A Festive Tradition in a Historic Setting
Every December for over 30 years now, we return to one of the UK’s most iconic venues for Carols at the Castle at Warwick Castle, a standout event that blends live performance with a truly unique backdrop.
Set within the castle’s historic courtyard, this project is all about creating a professional festival stage environment that works in a challenging outdoor setting, while still delivering that magical Christmas atmosphere.
The Festival Stage
At the centre of the event is our 10m x 7.5m festival stage, designed to handle both performance and production requirements in an outdoor environment.
Key features include:
- Raised stage height of approx. 1350mm at the front for clear audience sightlines
- Full structural bracing using scaffold support to ensure stability
- Ballast-weighted system using 400L water tanks, safely concealed beneath the stage for secure installation in the castle grounds
Given the heritage location, everything is designed to be safe, non-invasive, and fully compliant, while still delivering a solid, professional platform.
Stage Canopy & Weather Protection
Outdoor winter events always come with their challenges, so the stage is fully covered with a festival canopy structure:
- 10m x 7.5m canopy roof system
- Extended 1.2m eyelid canopy projecting forward to protect performers and equipment
- Integrated trussing structure for rigging and lighting
This ensures the event can run smoothly regardless of the December weather—something that’s essential for a live performance schedule .
Choral Risers – Built for Performance
A key part of the event is the choir, so we installed a three-tiered choral riser system inside the stage canopy at the rear of the stage:
- Heights at +300mm, +600mm, and +900mm
- Spanning 9.5m wide across the stage
- Fitted with black balustrade rails for safety and a clean finish
This setup allows every performer to be seen clearly, while also creating a strong visual impact for the audience.
Sound, Lighting & Technical Setup
To support the full production, the stage includes:
- PA Wings (1.5m x 1.5m) positioned either side of the stage for optimal sound coverage
- Trussing flown from the canopy roof for lighting and effects
- Steel safety cables for secure rigging
- Dedicated Front of House (FOH) platform (4m x 3m) for sound and lighting control, complete with access steps and handrails
This ensures the event runs with full technical support while keeping everything neatly integrated into the environment.
Working Within a Historic Venue
Warwick Castle presents a unique set of challenges:
- Limited access and strict vehicle timings
- Preservation of historic grounds
- Tight build and derig schedules due to daylight hours and onsite live events
Our team managed a two-day installation, with the festival stage and canopy on day one, then returning day two to build the choral risers, install the trussing structure, plus PA wings and FOH, followed by a full derig after the event .
All logistics from transport to site coordination were carefully planned to ensure everything ran smoothly without impacting the venue.
The Result
Carols at the Castle is a great example of how festival staging can be adapted to a heritage environment without compromising on quality or safety.
With:
- A fully engineered outdoor stage
- Integrated canopy, rigging, and sound support
- Tiered risers for performance impact
- And a seamless build in a historic setting
…the result is a reliable, visually strong stage that helps bring this festive event to life year after year.
If you’re planning an outdoor event—festival, concert, or seasonal activation—we can help design and deliver a staging solution that works in any environment.
