11th Hour on song for National Eisteddfod
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Featuring music and literary competitions, lectures, meetings, gigs, trade stands and stalls, drama productions, street theatre and gastronomy, the National Eisteddfod has it all. In its customary format, the event is located on a single field site, with adjacent camping but this year, owing to its urban location, the organisers chose a number of venues around the Cardiff Bay area in which to host its constituent parts, with campsites situated in a park location around four miles away.
Cardiff-based events specialist 11th Hour has been a regular supplier to the Eisteddfod in the past and this year provided more services than ever to help ensure that this huge event proceeded smoothly and efficiently. The 11th Hour team worked closely with the organisers in advance of the event, designating project managers to design and supply detailed drawings and plans for each of the sites to be serviced.
The focal point of the outdoor events was the Llwyfan Y Maes main stage, located in the Oval Basin area of the Bay but 11th Hour’s responsibilities also extended to the large campsite at Pontcanna fields. Over 500 man-hours went into the planning and execution of the company’s operation for the Eisteddfod.
11th Hour erected a 10m x 12m Prolyte CLT stage in the Basin and supplied power and distribution, including all cable (and cable ramp) to the stage and the wider site, stage lighting, catering for the requirements of traders and other suppliers in the area. An 11th Hour site manager was on hand throughout the event, including build and break days, to supervise the technical teams. At The Oval Basin site, the company also delivered fuel management. Further afield at the campsite, 11th Hour supplied power, more than 800m of festoon lighting and electrical sign-off for all site electrics.
11th Hour business development manager, Jason Venables reflects on the company’s growing involvement with Wales’s largest cultural event:
“It’s fantastic to be so heavily involved with such a special event, particularly here in our home city. We’ve been a regular supplier to the National Eisteddfod over the years and it’s clear that the organisers are happy to place their trust in our ability to meet an increasing range of demands. We look forward to discussing the organisers’ requirements for next year.”
(Jim Evans)
