Exclusive: Yas Waterworld announces live action roleplay event, opening door for potential LARP theme park
Abu Dhabi’s Yas Waterworld has unveiled plans to host a fully immersive live action roleplay (LARP) experience, with its creators planning to use the event as a pilot for a fully-fledged LARP theme park.
Taking place from 1 December to 30 December, “Legends of Arabia: The Quest of the Pearl Tribes” will allow visitors to don costumes and roleplay characters – becoming part of the show instead of just watching it.
The concept is the creation of Claus Raasted and Paul Bulencea. Raasted is best known for his work blockbuster LARP events in Polish castles, most famously the College of Wizardry, which hit the headlines worldwide in 2014 for its Harry Potter-esque experience. Bulencea is co-author of Gamification in Tourism – a book which explores the combination of gamification and experience design – and also co-creator of the upcoming College of Extraordinary Experiences.
“We are bringing this to the Emirates with the end goal of creating something bigger – a theme park dedicated to live action roleplay,” sad Bulencea speaking exclusively to Attractions Management. “This acts like a pilot, something that tests the concept.”
“A theme park constructed to our tastes means you go over there and you have the airplane LARP and over here is the space moon station or underwater world,” added Raasted. “It’s a field test that shows the basic idea but what that means for the future we don’t know yet.”
The Quest of the Pearl Tribes overhauls Waterworld’s themed environment, reimagining it at night as the setting for the duo’s LARP creation.
“The reason we’re doing it at this waterpark is that not only is it a waterpark but thanks to the theming it looks like something else,” said Raasted. “At night you notice the waterslides less and instead see the oasis and the visuals that make the park more interesting. It gives us the setting of this mythical fairytale.”
The game will accommodate up to 500 people a night, with participants divided up into 20 different clans. Each clan belongs to one of five tribes who through the three hour event will end up at odds against each other before resolving their differences in the grand finale.
As a concept, Bulencea see the LARP model as one which operations such as theme parks could take advantage of, with a relatively cheap output also encouraging return visits.
“What I think is very interesting from a business perspective is you can bring in a team that can build a concept around something you already have,” he said. “From a business sense it will cost money to create the initial concept where we come in and run a month show for them but then we enter a training phase and it becomes something very sustainable for them.
“You can use the story as a base, create a new chapter each month, and then you always have a new angle to bring people back. Engagement through immersion is the key.”
Yas Waterworld waterpark live action roleplay LARP Claus Raasted Paul Bulencea
College of Extraordinary Experiences offers hands-on training in the art of immersive design
Abu Dhabi waterpark reveals pearl diving experience
Abu Dhabi’s Yas Waterworld opens to public
January launch for Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi
BIG unveils Eve Music Hall as Croatia venue nears completion
Bob Rogers hands BRC to long-serving leadership team
Wellness care hospital opens in Vilnius with innovative spa and hospitality concept
Universal and Puy du Fou projects point to rise of Oxford–Cambridge corridor
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’ planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism investment.
For years, the corridor has been associated primarily with science, technology, housing and university-led economic growth. However, the clustering of large-scale visitor attraction projects along the
All-inclusive eco-wellness development Auko to open near Vietnam’s Son Doong caves
Shedd Aquarium upgrades its visitor experience with new Immersion Theater
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional revenue opportunities.
The attraction has transformed the aquarium’s Phelps Auditorium into a multi-sensory venue combining panoramic projection, environmental effects and interactive technology.
A new pre-show area allows visitors to engage with augmented reality marine animals before entering the
Mandarin Oriental announces standalone Mansions-branded residences for Abu Dhabi
MCR is planning a luxury hotel for London's BT Tower
Joy as a radical act: Yinka Ilori launches solo exhibition celebrating the rebellious power of spreading happiness
Work gets underway on Madrid's €800 million leisure complex
Work is underway in Madrid on one of Europe’s most significant multi-functional complexes, combining sport, entertainment, culture and education.
The €800 million initiative to regenerate the former Olympic Aquatic Centre in the north-east of the city, next to the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, is being led by Barsento – a joint venture between Live Nation Entertainment, Oak View Group and Atlético de Madrid. The project will
Therme Manchester reveals 90:90 strategy – 90 per cent of the UK population within a 90-minute drive of a Therme
Four Seasons’ Naples Beach Club opens 2,800sq m Sanctuary spa inspired by indigenous Calusa people
Orient Express Corinthian to host Ocean Rebirth wellness retreat in collaboration with Guerlain
Famed London nightclub, Tramp, launches Tramp Health
First look: Miraval opens on the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia
Hainan Science Museum by Ma Yansong, opens in China
A new science museum has opened to the public in Haikou after attracting more than 350,000 visitors during a four-month soft opening period.
Designed by Ma Yansong and his practice MAD Architects, the Hainan Science Museum is located on the edge of Wuyuan River National Wetland Park and has already recorded peak attendance of more than 5,800 visitors in a single day.
Commissioned by
Zannier Île De Bendor launches with design by Hardel Le Bihan Architectes
Sæl Spa readies for launch in London: “a modern British sanctuary”
Immersive art bathhouse Submersive announces debut location in Austin
Construction begins on regenerative wellness destination The Shenandoah Nature Resort
Royal Caribbean reveals record-breaking cruise ship
V&A East opens in London
David Geffen galleries open at LACMA
New venue The Lands by Capella includes a longevity centre to complement sister hotel Capella Sydney
World of Frozen launches at Disneyland Paris
Pical Resort by Valamar reveals first Croatian spa under the ESPA brand
Mandarin Oriental creates end-to-end Egyptian journey with two new hotels and first-ever luxury river cruise
Designers Mendil + Meyer launch new division called Lām Concepts for strategic wellness projects
Wilderness Bisate in Rwanda reveals brand’s second Sanctuary spa
4a Architekten shares details of wellness extension at Salinarium Bad Dürkheim Thermal Spa
