ESC 2019 | Are we set for a minimalist stage?
Earlier this month, the EBU and Israeli state broadcaster KAN confirmed that the host city for the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest would be Tel Aviv - with the contest set to be hosted at the Tel Aviv Expo Convention Centre (The New Pavilion 2). Since this announcement, there have been concerns raised by Israeli media and EBU insiders that the size of the venue will restrict the number of public tickets that will be available - with concerns that only 4,000 tickets will be sold to the public. Since that reveal, the planning committee have sought ways to increase the capacity of the venue - with ideas being raised including moving the green room to the first pavilion instead. The latest suggestion appears to suggest that the EBU are interested in down-scaling the stage for the event - a change from previous years.
Over the past decade the stages used for the Eurovision Song Contest have been becoming grander and grander - with this years stage in Lisbon having huge ringed arches and a beautiful back piece. There was some criticism amongst fans as the arches blocked the views for many paying fans - reducing visibility of the stage and respectively their experience of the event. Past years have also seen a range of towering structures, shapes and features. However Israeli media is indicating that as a way to increase the number of fans that will be able to be in the arena for the shows, a smaller stage may need to be a must.
This is not to say that it is a bad thing - we have no doubt that the stage that is designed will still make the contest visually amazing for the televised broadcasts. In the past there has also been some criticism that the larger stages make the performers look too small on the stage - drowning them and the staging out and thus reducing the impact of the performance.
Plans also suggest that the EBU are looking at ways they can incorporate the outside garden areas in to the plans - potentially for the dressing rooms or press centre. The process is currently in a closed auction - where prestigious stage designers and architects are invited to submit their ideas to both KAN and the EBU. The media report that more news will be coming in the following days and weeks regarding the plans for the stage, green room, press centre, dressing rooms and projected timelines.
Would you be happy to see a smaller stage at Eurovision next year? Or do you think they should still focus on making the event look bigger than ever? Let us know in the comments below or via our social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & YouTube.
