What I found most rewarding in the creative process of Layali Al Diriyah was finding ways to uplift the performances while keeping them authentically rooted in place. I loved exploring how references from Diriyah could be reinterpreted into something more contemporary, whether through stage forms, props, costuming, or musical detail.  

Some ideas came through more directly, like scenic gestures inspired by the verticality and architectural style of Najdi doors and stairways, while others were more abstract, like the rotating 360 stage, which brought a sense of movement, transformation, and intrigue into the space. The Palm Stage was especially meaningful to me. Set among the palm trees, it was inspired by Diriyah’s hidden water channels and connected two stages into one continuous gesture, symbolic of both the landscape and the unseen systems that run through it. 

One of the most beautiful outcomes of the process was collaborating with a local Diriyah-based artisan and drum maker on custom henna-printed drums, which brought such a strong sense of place into the work. For me, that balance between cultural reference and contemporary expression was what made the process feel so alive.