INTERIORS & INTERIOR DESIGN
THE ROYAL BALLET & OPERA
OVER 30 YEARS OF FLOORING EXCELLENCE WITH HARLEQUIN
The Royal Ballet & Opera and Harlequin have a longstanding relationship lasting over 30 years, working collaboratively across a variety of productions and performance spaces. Throughout this partnership, Harlequin has supplied sprung and vinyl performance floors, supporting the safety, precision and artistic excellence of both ballet and opera performances.
The ballet wagon allows for an easy transition between a rigid theatre stage for opera and a sprung floor for ballet.
At the heart of the Royal Ballet & Opera is the main auditorium stage, a solid theatre stage predominantly used during opera productions. However, when The Royal Ballet needs to rehearse or perform on the main stage, the stage crew begins the transformation using a bespoke ballet wagon. This wagon is fitted with Harlequin Liberty sprung floor panels, designed to deliver support and responsiveness to ballet dancers.
The ballet wagon allows for an easy transition between a rigid theatre stage for opera and a sprung floor for ballet. Stuart Robertson, Assistant Technical Director at Royal Ballet & Opera, said:“ When the ballet dancers come onto the stage they know that the flooring is always the same sprung floor. I think this is very important for us in order to provide that confidence across the technical teams and the dance companies.”
The Royal Ballet & Opera also rehearse in their studios, each equipped with Harlequin sprung flooring and Harlequin Cascade performance vinyl. Emma Wilson, Director of Technical, Production & Costume, said:“ A sprung floor means that we’ ve got the safety of our dancers and the quality of their performance at the forefront of our minds.”
Among the five studios, the Clore Studio stands out as a versatile space, often used for rehearsals as well as performances by visiting companies.
With its seating tiers, it offers an intimate setting that supports both creative exploration and public engagement.
As well as the theatre auditorium that is home to various opera and ballet productions throughout each season, there is the Linbury Theatre inside the opera house. Last year Harlequin worked with the Royal Ballet & Opera on a production of Dark With Excessive Bright in the Linbury Theatre.
The Dark With Excessive Bright production consisted of three custom designed stages, all with a Harlequin Liberty sprung floor, in a teardrop-like shape. The Royal Ballet & Opera chose a Harlequin Cascade vinyl performance floor for the three stages and a Harlequin Reversible Pro performance vinyl floor underneath and in between each stage.
For more information or guidance on specifying the right flooring for your performance space, contact us: + 44( 0) 1892 514 888 | enquiries @ harlequinfloors. com
www. harlequinfloors. com
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