Unusual - Sales, Service & Engineering Solutions 2025

At Unusual, whether we’re re-engineering a ying system, installing bespoke automation, or supporting complex scene changes, we apply the same creativity, precision, and engineering excellence to every project. Our theatre teams combine decades of hands-on production experience with world-class technical expertise. We work closely with designers, production managers, venues and creatives to deliver safe, efcient solutions — even to the most ambitious staging challenges. A standout project this year was the Royal Shakespeare Company’s My Neighbour Totoro at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre — a production renowned for its large-scale puppetry and breathtaking scenic elements. Production manager Simon Bourne tasked us with designing, manufacturing, and installing the engineering required to adapt the venue’s grid and ying system to the show’s complex demands. This involved decommissioning much of the house counterweight system to install custom ladder beams, trusses and ying bars.

Unusual:

Removed house counterweight bars and installed new ladder beams, truss and bars Installed 58 show hoists, 56 temporary build hoists, 32 table diverts and 32 grid drops Utilised 39 house counterweight cradles and installed 67 dead hangs Used 1.5km of steel wire rope and nearly 300m of ladder beam, 44m of truss and 150m of ying bars Supported scenic elements including tree headers, forest swags, kabuki drops, LED and sound positions Managed a four-week load-in schedule, working six days a week, plus additional t-up time Deployed a 14-person on-site crew, backed by our in-house design, fabrication, motor, warehouse and project teams. More than 20 tonnes of show equipment were suspended above the stage, creating a robust, exible infrastructure that enabled the creative team to bring their magical vision to life.

www.unusual.co.uk sales@unusual.co.uk 01604 830083

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