Organisers created a new look exhibition when the UK's most prestigious motor show returned to London for the first time in 30 years. One of the new features of the exhibition was the Motor Theatre, which ran four presentations a day of a modern adaptation of Romeo & Juliet throughout the event featuring performers, stunt cars and JCB plant.
In the evenings following the show, Tim Etchells, Rob Mackenzie (for IMIE) and Harvey Goldsmith used the temporary theatre as the venue for a series of nine concerts, Dock Rock, featuring UB40, Brian Ferry, Van Morrison and The SugaBabes.
Robbie Wilson of RnR Logistics was the event manager (responsible for the site, health & safety and production), who brought in Arena Seating to help create the dual-purpose temporary theatre adjacent to Excel. Arena's project managers, Dave Withey and Martin Clark, designed a layout that gave 3,600 covered grandstand seats flanking three sides of the newly constructed 'stunt pad', which became the public standing area in front of the stage for the gigs. Wilson says: "Arena Seating's input has been invaluable in creating this new temporary venue, which has proved a very successful feature within the Motor Show. I've worked with them on many occasions and I feel secure that they always deliver high quality, safe seating and get on with the job without any fuss."
(Chris Henry)
