ABU DHABI, UAE – Al Laith Events Services, a new division of Dubai-based Al Laith Scaffolding, supplied a 25-meter, three-bay Space Roof from Serious Stages with full stage decking system and two 12-meter high goalposts for Il Divo's concert at the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Al Laith Events Services was working for Flash Events, and Jacques Smalberger served as project manager, leading a crew of 80. He worked with site manager Jean-Carl Saliba and Flash Events production manager Lee Charteris.
In addition to providing the stage and roof, Al Laith also supplied a 2,500-seat grandstand, two VIP platforms and other structures for the event, including an FOH platform and followspot towers.
The structure spanned 45 meters in width, and the goalposts supported rear projection screens for the event. The Al Laith crew also built scaffolding projector platforms nine meters behind the screens. The onstage towers of each goalpost also supported the main PA arrays.
Each arch of the Space Roof design can support a weight loading of 5 tonnes, helping Gearhouse Dubai, which provided lighting, AV and sound, satisfy the rigging requirements for the show. The top cantilever at the front of the roof offered additional downstage lighting points, right above the lip of the stage.
The crew also installed "cowshed" tents on both sides of the Space Roof on the stage wings. They served as an integral element of the structure, providing cover for monitors, dimmers and other technical areas. The stage build was completed with a full set of walkways and ramps.
The two-tier FOH platform was kept low, neat and unobtrusive so as not to interfere with any sight lines from the grandstand. The two 13 meter-high followspot towers were positioned at the back of the grandstand, fabricated from scaffolding and dressed in black draping.
The Space Roof skins are silver on the outside and black on the inside to enhance interior stagelighting and effects.
The overall build took four days to complete and went smoothly, according to Al Laith Events Services' Smalberger. The crew used a crane to keep the assembly of the roof and goalpost on a tight schedule.
"It was very exciting for us to bring the Space Roof into the country and use it with goalposts for the first time, and I am sure that this will be utilized on many upcoming events," said Al Laith Event Services' Jo Marshall.
For more information, please visit www.allaithscaffolding.com
