S+H Technical Services supplied over 2000 square metres of their classic Pea-light
starcloth and a rigging crew to Chinnick Theatre Services (CTS), which was used to
wrap a special event space at the 2015 Royal International Air Tattoo staged at RAF
Fairford in Gloucestershire, UK.
CTS supplied full technical production for the event area created in one of the
aircraft hangers. This was draped off and used to present a high profile gala dinner
on the Friday evening and an after-show party for RIAT staff and behind-the-scenes
workers on the Sunday.
RIAT is one of the UK’s premier events and is the largest military air shows in the
world. It is geared to offering a great family day amidst all the drama, spectacle
and adrenalized fun of a 7.5 hour flying display featuring a plethora of different
aircraft.
CTS has been involved with supplying production for specific areas of RIAT since
1987. The gala dinner – now for 660 invited guests, including a host of dignitaries
and VIPs – was first staged in hangar D4 at RAF Wroughton in 1993, and became an
annual event at RAF Fairford from 1995.
Each year Clive Chinnick comes up with new and inventive layouts for the hangar
for the dinner and then to transform it again for the after-show-party. He has been
utilising the magical WOW factor of starcloth since 1995 to create the unique
atmosphere and enhance the vibes with a full “wrap-around’ designating the
peripheries of the room.
Clive designs the entire environment including the layout of the tables, morphing it
from a busy working industrial hangar into a sumptuous and colourful venue for
both evenings. The dinner also includes an awards ceremony and after dinner
speaker.
The calibre of the guests is extremely high, and this, as in previous years they
shared the space with several aircraft, bringing an additional resonance and
excitement to the setting.
The goal for the technical production is always to get a breath-taking impact the
moment the guests walk in, and starcloth is an excellent way to achieve this.
Clive first started using starcloth for the gala dinner in 1995, and S+H has also
been involved since then.
Clive uses the S+H Pea-light starcloth for this event because the tungsten glow and
warmth of the bulbs fit into the overall ambience. “The design and certain retro
effects help echo the strong sense of history associated with the location’ he
explains.
RAF Fairford was constructed in 1944 originally as an airfield for British and
American troop carriers and gliders involved in the D-Day invasion of Normandy
during World War II.
In addition to designing the dinner and lighting the environment, CTS also supplied
audio and video – live cameras with IMAG relay to two screens either side of stage
– and power distribution.
