UK - Unusual Rigging returned to the Royal Albert Hall for the 2025 Olivier Awards on Sunday 6 April, bringing its expertise and large-scale technical capability to one of British theatre’s biggest nights. No stranger to either the venue or the event, Unusual was tasked with delivering the full scope of rigging and draughting requirements for this year’s spectacular ceremony – supporting an ambitious production with sustainable, reusable rigging infrastructure.
“We were brought on to handle all the rigging and draughting requirements for the show,” said Luke MacBride, design engineer at Unusual Rigging. “Our scope included the design and installation of a mother truss to support lighting equipment, scenery, and the automated presentation screen. We also supplied trussing for drapery, including a custom-fabricated curved truss for the red drape, as well as truss for cable management.”
In total, Unusual Rigging provided 225m of truss and 29 chain hoists to complement the 50 hoists in use from the Royal Albert Hall’s rigging system. The project was delivered in close collaboration with the in-house technical team, alongside TAIT, who handled automation. Production management was led by Lee Batty.
Sustainability remained a key consideration throughout the project, with Unusual employing rigging solutions designed for reusability, material efficiency, and minimal environmental impact. That commitment echoed the wider values of the Society of London Theatre (SOLT), organisers of the Olivier Awards, who continue to prioritise eco-conscious decisions – from rolling out a green carpet to working with suppliers aligned with sustainable practices.
“Using such a prestigious event to promote the importance of sustainability is applauded by us,” said Tom Harper, managing director of Unusual Rigging. “It sets an example for the entire industry and aligns perfectly with our own mission to deliver world-class technical solutions with environmental responsibility at their core.”
