Christopher BarrettStar Live’s Ultra stage, which is currently being used for the Oasis tour, is setting new benchmarks for live production in the UK.
At Heaton Park (pictured), the Ultra stage carried screen supports that reached 84 metres wide by 12 metres high, some 20 metres wider than the screens at the band’s earlier shows at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. The band’s huge Heaton Park stage set up is believed to be the largest ever used during a UK concert tour.
Despite the scale of the stage system, Star Live said it has been designed for fast builds, high load capacities, and uninterrupted sightlines to offer promoters time efficient builds without extending site tenancy schedules.
The core components of the Ultra stage system were first used for Adele’s 2017/18 tour and have since been evolved to meet the changing needs of artists, promoters and production managers.
“It’s not just about building something bigger, it’s about giving the artist, the promoter and the audience the best experience we can, with sightlines that let every person in the crowd feel part of the show,” said Star Live CEO Grahame Muir.
Stages director Pete Holdich said the delivery of the the Ultra stage on such a huge scale has been a team effort: “We’re talking about a structure that not only supports the largest concert screens the UK has ever seen, but also handles huge audio loads, intricate rigging design and our own groundbreaking wind management systems. It’s a pleasure to work with our site teams to help ensure we deliver safely and on schedule, to meet promoter and production requirements.”