In 2023, Dragone presents Terhal, a show of epic scale and ambition, commissioned by the Saudi Ministry of Culture and realized with Dragone’s local partner Hwadi. With 120 performers, two massive stages, and some of the most advanced stage technology in the world, Terhal is a monumental journey where heritage, innovation, and human artistry collide.
Terhal is among the largest theatrical productions on Earth, a fusion of cultural storytelling, live artistry, and technological innovation. It celebrates Saudi Arabia’s heritage, highlights local talent, and showcases global artistic collaboration, creating a show that resonates universally.
Through its narrative of discovery, connection, and transformation, Terhal reminds us that the journey of one person can echo across the lives of many, making every gesture meaningful and every performance unforgettable.
A Story of Terhal
Terhal — meaning “pathways” — tells the story of Saad, a young man from Riyadh who embarks on a journey through time, nature, and culture. Guided by curiosity and courage, Saad explores the vast landscapes of the Kingdom, discovering the power of heritage, community, and human connection.
Along the way, he encounters desert spirits, mystical forces, and the echoes of ancestral wisdom. Through moments of challenge, discovery, and enchantment, Saad learns that the key to the future lies in understanding the past, and that every action, every encounter, ripples through the lives of others.
The narrative is brought to life through dance, acrobatics, aerial performance, and equestrian artistry, creating a world where the natural and the fantastical meet seamlessly.
A Stage Like No Other
Terhal pushes the boundaries of stage design and theatrical storytelling:
- 36-meter diameter main stage, featuring two performance areas for simultaneous action.
- Ring of real desert sand encircling the stage, used as a catwalk for dancers and performers.
- Two highly trained horses, prepared in France, performing vaulting routines (voltige) that blend equestrian elegance with theatrical spectacle.
- 12 aerialists performing on bespoke aerial apparatus, designed exclusively for the show.
- 1,500 m² of fabric creating moving landscapes and transforming the stage environment in real time.
- 1,500 kg of confetti, released at key moments to turn climactic scenes into showers of color and wonder.
The stage itself becomes a living, breathing world, capable of transforming instantly to support the narrative journey of Saad.
The Cast of Terhal
The cast is a global ensemble of 120 performers among others:
- 50 local Saudi performers, representing the Kingdom’s emerging artistic talent.
- 50 international artists, bringing global expertise in acrobatics, aerial arts, dance, and performance.
- 12 aerialists performing breathtaking routines on custom rigs.
- Equestrian performers working alongside the two vaulting horses.
This combination of local and international talent ensures that Terhal is both culturally rooted and universally inspiring.
The Chandelier of Light
One of the most striking innovations of Terhal is the creation of a monumental chandelier piece, a kinetic LED installation that becomes a character in its own right. Suspended above the stage, this sculptural marvel is composed of three concentric LED rings, each divided into four independently moving sections.
Like a living organism, the chandelier shifts, rotates, and fragments, performing a ballet of light and video. Its vast LED surfaces project immersive video content enveloping the performers and audience alike in a constantly transforming visual world.
At times, it descends close to the performers, framing intimate moments of dance or acrobatics. At others, it rises high above, opening the stage to vast panoramas. The kinetic choreography of the chandelier echoes the show’s themes of movement, influence, and transformation, reminding us how technology and human artistry can dance together.
