Unusual Services coordinate largest-ever UK production

Unusual Services Ltd, as main contractors for the massive Golden Jubilee celebrations last weekend, coordinated the spectacular events in The Mall, Green Park, St James’s Park, Trafalgar Square, Hyde Park and at the Queen Victoria Memorial.
Unusual Services supplied all technical infrastructure, coordination, site and production management, employing over 250 sub-contractors to mount the logistical exercise to ensure the event – being broadcast live worldwide – ran to schedule.
Activities started on Saturday June 1 with a classical concert at Buckingham Palace, and conclude on Tuesday evening with a fly past over Buckingham Palace and The Mall by Concorde and the Red Arrows.
The highlight of the event was a breathtaking son et lumière and firework finale on the Monday night, with Buckingham Palace as the dramatic stage set.
Unusual’s executive producer Alan Jacobi lead a team of David Mayo as production administrator, Malcolm Birkett as production designer and Lindsay Barrowclough as production coordinator of the processions.
Lighting designer Durham Marenghi designed an architectural lighting scheme for the Palace, the Park and the general areas and monuments; sound was designed by John Del Nero; video direction came from Martin Jangaard and fireworks/pyro by Wilf Scott.
Unusual Services have also recruited the UK’s top equipment rental companies to aid in the task. Sound equipment was supplied by Dobson Sound, Orbital, RG Jones and Wigwam, and lighting by LSD Fourth Phase, Stage Electrics and Vari*Lite. The 22 large screens dotted about London for the relay were supplied by Screenco.
The event was the largest temporary outside broadcast and media facility ever mounted for a single event, including all UK networks, major USA and European networks. Also, 22 big screens relayed the Queen’s Concerts and the Jubilee Celebrations to the crowds including 11 of the latest LED screens – the largest-ever use of screens on a single event site.
Monday's events featured five stages offering over 2,000 performers, 50 stage managers, 10 miles of temporary mains cable, 450 production staff, and over 20 tonnes of pyrotechnics – most which were fired from the roof of Buckingham Palace.
Over one million people attended the finale events on Monday night.
Unusual Services Ltd, www.unusualrigging.com
(GMcG)