremony show unlike anything ever seen before in the region.
Both cases show Battle Royal Studios’ capabilty to treat the rich culture of the Middle East with respect while meeting the highest expectations of the local institutions.
Credits
- Hybrid Graduation Ceremony
Produced with Memories Events Management
Wael Jaber
Event Director
Reine Khoury
Lead Creative Director
BRS — Concept & Creative Production
Brendan Shelper
Executive Creative Director / Show Director
Stefan Spendier
Senior Project Manager
Avril Pryce
Junior Project Manager
Anna Robb
Production Stage Manager / Show Caller
Denis Weckbach
Choreographer
Terry Stewart
Assistant Choreographer / Performer
Bilge Arik
Assistant Choreographer / Performer
Susana Beiro-Shelper
Assistant Choreographer / Performer
Florian Bücking
Assistant Choreographer / Performer
Chris Moylan
Light Design
Duncan McDade
Lead Motion Design
Alf Ruge
Motion Design
Images by Chris Moylan and Brendan Shelper - Dubai Expo 2022
In partnership with Memories Events Management
Wael Jaber
Event Director
Reine Khoury
Lead Creative Director
BRS — Creative Production
Stefan Spendier
Producer
David Bray
Creative Producer
Jon Buckels
Creative Director
Alex Burgos
Show Director and Choreographer
Chris Moylan
Light Design
Benjamin von Waldow
Production Stage Manager
Capture Media GmbH
Motion Design
Images by Memories Events Management - Souk Okaz
Lead Agency and Production by Black Engineering – Massimo Fogliati
Annamaria Marrano c/o Black Engineering
Artistic Producer
Gavin Robins
Creative Director
Brendan Shelper
Associate Creative Director / Show Director
Andy Machals
Creative Producer
Wadih Dona
Artistic Coordinator / Cultural Advisor
Christian Steinhäuser & Team
Music and Sound Design
Denis Weckbach, Florian Bücking, Joseph Hunt, Chan Arik and Terry Lee Stewart
Choreographers
Territory Studios London
Video & Projection Design
Claudia Alongi
Props Manager
Oxana Rausch
Costume Manager
Images by Brendan Shelper
Planning your next brand experience?
Whether for a product launch, brand activation, large-scale cultural ceremony, consumer event, or immersive experience, our cross-disciplinary team across Europe and beyond is ready to collaborate.
Starting with us is easy — drop us a line, share your early vision, and let us bring it to life.
