NMK Electronics, a Midwich Group company, announced its collaboration with the Sharjah Performing Arts Academy (SPAA) as an exclusive technology partner of the Pause & Play stage at World Stage Design (WSD) 2025; a unique experience where technology meets art.

Hosted for the first time in the Middle East, WSD 2025 welcomed participants from over 80 countries, featuring 140 exhibitors, more than 300 participants and facilitators, and nearly 1,200 attendees in total. The Pause & Play stage embodied the Academy’s vision of blending creativity, education, and sustainability with world-class technology at its forefront.

A Stage That Reflects Creativity and Collaboration

“Hosting World Stage Design 2025 was a truly significant milestone for Sharjah and for SPAA. It marks the first time this global event has been held in the Middle East, opening new cultural dialogues and creating opportunities for exchange between international and regional designers, educators, and students,” said Jacqui George, Director, World Stage Design 2025. “It celebrates creativity across borders and showcases the UAE’s growing role as a hub for innovation and collaboration in the performing arts.”

She added, “Pause & Play invites reflection and renewal, an opportunity to pause, reconsider our practices, and then play, experiment, and create with new perspectives. The theme mirrors our commitment to both tradition and experimentation, encouraging artists to explore how design can shape more sustainable, inclusive, and imaginative futures for performance worldwide.

The Pause & Play stage was designed as a space where conversations, performances, and moments of reflection were elevated through technology. As the driving force behind the stage, NMK delivered a complete ecosystem of audio, video, lighting, and control by integrating L-Acoustics speakers, Shure microphones, Allen & Heath mixers, and Chauvet Professional lighting. The result was a seamless blend of technology and artistry that elevated the future of performance design, ensuring every sound and scene carried depth, precision, and clarity.

“For SPAA, hosting World Stage Design 2025 has been both an honour and a milestone event, it shows that world-class design, education, and collaboration can thrive in this region. Pause & Play was our way of bringing the world together through performative arts expressions,” said Diego Biagioni, Lead Tutor – Technical Skills (Sound), Sharjah Performing Arts Academy.

What unfolded between SPAA and NMK was a creative alliance which served as a reminder that innovation, when grounded in artistry, breathes new life into performance itself.

“At NMK, we see our role as more than a technology advocate, we are enablers of creative expression,” said Alex Kemanes, Regional Director, Middle East, at NMK Electronics. “Collaborations like this bring together technical innovation and artistic vision. We’re proud to support institutions like SPAA that are shaping the region’s creative future. Our mission is to create spaces where education, performance, and imagination thrive together.”

Strengthening the UAE’s Cultural Vision

World Stage Design, held every four years and now in its sixth edition, positions the UAE as a cultural hub on the global map. According to Jacqui George, “World Stage Design 2025 reflects Sharjah and the UAE’s vision for a vibrant creative economy and performing arts sector. By bringing together global artists, designers, and educators, it fosters collaboration, innovation, and talent development. Through Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, WSD 2025 showcases the UAE’s commitment to world-class artistic education, cultural exchange, and positioning the country as a hub for creativity and performance.”

By backing Pause & Play, NMK aligns its mission with that of SPAA and the nation, creating ecosystems where art, sound, and technology converge to inspire. This initiative reflects NMK’s broader vision to bridge education with industry, connect talent with opportunity, and position the Middle East as a global hub for creative innovation

Investing in the Next Generation

Beyond the stage, this collaboration reflects NMK Electronics’ long-term commitment to nurturing youth and creative talent across the region’s performing arts and live events industry. Students and emerging professionals who participated in WSD 2025 gained hands-on access to global-standard equipment and mentorship, learning how creative ideas are brought to life using professional tools and expertise.

“Our collaboration with SPAA is about nurturing a creative community that doesn’t just use technology, it understands it and transforms it into art,” said Dino Drimakis, Director of Strategic Development at NMK Electronics. “By investing in young talent today, we are helping shape the cultural and creative identity of tomorrow.”

Building on the success of Pause & Play, NMK aims to further this partnership with SPAA through workshops, residencies, and collaborative programs designed to upskill students and strengthen the region’s creative ecosystem. With each initiative, NMK reaffirms its belief that technology has the power to amplify human creativity and ensure the Middle East’s creative community continues to thrive on the global stage