It’s time to cover our final batch of first rehearsals, as the Big 5 countries and host Sweden take to the stage in Malmo today.
Just as we saw with the semi-finalists earlier this week, we will receive a batch of “first-look” photos that will give us a glimpse at what each delegation has planned for their live performance. Then later we will get a TikTok behind-the-scenes look at their rehearsal.
🇬🇧 United Kingdom – Olly’s staging really is making us dizzy
First up on the schedule is the United Kingdom, and there is a lot to talk about here. And if you don’t believe me let’s consult the stage notes from the UK delegation themselves: “Olly Alexander’s Eurovision performance transports viewers into a post- apocalyptic dystopian boxing gym locker room, aboard a spaceship hurtling toward Earth through a black hole in 1985!” Well alrighty then.
The primary colors for the staging are mixes of red, white, and black making the staging very dynamic and adding a lot of depth. It seems that they have created a box set for his to perform in, which at some point in the performance he leaves or it collapses down. The back of the box is transparent windows where the LED wall can be seen, and it’s reported that it will project a black hole of spinning graphics.
The set creates a setting of a gym shower, with the dancers all being outfitted in boxing shorts and handwraps as if they’re about to enter the ring. It also looks like there is a lot of sexual tension planned for the performance, with Olly being pinned to the shower wall at one point while other dancers look longingly into each others eyes.
According to the photos from Sarah Louise Bennett, it appears that this box set actually rotates, but this is a trick of the eye – as the left side of the shower is flipped over compared to it’s right counterpart. Quick movements and clever camera tilts give the appearance of the box moving, dancers being upside down, and much more.
@eurovision @Olly Alexander has us feeling a certain type of way with all that hanging around… let’s call it Dizzy 🇬🇧 #Eurovision2024
🇩🇪 Germany – ISAAK’s performance raises the temperature…literally
Now we move on to Germany’s ISAAK who was been working hard since the German national final to do well by his country. For Malmo the delegation have done a complete overhaul from what we saw at Das Deutsche Finale, electing instead to put ISAAK in a metallic modern-looking apartment.
We notice in the photos that it looks like ISAAK begins the performance sitting in a lone chair center stage, as a small fire burns in an oil barrel. One of the LED cubes hangs overhead the set, and it said to create a faux ceiling of sorts. As the song builds into the first chorus so do the flames on stage, building to a point where the entire house set is engulfed in flames and smoke. According to the liveblog, it’s said that the “atmosphere is hard to put into words, but it’s very impressive”.
Into the final duration of the song the set gets wheeled off and the flames extinguished (off camera), leaving just ISAAK on stage bathed in light with his four backing singers. We also see that he’s got his nails painted a beautiful shade of metallic holo that comes off turquoise in the light.
We picked up that the song ends with a loud firetruck siren.
@eurovision @ISAAK sets the stage alight at his very first rehearsal for Germany 🇩🇪 #Eurovision2024
🇸🇪 Sweden – Marcus and Martinus have an unforgettable opener
Sweden once again has taken the stage design plan from Melodifestivalen and blown it up for the Eurovision stage. After all, if it isn’t broke don’t recreate it right?
One of the biggest changes we notice is that the LED cube boxes are stacked over the stage in a row, enclosing the set in a way, but also adding to the overall glitching effect used on the LED wall behind them. We also see a shot of the cubes projecting the lines of coding as they also fill the LED wall.
In the rehearsal photo posted on Reddit we can see that the LED pipes will also remain for the staging, and once the second chorus hits it appears that these walls are actually going to pull out to the sides to open up the staging for the final minute.
@eurovision @Marcus & Martinus had their first rehearsal at Malmö Arena and it’s one we won’t be forgetting in a hurry 🇸🇪 #Eurovision2024
Check back in a few as we update #YOU on what’s happening with France, Spain, and Italy’s first rehearsals!
All photos used are credit to Alma Bengtsson, Sarah Louise Bennett, Corinne Cumming, and the EBU
