Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands is set to unveil a new light and water entertainment experience with its latest show, Spectra, launching on 2 June.

Spectra replaces the Wonder Full light and water show, which ended a six-year run in April. The new show will take place twice nightly, Sunday to Thursday, at 8pm and 9pm, and there will also be a third show at 10pm on Friday and Saturday.

Visitors can watch the free show from up to 50 meters away across the waterfront promenade, Event Plaza, looking back towards the already impressive Marina Bay Sands property.

The production, which took two years to develop, is split up into four acts, beginning with Singapore’s origins and ending with a look forward into the country’s future as a global city.

Combining lasers, water effects, and image projections set to an orchestral soundtrack composed by award-winning local producer Kenn C, the focus of the performance revolves around a custom-built, 12-metre-tall prism made of laminated glass and stainless steel.

The show uses a a range of technology never seen before, including new water fountain technologies – which includes pyramids, gyroscopic arcs and straight jets – as well as lava and mist effects.

Underwater LED fixtures that allow richer colours and synchronisation software called Timecode, which enables the soundtrack to trigger all of the lasers, lighting, projections and water effects down to the millisecond, were especially developed just for the show.

George Tanasijevich, president and CEO of Marina Bay Sands, said of the launch: “Marina Bay Sands is pleased to unveil its new light and water show, Spectra, a stunning multimedia experience that uses unprecedented levels of technology to transform the skyline of Marina Bay every night and enhance Singapore’s urban landscape.

“This new show has given us the opportunity to work with homegrown talent and global creative artists to produce an experience that is compelling from start to finish. It shows our commitment to continually reinvest and refresh our entertainment offerings, to draw new and repeat visitors to our integrated resort.”

The creative force behind the production is Australian-based experience agency, Imagination, which is behind some of the most definitive shows in Australia, including Sydney New Year’s Eve.

Mr. Antony Gowthorp, Imagination Australia MD said: “Working with Marina Bay Sands on a project of this cultural scale has been an incredibly rewarding experience and we couldn’t be happier with the results.

“Using creativity and technology to enhance the impact and liveability of spaces is a great fit for Imagination’s expertise in experience strategy and design. To do this kind of place-making work, you need the right mix of creative muscle and technical know-how.”

Other shows in Asia

Of course, this isn’t the only light show in Asia – here are some of the best from around the region:

1. A Symphony of Lights, Hong Kong

The ‘World’s Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show’, in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour, is a nightly show involving more than 40 buildings. The show has five main themes: Awakening, Energy, Heritage, Partnership and Celebration.

The show starts daily at 8pm and  is free for everyone. Live narration is available in English on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and you can listen to it outside the Hong Kong Cultural Centre or on the promenade outside Golden Bauhinia Square.

2. Bangkok Rising, The Night of Lights

The groundbreaking Maha Nakhon skyscraper in the Silom-Sathon area of Bangkok’s central business district is the tallest building in Thailand at 314.2 metres – or 77 storeys.

On its grand opening night in December 2016, the building’s developers Pace Development held a huge light show called “Bangkok Rising: the Night of Lights.”

3. KLCC Lake Symphony

Not to forget out our Malaysia, the 10,000sqm man-made Lake Symphony at KLCC Park, set the iconic backdrop of Suria KLCC and the Petronas Twin Towers, has a nightly laser show.

During the shows, which also occur at noon as well as at 7pm, the fountains here spray water as high as 42m to the musical background of classical Western musicals, local Malay songs or modern-day pop and rock.