Fun unlimited as Robbie storms stage

By Kelly Crane, Staff Reporter
Dubai: It was as crazy as expected and then some.

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More than 25,000 excited Robbie fans descended on Nad Al Sheba yesterday, as the fun officially started for what eventually turned out to be a sellout performance.


Billed as the biggest music event in Dubai's history, Robbie Williams stormed the stage at around 9pm just a half hour later than schedule to the screams and cheers of delirious fans who let the rock star entertain them.

Robbie's show featured all the expected hits like Angels, Let Me Entertain You, Feel and Radio.

Endless queues

"This is one show that's lived up to its billing, until now," said one fan, as the rock star launched into his act.

But the lead-up to the musical extravaganza had started much earlier in the day.

Endless queues of traffic surrounded the venue despite shuttle buses and taxis coming and going to the venue from around 3pm amid the organised chaos.

Some fans were reported to have started queuing for entrance from as early as 2pm almost four hours before the gates were due to open.

Despite the crowds, the occasional complaint about serpentine queues, most fans appeared determined to enjoy themselves at the show and overlooked such minor inconveniences.


source (http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Leisure/10034909.html)

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Letters to the Editor
Views on the Robbie Williams concert


Published on: Sunday, 23rd April, 2006

With all the negative letters that appear following events in Dubai, I felt I had to write to congratulate the events organisers at the Robbie Williams concert.

We arrived at 5pm and hardly had to queue, there were plenty of facilities inside the racetrack and at the end of the concert we managed to get home to the Lakes by 11.30pm.

I am going to see Robbie again in the UK in September and will be amazed to see if things will be organised so well!

No voice left, The Lakes

Great concert, well organised and of course Robbie, the showman, was at his best?..

Well done to the organisers for getting it right!

Robbie Fan, Dubai

Organisation: nine out of ten. No hassle, great stadium. Robbie: five out of ten. Have seen the Boss and Tina, that?s ten out of ten! Improvement: Two or three more encores would have made the money?s worth, and please hire a new sound manager!

TW, Dubai

To the 30 per cent of actual Robbie fans at Nad Al Sheeba on Friday night I would like to say ?good job buddies? you set the place on fire.

To the remaining corpses and ?rubber neckers? who were only there to see what all the fuss was about, please in future do not turn up to a twenty-five thousand capacity venue if you do not, in any way, like to be touched, prodded or bumped into in the presence of one of the greatest live acts of our time.

If you simply hire out ?Robbie Williams: What We Did Last Summer, Live at Knebworth? you may then watch the show in peace. I do hope the taxi queue was not too long for you and you were home by 12 with your cocoa in hand.

No doubt you are already penning your own letter with the disgust of how you could not leave half way through ?Angels? fast enough as there were annoying fans stood in the way! Ggrrrrrr

Stoke and Oatcakes, COUNTRY

What a great concert, great entertainer and a great pay back to those who tried to make a profit by grabbing tickets. Having missed out on the sale of tickets, we just took a chance and turned up on the night.

Waited until just before the concert started and, hey presto, four tickets were had for 50 dirhams each ! I am not sure what gave me the biggest smile, the concert or the victory over the shameless people?s attempt at making a quick buck.

KD, Dubai

As expected all the hype over the Robbie Williams concert was undeserving.

The singer did not perform on the night, and lots of fans will have gone home disappointed like me.Yes he has an average voice, but he was incapable of rousing the excitable crowd.

His voice and performance on the night was quite frankly average.

G Barlow, Dubai

I?ve just returned from the Robbie Williams concert and am glad I took the hint from the steady stream of people seen leaving long before the end of the gig.

The only saving grace was that I was home by 11pm. I have never witnessed a more lacklustre performance from a so-called premier act. Mr Williams seemed to be under the impression that all he needed to do was turn up and the expats of Dubai would be eternally grateful.

Hopefully he won?t be asked back.

Colin, Umm Suqeim

Source: http://www.7days.ae/2006/04/23/views-on-the-robbie-williams-concert.html

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Robbie Williams opened his concert with hit song Radio. Karl Jeffs/Gulf News

Close encounter with Robbie
By Kelly Crane, Staff Reporter

The 25,000 capacity crowd screamed uncontrollably as the lights went down at Nad Al Sheba at 9pm. The waiting was finally over - and everyone knew that one of the world's greatest showmen was just about to rock the stage here in Dubai.

Dramatic Robbie shots flashed on the giant screens and the tension reached almost breaking point.

And then it happened. The desperation for tickets on March 8, the media reports, the joy and excitement of finally getting tickets, the controversy over forged and black market tickets were all forgiven and forgotten as the man himself appeared in a jet of smoke at the end of a runway stage.

The heat from eight giant flames could be felt across the venue as far back as the grandstand as Williams launched into song with Radio.

The crowd literally went wild as he came into focus dressed in a pair of jeans, a knee-length, buttoned jacket and trainers.

And it wasn't just about the songs as Robbie continued to vary the show with jokes, conversation, audience interaction and even jibes at J-Lo, who yesterday announced she is mysteriously postponing her concert in Dubai for around a month.

"Because she couldn't sell any tickets," Williams coughed under his breath.

People of all ages enjoyed the show and many people commented it was well organised by promoters Midas and sponsor The One.

And even though the concert "sold out" in three hours on March 8, tickets were still being sold at the venue - but you make up your own mind about that!

Williams performed all the expected hits such as Rock DJ, Let Me Entertain You and Angels.

Billed as the biggest concert in the UAE, Robbie, who performed for just over two hours, added the date in Dubai as part of his Close Encounters world tour.

Source: http://www.gulfnews.com/tabloid/Entertainment/10034930.html

Close encounter with Robbie


By Kelly Crane, Staff Reporter

The 25,000 capacity crowd screamed uncontrollably as the lights went down at Nad Al Sheba at 9pm. The waiting was finally over - and everyone knew that one of the world's greatest showmen was just about to rock the stage here in Dubai.

Dramatic Robbie shots flashed on the giant screens and the tension reached almost breaking point.

And then it happened. The desperation for tickets on March 8, the media reports, the joy and excitement of finally getting tickets, the controversy over forged and black market tickets were all forgiven and forgotten as the man himself appeared in a jet of smoke at the end of a runway stage.

The heat from eight giant flames could be felt across the venue as far back as the grandstand as Williams launched into song with Radio.
The crowd literally went wild as he came into focus dressed in a pair of jeans, a knee-length, buttoned jacket and trainers.

And it wasn't just about the songs as Robbie continued to vary the show with jokes, conversation, audience interaction and even jibes at J-Lo, who yesterday announced she is mysteriously postponing her concert in Dubai for around a month.

"Because she couldn't sell any tickets," Williams coughed under his breath.

People of all ages enjoyed the show and many people commented it was well organised by promoters Midas and sponsor The One.
And even though the concert "sold out" in three hours on March 8, tickets were still being sold at the venue - but you make up your own mind about that!

Billed as the biggest concert in the UAE, Robbie, who performed for just over two hours, added the date in Dubai as part of his Close Encounters world tour.
source (http://www.gulfnews.com/tabloid/Entertainment/10034930.html)

how wierd to hear negative reviews... I ve never heard of people not liking him live before... despite what people think of him as a person and the way he puts himself across, it's never the case with live.. so it's quite odd don't you think?

That's the 2nd negative comment i've read about the sound quality - hope this gets resolved.

''Love'' the letter from G Barlow http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/frech/a015.gif At least someone has a sense of humour http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/frech/c050.gif I just take these comments with a pinch of salt http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/frech/a015.gif

We know better http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/froehlich/g015.gif

yeh that Gary Barlow... you think he'd be worried about his own tour, not flying half way round the world to catch Robbie wouldn't you? ha ha

Fan Review

Of all the concerts I\'ve attended in Dubai, this is definitely the first where the VIP\'s got real VIP treatment. Sorry, not trying to be arrogant, as I know that I am not VIP....just had the opportunity to ride along a great opportunity. We stood in line for only a few minutes, wristbands were handed out in no time, then escorted up to the lovely corporate boxes where the bubbly flowed from 5-12...nice... canapés from sushi to duck all night...all of this overlooking 30,000 people and certainly the most impressive stage I\'ve ever seen. Now that is what i call VIP treatment!!! If I were asked to pay the same price I did for my ticket again for this type of event I\'d do it in a blink....I would have been a happy camper even if Robbie did not show up!!! All respect to the man though, it was great.... Wow

Fan Review

Robbie Williams exploded onto the stage and the crowd went wild - for over two hours we witnessed a natural entertainer that thrilled us with his songs, tickled us with his humour and wooed us with his charm.
Come back soon Robbie

God I'd hate beign stuck in a box.. it would be like watching the gig on TV. Wouldn't say no to the champagne though!!! Although I'd get horribly drunk and do something I would later very much regret knowing my luck

Fan Review

i have to laugh, after 12 years in Dubai and very much invloved with the entertainment industry from DJ, to the Dubai 7?s, Channel 4 when it first started and involved with production with a major production company in Dubai, i am very amused by the ?new? people to Dubai who have dismissed the Robbie concert so easily. I travelled from Oman to watch Robbie and found the gig great, yes i may not be a fan but i respected everything about the gig, from stage, sound, lighting, organisation, the crew and to his actual (very good) performance i thought it was the best event so far in Dubai. Dubai is a growing city and still cannot match the rest of the world yet, but what it offers on a weekly basis is entertainment and for those of you too cynical to accpet how hard it is and how costly to put on an event of this scale i say, visit Oman, beautiful as it is and ask when and if ever an event as big as this would ever happen, be grateful for the great city you guys live in and if you don?t want to go to these sort of events then wind yer neck in and go back home because these events are unique. I still live in a world of tribute bands, long live the sponsors and guys with the courage to put these events on because 14 years ago it was very, very different.
Well done Robbie, well done crowd and well done Dubai.

Fan Review

To the 30 per cent of actual Robbie fans at Nad Al Sheeba on Friday night I would like to say ?good job buddies? you set the place on fire.
To the remaining corpses and ?rubber neckers? who were only there to see what all the fuss was about, please in future do not turn up to a twenty-five thousand capacity venue if you do not, in any way, like to be touched, prodded or bumped into in the presence of one of the greatest live acts of our time.
If you simply hire out ?Robbie Williams: What We Did Last Summer, Live at Knebworth? you may then watch the show in peace. I do hope the taxi queue was not too long for you and you were home by 12 with your cocoa in hand.
No doubt you are already penning your own letter with the disgust of how you could not leave half way through ?Angels? fast enough as there were annoying fans stood in the way! Ggrrrrrr
Stoke and Oatcakes, COUNTRY

Fan Review

Robbie proved what an amazing showman he is at Nad Al Sheba on Friday night. I enjoyed every minute of it, belting out every song along with the man himself, dancing until my feet hurt and screaming until I had no breath left. Mr. Williams, you were wonderful. Come back soon. From A Real Robbie Fan

Fan Review

When Robbie didn't sell
24 April 2006

WITH all the hype, I thought I would write to you regarding the Robbie Williams concert. Robbie is a great performer, but to see thousands of unsold tickets on the night of what must be one of his smallest concerts of the year was disappointing.

This must have been the first concert he has not sold out in years! At Nad Al Sheba, lots of fans were moved from the standing area to the empty seating sections, but there was still people jumping the fences to get a better standing position.

Where was the security staff? Did anyone else take note, or ask why, the sound was poor? I?ll go to see Robbie back in UK.

- Debbie, by email

Source: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayLetters.asp

At least Debbie can take comfort that Durban didn't sell out either http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/traurig/e040.gif

Hope they get the sound problems sorted http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/konfus/a015.gif Similar ''complaints'' from the SA concerts http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/konfus/a070.gif

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Home » Letters to the Editor
Praise and criticism of Robbie Williams gig

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Published on: Monday, 24th April, 2006

A sincere and huge congratulations to one and all that was associated with the Robbie Williams concert. Finally, an event where everything was well organised.

In particular, I would like to pay tribute to the local security company that was used for the event, Emirates International Security Services (EISS). What a pleasure to attend a concert where there was enough security that knew what they are doing.

Every aspect of our experience was a very memorable one. Well done to the promoter, Midas Promotions. Why can?t every promoter / concert use this security companies services to run all concerts in Dubai properly?

Shane Sainsbury, COUNTRY

I would like to pass on my thanks to G Barlow and Colin for confirming my belief that Dubai has a higher ratio of whining gits per head of population than any other country in the world.

The concert was without a doubt the best organised I have attended in Dubai in many years, and Robbie Williams performance was excellent. May your glasses continue to be half empty and your miserable lives unhappy.

Amused, Mirdiff

I suppose, out of the twenty-five thousand or so people, these few negative letters aren?t too bad!

The rest of us fans left, are the only people who still enjoy watching LIVE music? where the artist will not sound exactly the same as his/her CD, and I would like to offer some of you the opportunity to stand up in front of that many people, and see if you receive the same effect this man did on that night!

Close to my home, well organised, reasonably priced, great show. Thanks Robbie, please come back again.

Matt, Mirdiff

I thought the organisation of the Robbie Williams concert was very good (apart from the limited small exits - what would have happened if there was an emergency and we all needed to get out quickly?).

The sign posting was very clear and the sound after the first few songs was fantastic. My only grumble is with the man himself. I have seen Mr Williams play live many times before in small and large gigs, and I have to agree with Colin from Umm Suqiem, that Robbie thought just being there on stage would be more than enough to keep us happy.

He seemed agitated that he had to work for his money, bored in places and dribbled on about rubbish half the time, ****ging other artists off - this, Mr Williams, is not top quality entertainment!

And what?s with the papers stating it was amazing - doesnt your boss pay you to look objectively at things, rather than jump on the band wagon? Heaven forbid you might have your own unique opinion to share!

Disappointed, The Greens

Is there any chance that G Barlow and Colin who wrote in yesterday ****ging off the Robbie Williams concert could be involved in the organisation of the J-Lo concert? They must be.

Robbie Williams was awesome, and I am not his biggest fan. The crowd went wild, dancing and singing and everybody I have spoken to had a tremendous night?Jo-Lo?s concert has had to be put back due to poor ticket sales.

The Robbie Williams concert wasn?t even formerly advertised. All I have seen for the last few weeks are page after page of advertising in newspapers and magazines for J-Lo, and she still can?t sell enough tickets!

Andy, Dubai

Personally I thought the Robbie Williams concert was an excellent evenings entertainment. The only negative for me and my friends was the number of people in the audiance who smoked throughout the concert.

We were in the standing area and were surrounded by smokers, even after having moved twice. To me this demonstrates that a large percentage of smokers are just plain selfish, and never miss an opportunity to light up irrespective of other people.or the effect their smoke might have on others. For many years I have been tolerant of smokers.

But after three hours of breathing second hand smoke, leaving the concert smelling like an old ashtray I now support a total ban on smoking in all public places.

Smelly, Dubai

Robbie didn?t sell out. With all the hype on hype I thought I would write to you regarding the Robbie Williams concert - Robbie is a great performer but to see thousands of unsold tickets on the night of what must be one of his smallest concerts of the year was disappointing - this must have been the first concert he has not sold out in years!

At Nad Al Sheba lots of fans were moved from the standing area to the empty seating sections but there was still people jumping the fences to get a better standing postiion -where was the security staff? Did anyone else think the sound was poor? I?ll go to see Robbie back in UK.

Debbie, Dubai
(Good on you Debbie writing to two major news sources ;) )

One Response to ?Praise and criticism of Robbie Williams gig?

By Clive Temple on April 24th, 2006 at 8:26 am

Is it time to explain top these people who G. Barlow is yet?

Mark Owen, Mirdif.

Source: http://www.7days.ae/2006/04/24/praise-and-criticism-of-robbie-williams-gig.html

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Perhaps the last lot, then we can all move on :re:

Letters to the Editor
Robbie: sensitivity and issue of personal space

Published on: Tuesday, 25th April, 2006

Am I the only person to in Dubai with taste? Am I the only one who is awake to the atrocious event that was the Robbie Williams concert? It is now two days after the "event" and our newspapers and radio stations are still bleating on about how fantastic and fabulous it was.

Are they mad? Do they have no taste? Personally I am regretting wasting my valuable free time and precious money on less than two hours of drivel.

We were reassured that the ?star? was culturally sensitive. Really? Is that why he got the crowd to sing happy birthday to the Queen of England? Is that why he said hello to selected nationalities but ?forgot? to mention any of our Arab neighbours?

M A, Dubai

This is with reference to the Robbie Williams concert, it was worth the time and effort I thought as his performance was quite as expected- GOOD! However, the two hours of waiting up for him to arrive on stage was enough time for others to pick fights, arguments and push around.

Me and some friends do not believe in jumping lines and were standing where we were from 5.30 pm until 11.30pm, but hey it?s a concert, and I understand being pushed and moved around.

However, some members of the 195dhs rear standing did not want to be touched nor pushed. Some comments made, irrelevant to the concert were also crude in nature, I would say racist but I don?t want to hint at something which it may not have been.

Comments of the following nature were made to my Indian friends - shut your face, why don?t you go on a diet before you come to a concert next time, why don?t you disappear into thin air, and some other such nasty comments coming from a stranger.

And, this is an even better one! I could be wrong in my thinking, but who brings a six to seven month old pregnant woman to a concert and makes her stand in the 195dhs (which is the most crowded) standing right in front of the railing and tell those around not to push or touch her.

Why is she even there when all you can expect is people just trying to get closer to the railing to get a glimpse of the stage? If people want to go for a concert, they will be pushed, shoved and moved around. There is no need to get nasty and make irrelevant comments!

Arthi, Dubai

We were stood in the dhs 395 area and a stroppy British woman kept complaining, loudly and to anyone who?d listen, that she?d lived in Dubai for 11 years and wasn?t used to having her personal space disturbed.

It was enough to make you cringe, especially as we are Brit residents too and others around us were rolling their eyes in exasparation at this jumped up nobody. What a selfish fool.

And when she was dancing (I use the term loosely: she looked like she?d stuck her finger in a socket), her long pony tail was smacking people in the face. Of course, other people?s personal space didn?t count.

Jane Whitfield, Dubai

Source: http://www.7days.ae/2006/04/25/robbie-sensitivity-and-issue-of-personal-space.html

Seems the Robbie concert made a big impact on Dubai considering all the response http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/konfus/a070.gif

Time Out Dubai have a poll on their site http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/frech/d025.gif I voted http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/frech/a030.gif Okay I wasn't there but I have seen him live five times http://www.cheesebuerger.de/images/smilie/frech/f065.gif

Source: http://www.timeoutdubai.com/thisweek/

Robbie Williams played Dubai?s largest to date at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai in front of 23,000 fans

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Robbie Williams played Dubai?s largest to date at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in Dubai in front of 23,000 wildly enthusiastic music fans, who were also responsible for making it the fastest selling out show ever in the United Arab Emirates.


The entire production lighting rig, including 150 Robe moving lights, 60 points of rigging and all necessary power distribution was supplied by UK-based HSL. They air freighted 36 tonnes of equipment - with the help of Mapcargo - from their Blackburn base to Dubai, to meet the specification for Al Gurdon?s spectacular design.

The lighting deal was put together by Robbie Williams? production manager Wob Roberts, local production manager Peter Loh working for Midas Promotions and Robe Show Lighting?s International Sales Manager, Harry von den Stemmen.

Sourcing enough lighting equipment locally for the show was proving challenging and costly. Von Den Stemmen was simultaneously alerted to an opportunity by both Tony Sawyer of V.V. & Sons, Robe?s UAE distributor, and Louis Teo of Lighting & Sound Singapore where Loh is based. He immediately went to HSL, one of the UK?s fastest growing lighting rental companies with a large inventory of Robe moving lights - where MD Simon Stuart jumped at the chance of quoting to service the Robbie Williams show.

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Stuart comments, ?The show was awesome! I?m extremely proud of the fact that we have worked alongside one of the best live production teams in the world and helped them produce such a great result?. The show ? artistically directed by Lee Lodge ? amazed and enthralled everyone present with its high production values and characteristically superlative performance by Robbie.

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HSL?s crew chief and project manager was Mike Oates, who worked alongside hand picked crew of 9 HSL A-Team regulars. On site they liaised closely with Robbie Williams? lighting crew chief Mark ?Marky Mark? England, lighting director and show operator Richard Gorrod, site co-ordinator Tom Armstrong, Wob Roberts and Al Gurdon. Oates comments, ?It was an absolutely brilliant experience and a great exercise in teamwork and good communication?.

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Moving lights were absolutely integral to the lighting design. The rig was based around 8 structural ?ribs? ? tall, hinged architectural set pieces originating from the ?Intensive Care? album launch show at Berlin Veldorome in October, arranged in a gentle upstage curve. Designed by set designer Ray Winkler and constructed by Brilliant, each is edged with 288 Saco LED lights, and they also contain 48 Turbo Fuzz Lights that travel as part of the set.

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Forty Eight Robe ColorSpot 1200AT fixtures ? 6 per rib, were then added, along with 5 strobes per rib.

On the floor were 10 ColorWash 1200ATs sitting on the risers in between the ribs, with eight right behind the ribs, sitting on cases and shining through them. More ColorWash 1200ATs were used to up-light the set drape.

Rigged onto the sides of the offstage PA towers were five Robe ColorSpot 1200ATs and five Moles, with another 5 blinders on the onstage PA towers.

On a horseshoe shaped rear truss that followed the line of the ribs were another 16 ColorWash 1200ATs, plus four rigged above the central LED screen. Another two per side were hung off two individual front trusses, together with 3 Moles a side.

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Under the set grill were twenty-four Robe ColorSpot 575ATs - their smaller size making them ideal for the space - shining upwards through the grills, along with strobes and 8-lites. On the catwalk thrust around the floor were 60 Birdies, along with an additional 24 PARs, also utilised as up-lighters through the grills.

The moving lights were used for a whole variety of effects from tight pencil beam matrix patterns to colourful washes to the creation of enveloping walls of colour, and also for profiling Robbie in the moodier moments.

HSL supplied the six Robert Juliat Manon onstage follow Spots, with the four FOH ones sourced locally from rental company Nemesis.

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Richard Gorrod operated all the lights plus an EX1 digital media server from his Virtuoso console which tours with them. He commented ?HSL have been fantastic, nothing has been too much trouble and the kit has been meticulously well prepared?. Oates adds, ?The Robes were absolutely brilliant ? they were transported half way round the world, came out of their crates and all worked first time. There?s really not many other fixtures as reliable as this!?.


The biggest challenge for everyone on site in Dubai was the short timescale in which they had to build the technical infrastructure. However this also galvanised everyone into action, firing up the ?show must go on? spirit across all departments, who worked seamlessly together through some very long days and nights.


The Dubai show was part of a series of 4 ?warm ups? by Robbie Williams (preceded by three shows in South Africa), all ahead of his massive European summer stadium tour that kicks off in June. This streamlined ?rest of the world? rig (bigger than a lot of people?s ?A? rigs) as seen in Dubai and South Africa, will be used for shows in Asia and other territories in the autumn.

Source: http://www.zioshow.com/viewnews.php?id=7627

Sorry I realise the article is full of technical details but the stage looks fantastic :clap: Very similar to Berlin and it really does add to the ''atmosphere'':yay:

Thanks for the reviews shell & mon
The show ? artistically directed by Lee Lodge ?
:clap: :clap: :clap: Job well done Lee Lodge

Nice review thanks