U2’s iNNOCENCE & eXPEREINCE TOUR 2015 marks STUFISH’ continuous and successful relationship with the band and their creative director Willie Williams. The show was based around the narrative of ‘innocence to experience’ and explores the band’s early years growing up in Dublin in the 1970’s, represented in the four individual areas of the stage.
At one end of the arena is the square ‘i’ stage representing the home, while the round ‘e’ stage at the opposite end represents the world. The two stages are linked by a runway that divides the arena in two and represents the band’s journey. The fourth performance area is within a large 120ft long dividing structure that is clad on both sides with a semi-transparent LED video screen called the ‘Barricage’.
This structure floats above the stage and can descend to play at various heights throughout the show allowing the band to go inside. In the middle of the show the screen lowers to the stage and splits the audience into two emulating divides between North and South Side of Dublin and the transition from Innocence to Experience. The beginning of the second act, reunites the audience.
// Most see through screen created dividing the arena in half
// 74 cities visited
// First of its kind
// Bespoke STUFISH designed logo projected onto the stage
// Runway that divided the main floor into two halves
// 30 Automated Subway Lights
// 5 20ft roll drops with custom printed banners of graffiti to extend the divide.
// Swinging Lightbulb
// Screen 30m long x 7m high on 2 sides of the barricage
The video content of the show is some of the most innovative and spectacular yet, as the size and transparency of the screen allows the audience and the band to be fully immersed into the scenes. The combination of technology with theatrical narrative to create a unique kind of arena show.
The dividing screen structure incorporates a catwalk, lighting, cameras, and special effects to allow the band to inhabit this space. The design also includes a series of fixed and kinetic caged subway lights to provide moments in the show that help transform the look and space of the stage.
Credits
Creative Director Willie Williams / Es Devlin Stage Design STUFISH / Es Devlin Producer Live Nation Production Manager Jake Berry Creative Consultant, Choreography Morleigh Steinberg, Executive Director Gavin Friday Lighting Design Willie Williams Creative Consultant and Stylist Sharon Blankson Sound Design Joe O’Herlihy Live Video Direction Stefaan ‘Smasher’ Desmedt Video Design & Animation Treatment Studio / Jeff Frost / Oliver Jeffers Staging Supplier TAIT / PRG Projects
