A Thousand and One

A Thousand and One — Dreaming up a world inspired by Arabian folklore.

Project Type: Stage
Client: MDLBeast
Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Year: 2025

Commission

Looking to re-activate a section of their existing Soundstorm festival site, MDLBEAST commissioned us to lead the design and concept development of three unique stage sets – forming the foundation for the immersive world-building behind their new festival, 1001.

We were tasked with reimagining the legendary tales of 1001 Nights through a contemporary lens, blending timeless folklore with the rhythm of today’s cultural energy and visual language.

Immersive set design of a camel for 1001 Festival

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Al Qafilah Stage

Response

We set out to craft a multi-sensory journey where myth and modernity collide. Drawing from the story-within-a-story structure of Arabian Nights, we imagined a dreamlike world where ancient tales pulse with today’s beat.

As creative directors and production designers, we conceived three bold and immersive stage concepts. Inspired by the stories woven throughout 1001 Nights, each stage design celebrated the art of storytelling – inviting festival-goers to journey between ‘chapters’ and step into a living fairytale, rich with heritage and imagination.

We were proud to help shape the creative identity of the Qafilah, Qasr & Sahaab stages, which set the scene for unforgettable performances while reinforcing the festival’s overarching narrative and cultural spirit.