Brilliant Stages delivers complex staging for Spice Girls’ comeback tour

Photo: Andrew Timms

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Brilliant Stages was approached by The Spice Girls’ creative team, as stage technology and set construction specialists, to help them realise their ambitious vision for the highly anticipated reunion tour.

Working closely with Production Manager – Tony Gittins, Creative Director – Lee Lodge and Set Designer – Jason Sherwood, Brilliant carefully studied the stage designs and broke them down into various elements in order to fully understand the complexity of the project.

Led by David Harrison, brought in as Technical Lead, Brilliant Stages produced:

– The 13.5m-diameter Globe (including the 16m diameter base)

– The 20m-diameter x 3m high  ‘Spice World’ LED Video Ring

– The 41m-diameter Passerelle that extended 34m into the audience

– The 30m wide, 11m deep Downstage Crescent (incorporating six of our type A electric Serapid lifts, two mining carts and an egress bridge with steps)

– 408 sq metres of scenically treated plywood deck cover

Each element had a variety of challenges, from size, weight and complexity to overall aesthetic look of the set. Specifically with the 20m diameter LED ring and Globe, Brilliant had to make sure it could be broken down into segments to fit into trucks and shipping containers. There also had to be extensive planning and consistent communication with Star Events and Head Rigger James Heath to ensure that the roof could support the weight during assembly and the show.

Throughout the process, Brilliant had to come up with creative solutions to overcome obstacles that presented themselves. One example of this was that the video tiles in their standard space frames would have taken the LED ring over its weight capacity, so Brilliant designed custom 3mm thick lightweight aluminium support panels to overcome this. Brilliant also added the extra benefit of quick release panel connections helping with maintenance, break-down and transportation. 

No stone was left unturned and every detail was attended to with the utmost care, made easier with Brilliant’s years of experience in the concert touring world.

David Harrison, Technical Lead commented:

“First of all, it was a pleasure to be brought in by Brilliant Stages to lead on this project, working with the design team to bring the clients creative vision to life.

As for the project itself, each stage element came with its own particular set of challenges. At times it proved to be very demanding build due to the complexity of the design.

Although the end-product may look relatively straight forward, there is a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes to help produce these seamless productions.”

Brilliant Stages is a world leader in designing, producing and delivering advanced staging technologies and entertainment structures to live events around the globe.

From concert touring stages and complex motion systems to brand activations and awe-inspiring art installations, Brilliant can create the most demanding live events, seamlessly.

Founded in 1983, the multi-award winning team has built some of the most forward-thinking engineering products used in the live entertainment industry today. Brilliant’s diverse range of clients include U2, Beyoncé & JAY-Z, The Rolling Stones, Cirque Du Soleil, Princess Cruises, Dubai Mall and The Olympic Games.

Molly Hookings
Author: Molly Hookings

Molly joined the editorial team in March 2019. She has several years’ experience working in broadcast and journalism, as well as marketing and PR. Past experience includes working for the BBC and independent publishing houses. If you have a story you think Molly might be interested in, please email: molly@eventindustrynews.com