Staged on the banks of the Thames, the five-day Festival is recognized for fusing an eclectic mix of music and art and follows on from the legendary Henley Regatta. Comprising two main stages - the 'Floating Stage' where world class performances included Lesley Garret, Bryn Terfel, Sir Tim Rice and the 'Club Marquee', where artists included The Fine Young Cannibals and Mel C. Working closely with production manager Bob Caple, Blackout supplied all the blackout drapes and necessary rigging equipment to facilitate the dramatic set-design on the famous Floating Stage - a giant Edwin Shirley structure measuring 20m wide by 8.4m high.
Blackout suspended eight decorative rectangular metal panels from the roof of the structure. These were covered in ice-blue lilac casement with bold geometric designs to contrast against the magical galaxy-like effect of the enormous star cloth backdrop. Black wool-serge drapes provided a functional masking role at the sides of the structure, enhancing both aesthetics and acoustics of the Floating Stage.
Blackout's team, headed by crew chief Simon Ford, also helped transform the 'Bridge Bar' used at the Henley Regatta into the Club Marquee - an intimate performance space. Another massive starcloth was used for room infill and to mask the lighting rig's ground-support. This was custom-made for the temporary venue at Blackout's HQ.
Production manager Bob Caple commented: "The custom-made star cloth really made a difference, the proscenium piece fitted exactly and framed the action perfectly." He added: "I tend to vote with my feet, and having worked with Blackout on many past projects, I'm impressed with their work. They worked in a tight time-frame, and their 'can-do' approach during the final stages of the build ensured all ran smoothly."
(Lee Baldock)
