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Blackout at the Brits
Blackout, specialists in rigging and drapes, worked with MJK Productions to transform Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London into a stunning stage for the 2006 BRIT Awards, the BPI’s annual music industry awards show sponsored by MasterCard. Working alongside Mark Fisher and Ray Winkler of Mark Fisher Studios, Blackout’s team was headed by experienced project managers, Chris Brain and Kevin Monks. The complete project included the design and supply of canopy ceilings, a proscenium arch, chandelier structures and fabrics for various sets including Prince and Kanye West as well as the after show party and back stage artist hospitality area.
“For the BRIT Awards, Blackout have worked with us for over ten years and we find that they are able to come up with very creative solutions that work within our budget. This year, our design team wanted a Moroccan / Kasbah themed event and Blackout created a superb showcase of colourful fabrics,” comments Kate Wright, director at MJK Productions, the event production company.
For the main stage area, 12 sweeping canopies of gold coloured Treveria silk (6 x 10 metres) along with a red silk proscenium arch was provided. Over the presenters main area was a gold silk drape canopy with elaborately decorated and printed edges.
128 individual silk strips were designed and supplied for four chandelier structures on PRG Europe trusses which were suspended from the main area ceiling. These were used throughout the evening with different coloured lights projected on to the fabric.
Gold Liquid Lamé drapes were used for the act of International male winner, Kanye West and were positioned at the left and right of the main stage. The breathtaking stage spectacle included gold-painted dancers and was one of the most iconic BRITs moments of the last 26 shows.
Prince’s medley of classic hits included Purple Rain and Let’s Go Crazy and were performed from a white coloured themed stage. Here, Blackout provided white silks behind the video screens and four white silk triangles on the edges of the stage.
Working with designer Bruce French and production manager Chuck Crampton on the ‘End of the Pier’ themed after-show party for guests and artists, Blackout supplied a massive white muslin ceiling canopy over the main area and black ceilings over the four peripheral bar areas. Blackout also created the disco area out of pink and red material to representative a seaside circus big top lined with black fabric. Large quantities of black wool serge drapes were also utilised, masking and dividing the after show space.
In addition to all this, in the exclusive Bruce French designed back stage hospitality area that included a restaurant and bar, Blackout created five different rooms with ceilings out of selection of stock black and red velour, black voile and casement drapes.
27th February 2006
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