ACCIONA Producciones Diseño brings the phoenix back to life for the Simurgh Musical

ACCIONA Producciones y Diseño (APD) has designed and executed the stage set, sound, lighting and 3D audio-visual production of the SIMURG musical, which premiered internationally in Istanbul on May 6th, to more than 3,000 guests that included some of the country’s cultural and political public figures. After the theatre at the Istanbul Haliç Congress Center, the musical is expected to tour Turkey and some of the world’s key stages.

SIMURG is the legend of the Phoenix, also referred to as the Simurg, that the show associates with Turkey’s history, presenting the bird’s journey through the “seven valleys of life”, a symbolic tour of the country’s seven regions. The cast of SIMURG includes more than 140 artists, such as 20 dancers, 45 musicians and 45 singers of the TRT Chorus and Orchestra (Turkey’s Radio and Television Corporation).

For this show, ACCIONA Producciones y Diseño’s international team of more than 50 people has created a stage set based on a poetical narrative and innovative audio-visual resources that includes 3D projections, special effects, video mapping and immersive screens.

The most spectacular element of the set is a 25m long and 5m high screen made of real feathers, a metaphor of the union of all the birds featured in the Simurgh legend. This screen provides audio-visual support to the different performances of the musical with images of Turkey’s history.

In addition, throughout the show, the stage design introduces a projection surface that goes beyond the actual theatrical area. Thus, a mega screen of more than 60m in length and 15m in width is created, to project hyper realistic 3D scenes that generate an immersive experience in the audience. For the 80min audio-visual feature, APD has combined different techniques, such as illustrations, 2D and 3D animation and video mapping.

The SIMURG musical has been co-produced by the YRD ISTANBUL Agency and the TRT, the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation, with the support of Turkey’s Ministry of Culture.

ACCIONA Producciones y Diseño (APD), founded in 1992, specialises in the design and implementation of museums, exhibitions, events and shows that stand out for their high-tech content. The company is renowned for its expertise in ‘cultural engineering’ projects; in other words, highlighting local culture and history through the use of cutting-edge audiovisual technology. It is strongly committed in all its activities to sustainability and the delivery of 100% carbon-neutral events. APD is the biggest European company in the museum and exhibition sector. At present it is finalizing work on the National Museum of Oman and the House of European History in Brussels. www.acciona-apd.com

ACCIONA Producciones y Diseño is part of ACCIONA, a leading group in global sustainable solutions for renewable energy infrastructures and projects. Its range of services include the entire value chain of design, construction, operation and maintenance. In 2015, the company achieved sales in the region of 6,500 million Euros, is present in more than 30 countries and develops its business activity under the commitment to contribute to the social and economic development of the communities where it operates. ACCIONA’s aim is to lead the transition towards a low carbon emission economy, and to this aim introduces to all projects quality criteria and innovative processes destined to optimise the efficient use of all resources and a respect for the environment. www.acciona.com