SOAKING IN A LIVE SHOW IN DUBAI

Italian-born show producer Franco Dragone's first venture in the Middle East will wash you away!

- Ranvir Nayar

At the end of the 90-minute show, there are two things that remain firmly entrenched in the viewer's mind. First is of course the amazing stunts by circus performers as well as motorcyclists that keep the audience enthralled throughout the show. The second is the sheer amount of water used in the show. Together, the adventures and the water ensure that at end of the show, the viewers are not left feeling high and dry, as at least those in the front rows do get sprinkled on occasions during the show.

La Perle, Dubai's first live stage show that has a permanent home in Al Habtoor City, is a creation of Italian-born theatre director Franco Dragone who is known for his larger-than-life creations in various parts of the world. La Perle is his first venture in the entire Middle East and perhaps the only permanent live show in the region.

The highlight of La Perle (the pearl, in French) is its massive purpose-built aqua theatre where a magical fairytale story is performed by a cast of 65 artists, including dancers, circus performers and motorcyclists, from 23 different nationalities. With drama and stunts mixed in equal proportions, the viewers are left dazzled and awe-inspired by the performance.

The show is built around the story of a young fisherwoman who falls into a dream-like state and travels in search of a lost pearl. During her journey, she comes across people from completely different worlds and cultures, perhaps a reference to the diversity of cultures in the UAE. The story is rather simple and is built around a fictional Chinese tale, with local elements added to give it a Dubai-twist.