Story of a Fort...

Over 12,000 visitors flocked to the festival commemorating 250 years of Emirati history, the Qasr Al Hosn Festival in Abu Dhabi. The legendary artistic director Franco Dragone conceptualized the festival’s main attraction and integrated stage fabrics from ShowTex into every scene of this innovative production.

‘Story of a Fort, Legacy of a Nation' is a visual extravaganza combining music, breathtaking performances and special effects celebrating the rich cultural history of Abu Dhabi. 20 shows set in a purpose-built 5600 square meter tent style theatre took thousands of audience members on a historical journey.

In addition to using an international cast filled with dancers, acrobats and gymnasts, Franco Dragone’s ‘Story of a Fort, Legacy of a Nation’ collaborated with a select group of Emirati talent to take part in this once in a lifetime showcase.  According to Dragone, “I wanted the story to be simple but told in a unique way, through film, music, projections and some amazing technology. With screens moving and flying, sails rising, storms in the sea and sand dunes coming alive on the stage.”

Various extra wide width ShowTex stage fabrics, many measuring upwards of 11m long x 35 m wide, helped to achieve the magnificent concepts Dragone presented to the public. Projections were done on an Anthracite RetroScreen masked by borders and legs in black Molton. A GoblinTulle Sharkstooth scrim served as a backdrop for other special effects.  Light grey DekoTaft flame resistant taffeta was used to create sand dunes and 12 x 35 m backdrops. An additional 60 rm of 3 m wide DekoTaft was integrated into set pieces.  Banners in Cyclo 75 and Cyclo 200 joined DekoSilk Kabuki curtains and 3D fabric stage pieces manufactured from PolyStretch. Shimmering fabrics also caught the light effects of Dragone’s creative vision including black/silver Metallic Spark and gold Lurex Voile 100 Crunch. Fabrics were set in motion using a 35 meter wide modular Kabuki 50. ‘Story of a Fort, Legacy of a Nation’ set a new standard of combining fabric light and motion to create stage magic that audiences will be talking about for years to come.