Pirate’s New Year Week
Pirate Crew Kick Starts the New Year, and what a first week it has been! Our provision of event crew services in the UK has been busy and exciting, with plenty of successes and good times. Here’s a peek at some of the work we’ve accomplished…
Everything kicked off at the Royal Albert Hall, where our stage crew worked New Year’s Eve to handle the get-out of The Nutcracker. The team seamlessly collaborated with the rigging crew, ensuring a smooth derig. As a result of their efficiency, they earned themselves positive feedback and an early finish!
A little later on New Year’s Day, a dedicated team headed to 3 Mills Studio, London, to assist English National Opera with their rehearsal setup for an upcoming show. Working alongside the production team, they built the steel deck structure with safety and precision. Consequently, their efficiency secured both an early finish and praise from the client, who appreciated their energy and positivity.
Pirates Against the Storm
Meanwhile, our Bristol branch tackled a major challenge at Margam Country Park near Swansea. The team faced stormy conditions while loading out an outdoor Christmas light show. Despite the wet and cold, they stayed upbeat and worked tirelessly to complete the breakdown on schedule. The client thankfully provided extra welfare, food, and drinks which resulted in high morale over three days.
Meanwhile – It Was PANTO TIME!
Four of our crew went to Catford Broadway Theatre for the get-out of Sleeping Beauty, which they had originally installed back in November. Our theatre crew efficiently dismantled the scenery and loaded it onto trailers. To ensure smooth operations, we assigned the same Crew Chief from the initial fit-up, reinforcing our commitment to continuity. The team worked from morning to night, ensuring the venue was prepped for its next event. Notably, both the client and venue staff expressed their satisfaction, and our Crew Chief praised the outstanding teamwork that day.
At East London’s Boiler House on Brick Lane, six of our best techs tackled the load-out of the immersive Christmas Dive Bar for the brilliant Humbug. The venue’s industrial charm set the stage for a unique challenge. Our technical support crew dismantled the show efficiently, splitting tasks between rigging, lighting, and scenery. Given the complexity of balancing the needs of different departments proved tricky, but our Team Chief handled it with humour and strong communication. After four days of hard work, the team left the venue spotless—a sign of a job well done. Thanks to our clients for trusting us with your event!
Setting the Stage for Kyoto
At @Sohoplace, we provided ten skilled techs for the fit-up of RSC’s Kyoto. The crew tackled a variety of technical tasks, from hanging scenery and building the stage to assembling truss and supporting the AV team with the video wall. Once the tech work had wrapped up, the London Pirate Team prepped the auditorium for rehearsals. As always, our Pirates played a key role in the venue’s manual handling needs, integrating seamlessly with the in-house team.
Our journey continued to 72 Neal Street, where we partnered with a long-time client specialising in promotional and permanent shop installations. For this project, we provided both Carpenters and a Scenic Handling team to build a front window shop display. With meticulous attention to detail, our carpenters assembled the display with precision, ensuring the display was properly secured. The job required that the Pirates were working amongst the public, therefore the upmost professionalism and friendliness was required at all times. The client praised our crew’s proactiveness and consistent high standards.
A continuing partnership
Next to the Old Vic Theatre, a venue where we’ve supported with stage crew services and scenery handlers for 13 years. Our team worked tirelessly to transition between A Christmas Carol and Oedipus. This strike is always a big challenge but the team came through it smelling of roses. The hard work did not go unnoticed, as evidenced by the Crew Boss’s glowing feedback:
“The five-star review for my team today was totally warranted. They performed exceptionally well and delivered the best result we’ve seen for this shift in previous years. Despite battling rain, sleet, snow, and hail in freezing temperatures, they stayed positive and committed throughout.”
Closing the Week Strong
The week wrapped up at the Bridge Theatre, where our experienced stage crew assisted with the get-out for Guys and Dolls. The team efficiently cleared props and scenery, supported the rigging crew, and dismantled dressing rooms, therefore preparing the space for its next show.
Now up in Leicester, our regional crew worked on the deconstruction of My Fair Lady at Curve Theatre. Booked directly by the venue, they integrated smoothly with the in-house team and completed the job on time without any issues.
Start of ongoing work
Sunday marked the start of our work at the purpose-built ABBA Arena, where we joined the in-house team and specialist contractors for the annual maintenance of ABBA Voyage. With an already strong working relationship at the venue, we provided a skilled lighting and electrics crew to overhaul much of the infrastructure ahead of the next season.
Two weeks of work lie ahead, but we’re already receiving fantastic feedback!
One client shared: “The team was great, really good. Any job I asked them to do, they got on with right away and with a great attitude.”
There were many more shifts, shows, and venues to cover this week, but we’ve run out of page space! A huge thank you to our clients, collaborators, and most of all, our plucky crew, who consistently give their best, even in the toughest conditions.
Why Choose Pirate for your Event Production Crew?
Pirate Crew stands out as a premier provider of technical event crew in the UK, offering a team of motivated, skilled, and caring professionals dedicated to delivering exceptional service. With a reputation built on decades of experience across various events, Pirate Crew ensures that each project receives a bespoke approach tailored to the client’s specific needs. Our broad skills base encompasses a diverse range of technical expertise, allowing us to adapt to any situation and provide the right personnel for every job. Clients consistently praise Pirate Crew for their helpfulness, professionalism, and hardworking nature, highlighting their ability to communicate effectively and respond promptly to production needs. By choosing Pirate Crew, you’re partnering with a team that truly cares about your event’s success and works tirelessly to achieve it.
Contact Pirate Crew today to see how we can help bring your project to life.



