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S+H supports ‘Strictly Come Dancing’

S+H Technical supplied large amounts of red velvet drapes and a custom Pea-light installation for the most recent series of BBC’s prime time show, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. Over 4000 Pea-lights bulbs were ensconced in bespoke set panels covered in red drape making up an integral part of the production design created by Patrick Doherty.

BAFTA Award winning Doherty has been involved on the creative team since the very first series of ‘Strictly’ in 2004. For the last three years, the show has been based at the George Lucas 2 stage at Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, with one ‘special’ recorded at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool.

Each year the design has developed. ‘Strictly’ has gradually become fully 360 degrees in terms of camera coverage, and with this evolution, the set has been extended to include scenic arches and balcony detail at what was once simply the ‘reverse’ end of the studio. With the extension of the back end of the room came the need to wrap the complete space in red velvet drapes which were sourced from S+H. Doherty chose red for a softer, warmer finish than black.

The LED screen and video elements have been increased substantially in recent years and the - now HD - projections onto the dancefloor is a defining visual feature of the look as the dancing couples show off their footwork, panache and chemistry. Things that glitter and sparkle are constantly being blinged up and added each week usually via the practical lighting of props and set pieces. The Pea-light installation covered all the walls of the lower level around the back of the seating stands.

The bulbs were attached to the red backing drape by S+H’s crew over three days during the set-up period. Patrick Doherty worked closely with lighting designer Mark Kenyon and his team which included Dave Newton of Potion Graphics who produced the video content and Dave Bishop who ran the Catalyst media server playing it (he also controlled the moving lights).

In Blackpool, the ‘Strictly’ ambience was replicated using more red cloth and Pea-lights - this year S+H supplied 123 metres of 3 metre wide red velvet drops with Pea-light strings dropped immediately in front of them.

www.starcloth.co.uk

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