BBC 1
- By Blue Chilli Flying
- •
- 16 Sep, 2016
Witness for the Prosecution
Blue Chilli Flying have just returned from the seaside! We’ve spend the last couple of weeks up in sunny Morecambe, at the historic and beautiful Winter Gardens, providing the flying effects for the BBC 1 two part, Agatha Christie Christmas Special - Witness for the Prosecution, which is due to air on Boxing day.
We were initially called in solely to provide a custom-built, aerial ‘crescent moon’ on which to fly the Oblivion actress Andrea Riseborough, however this incredible venue sadly no longer has a working theatre rig, and so we were tasked with installing an entire theatre flying system that was strictly in keeping with the 1920’s era of the piece.
After installation came the filming days. The operation of our equipment (and the newly installed ‘theatre’) was carried out by our team of 8. Andrea Riseborough was a dream to work with, as were the many creatives, crew and those from Mammoth Screen. We truly had a fantastic time working on this project, made ever so slightly more memorable by the full 1920’s costuming, hair and makeup we spent three days in!......who knew hobnail boots were so comfy….not!!!
As well as Andrea, the drama stars:
· Tinker Tailor Solider Spy star Toby Jones
· Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall
· The Thick Of It actor David Haig
· Cider With Rosie star Billy Howle
· And The Casual Vacancy star Monica Dolan.
December…..and this years ‘World’s Biggest Panto’ was family favourite Peter Pan!
Featuring a cast of over 100 performers including comedy legend, actor and presenter BRADLEY WALSH and Spandau Ballet bassist and EastEnder MARTIN KEMP, Blue Chilli Flying provided 2 x 25m long automated performer track systems that elevated and travelled the performers high above the runway-style thrust stage.
She show opened at Birmingham Arena (formerly the Barclaycard Arena), later moving to Wembley Arena and entertained audiences of all ages over the festive period. We had a great time working on this production and with the talented actors and actresses we flew.
The incredible Matt Knight (Semi Finalist on Let It Shine - BBC One) played the role of Peter Pan. Naturally we work with many ‘Peter’s’ but Matt was a dream to work with…..at times we really did wonder whether Peter Pan was real! Hannah Grover (Wendy), Stephanie Siadatan (Tinkerbell), Charlie Quirke (John) & Chris Gage (Michael) completed the talented flying line up!
We assisted characters with that great beanstalk climb, along with providing a ‘Mission Impossible’ style entrance to the comedy duo who flew in from way above the proscenium right into a very messy slosh routine!!!
The show runs from 8th - 27th December.
Highgate Schools production of Peter Pan proved to be an outstanding visual production. Creative in their in-school prop and set making abilities, Blue Chilli Flying helped out by installing a simple but effective flying rig to make Peter, John, Michael & Wendy fly to Neverland.
Assisting with Charles Dickens’ classic characters, aerial entrances and exits provided visual effects that wowed the enthusiastic audiences.
29th Nov - 2nd Dec 2017.
Blue Chilli Flying were delighted to be brought in to provide a flying solution for this years Christmas pantomime ‘Aladdin’ at Lichfield Garrick Theatre. Here we installed a fully automated auditorium track system that would fly Aladdin (and his carpet of course!) out and over the audience.
Never the most straight forward of installations rigging over a span of seats, however careful planning meant the install went smoothly and quickly.
Aladdin runs from 30 November 2017 - Saturday 6 January 2018
https://www.lichfieldgarrick.com/whats-on/family/aladdin/40#
Elf….this time for Pantheon Theatre , the critically-acclaimed musical theatre company based in Glasgow, Scotland! Blue Chilli designed and built a custom sleigh for the production and then installed this as part of an automated lift, manual travel system at Glasgow’s Kings Theatre.
Photograph by Stephen Fothergill
They’re off to see the Wizard!!
Blue Chilli have had a fantastic time working with the cast, crew and creatives of Northampton Musical Theatre Company on their production of Wizard of Oz than runs from Tuesday 24th – Saturday 28th October 2017 at Northampton’s Derngate Theatre.
2 x Track Systems, 2 x Pendulum systems and a performer hoop for Glinda, and we had flying monkeys, flying Dorothy, flying witches…… the lot!!! A great bunch to work with…..all the best with the show guys!
