The Royal Academy of Arts: Summer Lates - Courtyard Stage

Pleasure Gardens were an extraordinary Georgian concept designed to showcase the latest in entertainment, art and music, and give Londoners a chance to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. The Royal Academy of Arts decided to celebrate these fantastical compositions by using their building and exhibition spaces to recreate one as part of their Summer Lates programme.

We were lucky enough to be tasked with devising and building the Courtyard Stage. To ensure the construction stayed true to the events 18th century roots, the brief demand that it be bright, colourful, vibrant, kitsch and floral, with subverted traditional English garden design elements.

So, we created a stunning multi-layered stage in the Memphis style. By juxtaposing the stunning architectural features of its setting, this design choice accentuated the grandeur of Burlington House while perfectly complementing the performance of the events headliner, Little Gay Brother.

Photo Credit: Fredi Brinkworth