Entertainment industry professionals, product manufacturers, production managers, students, school and college officials, arrived for a day of tours and celebration in South Kirkby, where LS-Live operates Europe's largest rehearsal space, staging structures rental, set design and build, and equipment rental for the events industry.
Guests enjoyed entertainment by acts such as Rosie Doonan, The Jon Strong Band and Skint & Demoralised, on a stage erected in the LS-Live rehearsal studio and lit by HSL, took tours around the facilities and saw where Backstage Academy courses will take place on the site of the studio. They were also treated to a BBQ, bar, aerialists, a laser show, an exhibit of LS-Live's outdoor stages, and an interactive audio-visual installation.
In addition to its arena sized rehearsal space, LS-Live (formerly Litestructures Live) has added two production offices, 14 en-suite bedrooms, six en-suite dressing rooms, a dance studio, green room, gym, catering and two multi-functional spaces to its offering, meaning incoming productions have everything they need on site for accommodation and entertainment. The bedrooms have already been enjoyed by touring act Elbow.
Visitors could also see the new fully modular Space Roof stage erected in the car park; a system that can be built to any size up to 37m and will offer cost savings to outdoor events due to its unique design that saves truck space and build time, as well as manpower.
Backstage Academy is now accepting students on to its short courses in backstage skills and its foundation degree in Live Events Production beginning in September. Created and developed by entertainment industry specialists with real-life experience, these modular courses offer tailored training for students looking to further their knowledge in the backstage sector. They include Apple and Avid training, and courses in rigging, event safety, working at height, manual handling, first aid, pyrotechnics and more.
Courses are still being developed and Backstage Academy welcomes discussion from course leaders, manufacturers, tutors and interested parties.
(Jim Evans)
