House of Dancing Water reopened one year ago with a redesigned production that amplifies the show into a cinematic water spectacle, the production team said.
When the lights go out and the stage fills with water, then flips to a dry stunt arena in seconds, the effect is more startling in person than in photos. The 90 minute performance keeps a fast pace, with almost no lull between scenes, audience members and staff said.
The current production marks the one year anniversary of the show since its relaunch, and was redeveloped by Peparini Studios under artistic director Giuliano Peparini together with the Our Legacy Creations team, the producers said.
How the theater is built to overwhelm
Theater design amplifies the spectacle: the venue uses a 270 degree configuration with nearly 2,000 seats wrapping the central stage, allowing most audience members to feel the spray and the proximity of stunts, a production spokesperson said.
The central stage is about 20 meters across, or roughly 66 feet, and it sits above a hidden pool the production describes as holding 17 million liters of water, the spokesperson said. That volume is equivalent to more than five Olympic standard swimming pools, and the deepest point reaches about 16 meters, or 52 feet.
The entire stage can switch from water to land in less than one minute. A hydraulic system of 32 cylinders controls eight main stage lifts and three audience lift areas, with a combined load capacity of about 208 tons, the technical team said.
25 meters high dive remains the show stopper
The most iconic image of the show is the 25 meters high dive, which is about two and a half times the height of an Olympic diving platform, performers and audience members said.
Actors leap from that height into the pool below, and the gasp heard across the house is part of the intended effect. The front rows feel the impact most directly, the producers said.
The updated production adds 13 new stage elements, including an enlarged human chandelier, aerial rings, expanded laser effects, and a hydraulically driven “golden ship” scene, Peparini Studios said.
The stage features 239 automated fountains and 540 intelligent lighting fixtures that can form a dynamic water wall up to 18 meters tall, synchronized to music for dramatic moments, the lighting designer said.
More than stunts, the production runs aerial performers, vehicle sequences, and near continuous acrobatics. The theater operates 123 rigging units, with 40 mounted on a high altitude moving grid to control performers and large props in rapid motion, the rigging chief said.
New scenes add a cinematic fantasy tone
The updated story still follows a foreigner who helps rescue Princess Annie from the Black Queen, but it introduces a new role called the Sailor to loosen pacing and lighten the theatrical tone, the creative team said.
New environments include a Magic Garden, a Water Prison, and a Future City. The production pairs those settings with high end Barco projection to improve cinematic depth, the projection supervisor said.
When stage, pool, lighting, and projection switch in sync, the producers said the combination helps audiences immerse themselves fully in the story world.
Backstage scale and safety measures
Behind the scenes is equally elaborate. The show employs nearly 300 performers and technical staff from more than 30 countries, and some cast members are former Olympic athletes, the producers said.
Costumes exceed 600 pieces, with 24 new costume designs added for the relaunch, and more than 30 wardrobe staff assist with rapid costume changes during the performance, the wardrobe manager said.
The pool area is monitored by a professional dive team and more than 200 safety devices. The theater uses 16 underwater cameras to monitor performers, underwater equipment, and divers in real time, the safety coordinator said.
New backstage tour invites audiences inside
The production recently added a 30 minute backstage tour that runs after evening performances, the box office said. The tour takes small groups into normally restricted technical areas of the theater.
One highlight is the B1 giant pool area. Standing beside a 50 meter diameter pool that is about 9 meters deep, or roughly 164 feet across and 30 feet deep, gives a clearer sense of the theater size, the tour guide said.
The tour shows storage for major props such as the golden ship and Dream Pavilion, and it reveals underwater machinery locations and routine maintenance practices, the maintenance supervisor said.
Participants then climb to the fourth floor Catwalk area to view the stage from an actor viewpoint. Looking down from about 18 meters, or 59 feet, gives a visceral sense of the pressure performers accept when they perform high dives and aerial stunts, the tour guide said.
The tour lets visitors see prop storage such as a water prison iron cage and a royal bed used on stage, and staff explain how large stage pieces are coordinated with performers and rapid scene changes, the production team said.
VVIP boxes and special experiences
The production has added two VVIP boxes on the second floor at prime viewing positions, seating 10 and 13 guests respectively, the box office said. Boxes offer a more complete view of aerial stunts, the central pool, and major stage mechanisms.
Boxes include themed dining and select beverages, and ticket packages may include a meet and greet with performers after the show for photos, the box office said. Producers recommend the VVIP experience for group celebrations and special occasions.
Performance details
Theater: The House of Dancing Water Theatre, Level 1, City of Dreams, Macau (an integrated resort on Cotai).
Show times: 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Running time: about 90 minutes, no intermission.
Book tickets: Macau House of Dancing Water ticket offers
