Antar and Abla operetta – stage design

Antar and Abla is one of the great love stories of Arabic literature, set among the tribes and sands of the desert. For an operetta of the epic in Lebanon, VIPRO took part in the concept and design of a stage that could hold the whole story in one landscape.

A desert in two colours

Sculpted wings rise on both sides of the stage like wind-cut dunes, or sails, layered one behind another so the eye is drawn to the centre. Their pale surfaces are made to take light. Washed in amber, they become the desert by day; in deep blue, with a crescent moon on the screen, the same forms turn to night. A change of act becomes a change of light rather than of scenery.

Stage and screen

At the back, a large LED screen in a truss frame carries changing landscapes and skies. In front, a stepped upper deck and a wide forestage give the cast levels to play on, with clear, safe routes for performers and crew. Traditional and modern scenic elements combine so the production can move quickly between scenes and musical numbers, from festive moments to intimate ones.