With ever-increasing production demands for shows taking place in the Middle East, there is a greater need than ever for rehearsal facilities that can accommodate large-scale, complex productions. In response to this demand, Protec has proudly opened the doors to STEVES – a brand-new, purpose-built space designed to cater for full-scale event rehearsals. The space is also fully equipped to host film and TV shoots, theatre rehearsals and even live performances.
Named after Protec’s founder, Steve Lakin, who sadly passed away in 2023, the goal of the facility, according to the official website, is a “commitment to perfection, precision and innovation, reflecting the pioneering spirit that defined Steve himself.”
“This was all built by Steve, and while we’re continuing to honour his legacy through the running of Protec, we wanted to take this opportunity to pay our respects to him,” said General Manager, Matt Allen. “He was a great innovator, always doing things differently to gain that competitive edge.”
STEVES is located within Protec’s headquarters in Dubai Investment Park 2, within easy reach of key districts and major venues across the region, including Expo City, Coca-Cola Arena and Etihad Arena. The space offers an ample 700 sq m floor area with a 6m ceiling height and 63A three-phase power as standard, with additional power available on request. The facility also features a 4m by 4m loading bay, kitchen, loft lounge, control room and two multifunction rooms, giving incoming productions plenty of space to settle in.
“We’re so fortunate to have a massive space available here, which is unlike anywhere else in Dubai that I’m aware of,” Allen added, explaining the benefit he believes the space will bring to the wider events community. “Historically, everything is so last-minute in Dubai, but so much more can be achieved with the right lead time. Our best projects to date have been the result of long-term planning and detailed pre-production. Timelines on site are always compressed, but now we have the perfect facility where all the production pillars can come together and prepare. By the time you get on site, you’re more efficient, more organised, and everything is planned. We hope that the introduction of STEVES encourages agencies, promoters and organisers to focus on lead time to maximise the quality of experiences.”
Prior to its official opening, STEVES has already hosted five separate projects that validated the concept, with each project markedly different in scope. The team pre-built the Tourise main stage set, which included a 19m revolve and three complex scenes. Karan Aujla and his band rehearsed at the facility and utilised its previsualisation space ahead of Rolling Loud in India and a sell-out show at Etihad Park.
Kyle Jadon, Tour Manager of Karan Aujla & Director of Touring as well as Business Development, Promosa, was impressed by the facility. “STEVES rehearsal space is genuinely built for purpose,” he commented. “Having additional production offices on site made a huge difference in accommodating our full production team, and the upper control room for FOH mixing allowed our lead engineer to deliver his best mix in a long time. The open kitchen flowing into the performance area worked very well for rotating musicians and backline crew during audio checks, keeping everything moving smoothly.
“Having pre-vis on the same campus at Protec was a big win, too – the whole team could work simultaneously before heading off to Rolling Loud India,” he added. “A lot of thought and detail has gone into the space. STEVES is an ideal, private, and secure setup for touring parties coming to the Middle East, and we’ll definitely be back.”
Echoes of the Sand Festival’s stage underwent rigorous R&D, build and programming in the control room using Depence and Resolume. The space also hosted rehearsals for the theatre production Once Upon a Time in Dubai, with more than 40 cast members in attendance. Most recently, STEVES welcomed Rolls-Royce for a video shoot.
“This process was very humbling, knowing that what we have built truly fits all the various types of projects we deliver,” Allen said. “It’s something we consider a USP – being able to operate across such diverse projects.”
Following in a similar vein to other event rehearsal spaces around the world – such as Production Park in the UK and Rock Lititz in North America – STEVES benefits from being located on the same site as the wider Protec operation. This includes its extensive video, lighting and audio equipment inventory, as well as its fabrication and scenic department, covering set carpentry and metalwork.
The site also houses the company’s staging and automation department, along with design and pre-visualisation suites, enabling creative and technical stage design support from concept through to rehearsals and execution. STEVES falls under the newly formed Production Spaces division and complements the existing pre-visualisation suite and a dedicated client production office named Build With Us.
Allen explained to TPiMEA how the structure of Protec enables the company to remain flexible when offering solutions that best suit the market, such as building STEVES. “Protec has always been independent, and the company has always had to operate in a smart way to maintain that edge in a competitive and ambitious market. We’re aiming to continue that ethos today and build on those foundations.”
Despite the company’s growing infrastructure and physical presence in the region, Allen was also keen to highlight one of the founding principles left by Lakin. “Steve’s ethos was to get the best people. It’s not been easy rebuilding post-COVID, coupled with the loss of Steve, but I believe that we now have the right blend of talent within the team to succeed, with five very strong internal divisions that, combined, make us a unique proposition in the Middle East market.”
To find out more about the rehearsal facility, visit www.steves.ae.
Photos: Protec
