Behind the Worlds · The Driftlands
Building The Driftlands
An icy world where steampunk aesthetics, K-pop energy and Nordic influence combine.
The Driftlands is a completely new world created by the Memoir team.
Like everything we create, it started with an idea. Then, piece by piece, the story, movement, visual language and interactive elements came together.
A world born from movement
Our immersive worlds often begin with an aesthetic. The Driftlands came to life a little differently. It began with live entertainment.
We happened upon a group of performers known as sliders, and that encounter became the spark of an idea. Holiday entertainment is usually nice, polished and familiar. We believed there was room for something with a little more edge.
Wearing metal knee pads and steel-toed shoes, the sliders move across concrete as they jump, spin and flip through high-energy choreography. We began asking how we could build an entire world around that acrobatic performance style. And so The Driftlands was born.
Cold, rugged and charged with color
We wanted the world to feel chilly, so our minds went to Norway. Beyond the cold, its rugged landscapes and Viking influence felt right for the story we were building.
The environment uses UV lighting, neon and fluorescent colors layered over deep blues. Those dark tones create contrast, allowing every fluorescent detail to feel brighter and more electric.
Every tribe has its own identity
Graffiti-painted barrels and hand-dyed, stenciled flags bring ambient detail to the land. Each element helps introduce the three tribes who inhabit this icy world: Sparkfang, Ironwake and Riftborn.
The barrels also serve as tabletops. Guests can purchase a custom cocktail and food items within the land, then stay close to the performance while they eat and drink.
Sparkfang
Fast, volatile and charged with heat.
Ironwake
Industrial, grounded and built around strength.
Riftborn
Mystic, electric and connected to the world between worlds.
The mountains come to life
Guests stand along the edge of the performance space for a front-row view of the action. Between performances, they can meet and interact with members of the Riftborn tribe.
On the outskirts of the world, another interactive experience waits. The angular mountain design reflects the jagged visual language of The Driftlands as light travels along its ridges.
Guests test their speed and agility by striking buttons across the mountain surface. Match your reflexes to the moving light and unlock lighting and sound responses throughout the environment.
Follow The Driftlands as it comes together
This new world and its high-energy live performance are going to be an exciting addition to Dazzling Nights. Follow along for a behind-the-scenes look at rehearsals, costuming and the creative process.
