Robbie Williams CLOSE ENCOUNTERS tour 2006

Mark Fisher writes:
The stage design created an heroic background for Robbie Williams’ superhero performance, which climaxed with him making an encore entrance by gondola from one of the cantilever arms.  The thrusting masculine forms framed a rich multi-media environment of video screens and intelligent lights.  A small main stage and even smaller ‘B’ stage sat within the frame.

The show travelled with two sets of primary steelwork.  The support towers of black steel masts and trusses were from rented StageCo stock components.  To minimize work at height, the yellow custom-built cantilever structures were assembled at ground level and craned into place.  They reached out 50ft over the main stage.  One set of rented lighting, PA and video equipment was installed during the final 24 hours before each show.  The lighting fixtures in the bellies of the cantilever trusses were attached to secondary trusses at ground level and lifted into place using chain hoists.  To maintain a clean look to the stage, all backline technicians worked from weatherproof bunkers beneath the stage.