What's a 'Future-Proof' Live Performance Venue?

For the past year, event industry pros have been trying to conceive of ways for guests to gather safely—some successfully, some not so much. Sadly, this will remain an ongoing challenge, with planners needing to consider COVID-19-related protocols for years to come. But as we’ve witnessed throughout the pandemic, necessity is the mother of invention.

“When the first lockdown in the U.K. came into effect and theaters and live entertainment spaces were forced to close their doors, the impact this had on the live entertainment industry highlighted the need to create a space that would allow for live entertainment to continue within the boundaries of social distancing,” explained live events and documentary producer Holly Gilliam, one of the members of The Vertical Theatre Group.

The newly established collective of producers, creatives and technical specialists was formed in August 2020 to brainstorm a new venue concept that would allow for live performances now and in the future. Led by Stufish Entertainment Architects, The Vertical Theatre Group consists of Gilliam, theater producer Katy Lipson, production director Jake Berry, and director and Digital Theatre founder Robert Delamere. The group’s main goal is to provide a commercially viable space for live entertainment that adheres to social distancing restrictions.

“We decided that in order to fully realize the project we wanted to bring together a team of industry leaders who could work to further develop the concept, business model and the potential global roll-out of the venues,” Gilliam said.

Enter The Vertical Theatre. This “future-proof” live performance venue is a tourable, free-standing space designed with public health and social distancing in mind. Kind of reminiscent of a colorful parking deck, the structure features a roof and optional open sides to allow for airflow and natural ventilation. 

The audience would sit in balconies, separated by clear screens, that can accommodate groups of four to 12 people or designated “social bubbles” that are organized at the point of ticket purchase, with a total capacity for 1,200 to 2,400 people (depending on social distancing rules). Plus, the venue would have built-in global streaming capability and feature F&B facilities that eliminate the need for queuing with reduced touch points. There would also be multiple entrances and exits to keep crowding to a minimum and to avoid any bottlenecking.

A Preview of The Vertical Theatre - January 2021 from The Vertical Theatre Group on Vimeo.

As for the “future-proof” part, Gilliam explained that the theater “is designed to operate within social distancing restrictions as well as without, thus ensuring that the venue can stay open during times when social distancing measures are in place as well as when they are a thing of the past.”

This type of circus-style, put-em-up-tear-em-down production is something Stufish Entertainment Architects knows well, having designed touring stages for top-name artists including Beyoncé, U2 and the Rolling Stones. The pop-up prefabricated theater would either be constructed from scaffolding and trusses or be a custom steel fabrication; the group is building both versions. The Vertical Theatre Group’s Jake Berry explained that the biggest challenge in erecting the structure is the ground where it will sit and weather conditions, adding that the load-in takes around 14 days and the breakdown is five days.

Of course, it’s not real—yet. The plan is for the first venue to roll out later this year in the U.K., with hopes of having multiple vertical venues around the world for events such as theater performances, festivals and tours.

The pop-up prefabricated theater would either be constructed from scaffolding and trusses or be a custom steel fabrication; the group is building both versions.Rendering: Courtesy of The Vertical Theatre Group

The audience would sit in balconies, separated by clear screens, that can accommodate groups of four to 12 people.Rendering: Courtesy of The Vertical Theatre Group

The plan is for the first venue to roll out later this year in the U.K., with hopes of having multiple vertical venues around the world for events such as theater performances, festivals and tours.Rendering: Courtesy of The Vertical Theatre Group