The stage for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest is ready for the first technical tests and rehearsals. Several professionals have been recently involved into preparations for the competition inside the International Exhibition Center, chosen venue for this year’s edition.
Ola Melzig, Head of Production of Eurovision 2017, has revealed today a picture of the stage in action featuring this year’s logo, so we can know see how the graphics will look on the giant LED screen. The stage has been designed by Florian Wieder, who was also involved in the same task at Eurovision 2011 in Düsseldorf, 2012 in Baku and 2015 in Vienna:
“The Eurovision-2017 contest stage weighs around 30 tons and the platform where contestants will perform has an area of 350 square meters. The stage has the largest screen that has ever been built in Ukraine. A specially designed central part of the stage called the beehive allows each metal girder of the stage structure to move independently, fall or rise during the show or in between the performances. This makes it possible to change the geometry of the scene in order to create unique performances for each of the participants.
This year we are building a stage of a considerable size. Its height is 14 meters, width – 70 meters and depth is 28 meters. All lighting fixtures, there are about 1800 of them, are already installed, the majority of which has already been put into operation. All the video elements are also installed already, shortly we plan to install pyrotechnics around the stage and tomorrow we will start programming all the lighting equipment to be used during the shows. Besides the above mentioned work, we are completing the installation of press center and delegation bubble in the first pavilion, where the press center will begin working in little more than two weeks. Its premises will host about 1,500 accredited journalists and 500 accredited fans”, – explained Ola Melzig.
Yesterday, the stage area and venue were inspected by Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Viacheslav Kyrylenko, along with the press. Pavlo Grytsak, Executive Producer of Eurovision-2017, Ola Melzig, Head of Production of this year’s Song Contest, Christer Bjorkman, Contest Producer, Dmytro Feliksov, representative of the official ticket sales agent Concert.ua, and Ukrainian and foreign press representatives also participated in this tour.
“All construction, organizational and pertinent issues are being addressed in a timely manner and are being solved effectively to ensure the production of this fantastic event in May. One can feel the great atmosphere here on the grounds – where Ukrainian and foreign specialists work together. From the very beginning of the Contest preparations the spirit of Eurovision could be felt here in Kiev”, – said Viacheslav Kyrylenko.
Executive Producer of Eurovision-2017 Pavlo Grytsak stated: “All the jobs inside the IEC and beyond its premises are being carried out very intensively, as the first show of Eurovision Song Contest 2017 will happen in less than a month. The first set of stand-in rehearsals on stage will start in 9 days. We are gladly looking forward to the arrival of all participating countries delegations, and we will do everything possible to make their stay in Kiev pleasant and comfortable, and the shows – unforgettable”.
You can find more information and pictures on the official website of the Ukrainian broadcaster.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2017 will be held on May 9, 11 and 13 in Kyiv after the victory of Jamala with her song 1944.
What do you think about the stage? Do you like how it looks? Let us know!