The aim of the event was to recognise staff achievements and successes over the past year. The theme was based on the musical Grease and featured cheerleaders, a Greased Lightnin' Band, and an American style convertible car.
Five halls at the ExCel Conference and Exhibition Centre were completely wrapped in Starcloth from Blackout creating an environment that was transformed into a tribute to the 1950s. 75 motors and 460 metres of lighting, AV and sound trusses were provided along with an 8m diameter truss circle. Four giant projection screens dressed to look like Drive-In Movie theatres were rigged by Blackout along with giant iconographic images from the period and from Grease.
Blackout are an approved supplier for the venue, and had worked on a successful collaboration at last years event. Ken Nock, project manager at Blackout says: "We had only two days to pre-rig and had to work closely with the core production team on the technical layout and all aspects of the rig. This was especially true when suspending the car that appeared to be bursting through the stage set and had to be secure enough for two singers to be performing inside."
Caroline Hughes Event Production were responsible for creating and producing the overall design concept and entertainment for the evening working with Michael Woodage Set Design Ltd. Hughes says: "This event was a huge undertaking in the time scale - we basically put on a West End musical in four days. Blackout's years of experience and expertise makes them a very safe pair of hands to use when approaching a project on this scale."
(Chris Henry)
