S+H were commissioned by Patrick Molony, production manager for hit West End musical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, to produce a custom starcloth for the cast's special performance at the 2013 Royal Variety Performance (RVP), at the London Palladium theatre.
The starcloth backdrop was the idea of Charlie's set designer Mark Thompson who wanted something quick and easy to rig that would bring a unique look and feel to the special medley performed for the RVP, which was attended by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.
The 15 x 8m LED starcloth featured several 'waves' of stars that needed to be capable of both single and multi coloured output.
Molony and Thompson worked closely with the RVP's production designer Peter Bingemann to ensure that their backdrop could be easily integrated into the rest of the show - which also featured live performances from Robbie Williams, Jessie J, Olly Murs Gary Barlow and some other theatre shows.
Molony has worked with S+H on many previous occasions and explained, "We needed it done properly and quickly .. and both Mark and I knew that S+H, with their expertise and encyclopaedic knowledge in the field of starcloth manufacturing, were the best choice to get a result."
S+H's Terry Murtha ensured that the operation was conducted swiftly and seamlessly, commenting, "We were delighted to get the order and then it around in time for the show - it's what we do best!"
S+H have been involved with Children In Need for many years and this year supplied an impressive 54 x 6m high Animation Cloths that were wrapped around the back of the stage at Elstree Studios for the main telethon broadcast, where they formed an essential element of set designer Dominic Tolfts' eye-catching design.
S+H also supplied their Chameleon RGB starcloth that was rigged behind the live audience, which looked great on the wide angle camera shots and sweeps.
For Strictly Come Dancing Blackpool, S+H supplied around 400ft of velvet drapes which were overlaid with their Pea-light strings to clad the walls of the famous Tower Ballroom. S+H has supplied kit to several seasons of Strictly, and at the start of the 11th series this year, its new LED Stair product was utilised for the red carpet launch event.
(Jim Evans)
