Stages provide a focal point at any event, a place people can gather round and enjoy a performance, a speech or listen to their favourite band. Stages come in all shapes and sizes; they can be simple raised platforms or elaborate productions complete with laser lights and a sophisticated sound system.
When most of us think of a stage we think about musical concerts or theatre plays, but stages are used for so much more. A podium is a small stage used by public speakers, a place they can organize their notes as they speak and even lean on for support. Larger stages are used at weddings, parties and public events such as festivals and open air markets.
There are some very famous stages that have brought a lot of entertainment to millions of people. Did you know that in 1576 the first permanent theatre was built in Shoreditch? William Shakespeare’s company performed on that stage! Today, London is the center of a thriving theatre community attended and enjoyed by people all over the world.
The London Palladium is probably one of the most well-known and loved stages in the world, celebrating its 100th birthday in 2010! Performers regard the Palladium on Argyll Street much as musicians in the States think of Carnegie Hall—it’s a goal to strive for and when you finally walk on that marvelous stage you know you’ve “made” it. The great magician Harry Houdini has performed there as have Frank Sinatra, Ethel Barrymore and Yul Brynner to name just a few. It has hosted productions of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Scrooge and other delightful plays.
Stages are also used extensively in the film industry. A really famous stage in America is at Universal Studios; it was dubbed the Phantom Stage, named for the 1925 silent film classic “Phantom of the Opera” starring the inimitable Lon Chaney. It was the largest stage every built at the time, 360 feet long and 145 feet wide, using 175,000 feet of lumber. It still stands after being used as stage hire for movies such as “The Sting” and Alfred Hitchcock’s “Torn Curtain”. Studio tours visit the stage when a film is not being shot there.
Phantom Stage
You may have occasion to need stage hire at some point. They are popular for private parties that have hired bands for entertainment. Bringing in a safe, sturdy portable stage for a private performance makes a lot of sense when you think of all the paraphernalia that goes with a band. It’s safer for your guests as well as your entertainers when all the wires and equipment are in one place and well away from feet that may be tripped.
No matter what type of stage you need to hire, it can be sourced. Whether you need a small platform for speaking or a larger venue for a play or musical performance, you can rent a stage for any occasion.
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