Islam the Opera: Curtain Up On Clusters of Light About Life of Prophet Muhammad

THE GUARDIAN
By Peter Walker and Susan Schulman

Clusters of Light premiered at a specially built mock-Roman ampitheatre in Sharjah. Photograph: susan schulman

UNITED EMIRATES---It was quite a challenge, even for the crack team of theatrical experts summoned from around the world: less than six months to produce a hi-tech musical extravaganza about one of the most renowned figures in human history. Oh yes, and the title character can't appear on stage. But somehow it happened and on Sunday night a lavish production about the life and teachings of Muhammad, Islam's main prophet, intended as a rejoinder to more militant interpretations of the faith, premiered at a specially built £20m mock-Roman amphitheatre in Sharjah, the small emirate adjoining Dubai. The 90-minute production, Clusters of Light, has the ambitious stated intent of rebranding the religion internationally. [link]