J&C Joel was proud to provide their stage engineering and drapery services at Africa Hall, Sharjah.
Sharjah’s newly built Africa Hall serves as a venue for conferences, lectures, film screenings and stage plays related to activities of the ‘Africa Institute’, as well as, providing a meeting place for the larger community of Sharjah and the UAE.
J&C Joel began by installing three motorised UniBeam curtain tracks which compromised of a Front of House, mid-stage traveler and rear stage traveler. All of these were connected to a control panel located stage right, making it easier, quicker and smoother to control the curtains on the track, ensuring an effortless transition.
As part of the project, J&C Joel Middle East worked with the Sharjah Arts foundation, attended many meetings and worked closely with the client on approval with many approvals for the Front of House fabric.
After much discussion, it was decided the Front of House drapes were to be manufactured from red Ryburn Trevira Velvet (RTV001) to give a traditional, luxurious appearance to the venue. Each of the drapes measured a width of 8m by a drop of 6m and were sewn with 50% fullness to create a pleated, fuller looking effect and increase the acoustic absorption properties of the drapes.
A key challenge of this project was the special gold fringe for the Front of House drapes. Working closely with the client, J&C Joel was able to successfully produce bespoke 30cm fringes, as well as, a 2cm and 24cm open braid which complimented the prestigious look of the drapes.
To accompany this, J&C Joel produced a Front of House fixed valance also made from red Ryburn Trevira Velvet (RTV001) which matched the Front of House drapery, this measured a width of 18m by a drop of 1m, also with 50% fullness.
Furthermore, J&C Joel produced four flat fixed stage borders manufactured from their black Wool Serge 565 (WS090) measuring a width of 14m by a drop of 1.5m. Wool Serge 565 (WS090) was an ideal fabric for the venue due to its excellent acoustic properties, as well as, being the traditional on-stage masking choice for theatres.
Similarly, J&C Joel produced eight stage legs made from black Wool Serge 565 (WS090), measuring a width of 2m by a drop of 6m, these were attached to swivel clamps so the drapes could be moved to the desired angle.
Finally, J&C Joel produced black Wool Serge 565 (WS090) mid-stage drapes measuring a width of 15m by a drop of 6m and rear stage drapes measuring a width of 14m by a drop of 6m, for the venue.