Showforce, the event crewing specialist, was called upon by Henley Festival Ltd to help deliver their five-day black tie ‘boutique cultural experience’ at Henley-on-Thames this July.
The quintessentially British festival, set on the banks of the Thames, returned for its 34th outing, with a showcase spanning classical music, rock, pop, jazz, opera and folk. Headline acts Elton John, Elvis Costello and Will Young all graced Henley’s famous floating stage. Show-stopping visual art and dance, comedy from leading performers and the finest cuisine ensure that the music is not the only thing that makes Henley unforgettable to an audience of 30,000 people, the unique festival experience concluded with a firework spectacular.
Showforce supplied 16 crew and plant operators to unload, install and set-up infrastructure and equipment for the event. The team were onsite for eight days supporting the festival. Their tasks involved erecting pedestrian barriers to cordon off designated areas and protect the festival goers, installing metal trackway for pedestrian access, setting up steeldeck, laying out and arranging folding seats, as well as installing a variety of fencing including herras fencing and netting.
The crew were also on hand to assist PRG in unloading flight cases and installing the lighting and audio visual equipment for the floating stage and getting it ready for sets from headline acts Elton John and Will Young
Once the festival finished the crew began the derig of the event which included dismantling and loading equipment. One of the challenges was taking down a Spiegeltent, that had been used during the festival as a comedy club, the team had to ensure the large historic canvas and wood tent, decorated with mirrors was carefully dismantled and loaded safely off the site.
John Harris, production manager for Henley Festivals Ltd said: “The Showforce crew went above and beyond what was required. Throughout the build and derig of the Henley Festival, they were helpful, flexible, adaptable and got on with the multitude of tasks needed to be done in a friendly and jolly manner.”