Origen: A Celebration of Canary Islands Culture and Identity

Origen: A Celebration of Canary Islands Culture and Identity

The Scala Hall in Gran Canaria, specifically in the southern region of the island in Maspalomas, boasts a history spanning several decades. It opened to the public on March 27, 1987, and for five years and one month, until April 30, 1992, it was the premier nightlife destination in southern Gran Canaria, featuring a dinner-show model.

Thirty-two years after the closure of the legendary international brand and two decades after the final closure of the location, a group of investors is reviving the Scala Gran Canaria brand. They have reopened the nightclub in the same location where the Tamarindos Hotel in San Agustín once stood, now transformed into the Meliá Paradisus Gran Canaria. Under the aegis of Sala Scala SPV, the investment group has allocated one million euros to reactivate this space. Starting in June 2024, the club offers the nearly 140,000 expected annual visitors a show inspired by the history of the Canary Islands: Origen!

The southern part of Gran Canaria is teeming with various tourist attractions, but there is no show of this magnitude, nor a venue that can match it. For Scala Hall, known for its fame, size, and luxury, this show, which premiered on June 16, is a perfect fit. A dinner-show that spans four hours, filled with unforgettable gastronomic, visual, and acoustic experiences.

Before the show, we spoke with Pablo Raya, one of the artistic directors of the show. Pablo Raya has a career full of achievements in theater, television, and film. Such a project is challenging even for him, and we learned details about the story behind the story.

The Origen Show is a complete sensory journey through the history of the Canary Islands. World-class artists who have been part of Cirque du Soleil or have worked in famous musicals around the world are part of the cast. A modern cabaret show where the advanced use of technology, including sophisticated lighting, video projections, and special effects, adds a spectacular visual dimension to moments of artistic mastery. A team of 38 artists from all over the world, each unique in their own way, brought together after an extremely difficult casting process, puts on a show like you’ve never seen before.

There are four acts, each 20-25 minutes of contemporary circus, acrobatics, multimedia performances, and experimental performing arts, interspersed with a gastronomic show composed of local products and dishes. Each act is a journey through an era, from the formation of the islands to the Canary Islands of the third millennium, diverse, colorful, tolerant, and full of charm. “Origen” is more than just a show; it is an ode to the spirit of the Canary Islands. Through its combination of artistic and narrative elements, it manages to create a bridge between past and present, between traditional and modern, inviting the audience to explore and appreciate the cultural depth of the islands, starting from the myths and legends of the Guanche aborigines, the first inhabitants of the islands, and reaching up to the Spanish and international influences that have shaped contemporary society. The main themes of the show include nature, traditions, the struggle for identity, and the coexistence of diverse cultures.

Origen: A Unique Spectacle in the Heart of Gran Canaria

Origen is one of the most spectacular yet distinct shows I have ever seen. Scala Hall offers a special amplitude due to its unique setup. You find yourself in a restaurant, a theater, a cinema, and a circus arena all at once. The floor appears and disappears, LED walls entice you with captivating images, and the artist performs just a few meters away from you. Every grimace, smile, or shadow is visible, and you realize the complexity and seriousness with which they deliver their artistic act. In a modern cabaret show, this is a huge and extremely challenging advantage, allowing you to truly understand the effort, dedication, and immense work behind each moment, striving for perfection.

“Origen” successfully bridges the past and present, traditional and modern. By presenting local traditions and history in an accessible and attractive format, the show educates and raises awareness about the island’s heritage while offering a profound, spectacular, and captivating cultural experience that celebrates the spirit and diversity of the island, from ancient times to contemporary life.

The concept of the show, with its four artistic acts interspersed with gastronomy, was also something novel for us. The food complements the show. Typical of the islands, with local ingredients, the gastronomy itself is part of the spectacle. During breaks, when you lift your eyes from your meal and take in the view of the hall, you begin to notice how, after the initial surprise, the spectators become more relaxed and at ease. It’s a culinary show within an artistic show.

Origen, through everything it brings to the stage and the hall, is the most interesting show in Gran Canaria this year. Opulent, colorful, diverse, and simultaneously educational. For an evening, you deserve the best, and those who conceived the show deliver just that. A complete experience that you will remember for a long time.

Information about tickets and schedule can be found on the website salascala.com.

We also thank Gran Canaria Turismo for their support.