Anyone standing at the Rijnkade on September 18 will see a unified whole: a stage at the foot of the John Frost Bridge, artists, music, film, light, and special effects. But before Bridge to Liberation can begin, construction, testing, and fine-tuning take place behind the scenes for days.
Interstage, Stagelight, CT Nederland, and Dream Fireworks have been involved with Bridge to Liberation for years. Each from their own field, but with the same goal: to ensure that the story is not only told, but can also truly be experienced.
A stage in a special place
It literally starts at the base. Interstage is responsible for the construction of the stage and various temporary structures surrounding the production.
Building a stage on the Rijnkade is not the same as setting up a stage in an event hall. The location presents technical challenges every year. For instance, in previous editions, the stage was built on a pontoon or partly on the dike. Differences in elevation, limited space, and logistics call for custom solutions.
“There is a technical challenge, and it is up to us to realize a safe and practical solution for it together with the organization and other suppliers,” says Interstage. “The fact that we are literally building the stage on which the story of Bridge to Liberation is told gives this project just that little bit of extra meaning.”
Seeing and hearing what is happening
Once the stage is set, what happens on it must be easy for thousands of visitors to follow. Stagelight provides the lighting and sound amplification for this.
This involves not only what the audience on the Rijnkade hears and sees. The orchestra, the soloists, and the television broadcast each impose their own technical requirements. All these elements must ultimately come together in a single performance.
CT Nederland also plays an important role in this. The large LED screen hangs above the stage, for which they provide the controls and rigging. This ensures that the artists are clearly visible even further back in the audience, and allows the films and other images to become part of the performance.
It is precisely this combination of disciplines that makes Bridge to Liberation special. As CT Nederland describes it: “By combining art, music, and film, the story becomes accessible to everyone.”
