Last year the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith went through a complete stage refurbishment plus additional custom stage building with Harlequin Floors.
The Eventim Apollo, formerly the Hammersmith Apollo, is one of the UK’s largest original theatres. Designed in the Art Deco style by architect Robert Cromie, it first opened in 1932 and remains one of London’s major live entertainment venues.
The Apollo has seen some of the finest live entertainers on stage including The Beatles, Queen, Sir Elton John and Kylie Minogue.
Harlequin started the full stage refurbishment by removing the old vinyl, plywood and original hardwood stage surface. Then the old electrical wiring, and Victorian water pipes that were no longer in use had to be taken out before the installation could commence.
A liquid damp proof membrane was applied and layers of fire-retardant ply were placed around the metal conduits that could not be removed. The battens were laid to a laser level to ensure a flat surface and had acoustic isolation pads attached at predetermined centres.
The stairs to both sides of the stage were custom-made to keep the tread distance the same and to make sure the height matched.
The stage surface was finished with Harlequin Standfast heavy-duty performance floor. With its slip-resistant surface, Standfast is particularly suitable for permanent installation on multi-purpose stages.
Harlequin also installed a 50mm strip of white vinyl along the downstage edge of the stage.This is not visible to the audience but helps ensure the safety of the performers by ensuring that they can see the stage edge.
Josh Clague, Production Manager at Eventim Apollo, said:
“With such a busy and varied schedule, it was vital for us that we upgraded our stage to the best industry standard. It’s great to know that we now have a stage protected and prepared for the next generation of shows and events here at the Eventim Apollo”.
Harlequin Standfast is suitable for ballet, contemporary, modern, percussive dance including flamenco, Irish and tap, multi-purpose use, hip-hop, jazz, street, aerobics, zumba, television, theatre and for operatic performances.
The Harlequin teams work on a wide range of stage builds and refurbishments, from installing a new top surface to brand-new stage constructions. When an existing stage floor requires refurbishment, Harlequin offers a selection of services including sanding and repainting, replacement of a ‘sacrificial’ hardboard top layer and stage rebuilding, repair or reconfiguration.
Each stage is different, so Harlequin’s bespoke stage building and refurbishment service provides a unique solution every time.