StudyWorld London is a leading international student recruitment event, connecting professionals from different parts of the study travel industry. It brings together over 700 professionals from over 60 countries for a programme of talks and meetings across three days. This year our team was asked if we could help create a Shakespeare theme for StudyWorld. Well as the Bard himself said, ‘All The World’s A Stage’ and creating styled stages for conferences is just what we like! Here’s how we went about it.
We were delighted to be asked to provide a welcome reception for guests and delegates at the Hilton Metropole Hotel. This year Shakespeare Live sponsored the reception so we took our inspiration for the reception from Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream for its light and playful nature together with its enormous stylish potential. We created a set that was visually exciting, incorporating key features of the play into design of furniture, props, set and floristry, allowing guests to interact with each other within a much transformed venue.
Guests walked through arches of foliage dressed around the doorways to give them the feel of immediately stepping into the forest scene. A small cluster of large lanterns with flickering candles were placed at either base for a warming glow.
A stunning, circular, dark wood bar took centre place with an unmissable large tree in the centre, adorned with twinkling tea lights in hanging glass baubles, providing a magical atmosphere. The bar fascia was stained, panelled wood with a dark brown leatherette top.
For a further twinkle, spindle poseurs painted gold were dotted around the bar expanding the space for guests to rest their drinks and mingle. Above these poseur tables was a glorious hanging installation of birdcages at varying heights, filled with fairy lights and entwined in ivy.
We bought in outdoor stone features into the design for the stage, which also featured a large screen for a short film. The screen was encased within an impressive stone-effect painted surround. Either side of this, stone-effect balustrades lined the sides of the stage, encasing it further as a defined area for viewing and /or speeches. The stage itself was covered in a stone colour carpet and fascia that had been scenically painted to look like weathered stone.
Two moss-like raised areas with steps were created along the walls either side of the central bar to look like hidden forests. The wall behind was draped off in a pale green with Shakespearean quotes projected onto the fabric. Ornate scroll benches were used for seating, painted in pale stone-effect and paired with low matching tables.
On arrived guests were greeted by Jesters who entertained the guests with their eccentric comedy and juggling skills.
To get more ideas or help on styling your event talk to the team on 020 7610 2808 or email info@evolve-events.com