S+H Celebrates 10 Years of Strictly

Drapes, LED, video, and special effects specialist S+H Technical celebrated its 10th season supporting the BBC's popular hit series Strictly Come Dancing with drapes, starcloth, and a variety of other "soft goods" and effects.

S+H was again working with BAFTA Award winning set and scenic designer Patrick Doherty -- who is a regular client -- helping realize his vision for a spectacular magical environment which he creates for the series, featuring some well-known-and-loved classic "ballroom" visual elements peppered with a touch of the contemporary.

This season, Ilfracombe, Devon based S+H supplied around 2000 Pea-Lights for the regular weekly Strictly episodes which were broadcast from Entree Studios.

These Pea-Light strings were integrated into the set walls of Patrick's design, together with around 1000 square metres of sumptuous red velvet starcloth from S+H's stock, which was used to wrap the studio and define the perimeter of the space.

S+H's Terry Murtha says, "It's been great to be involved with Strictly for so long and to see the series develop over time and of course increase its amazing popularity. Although there are certain 'givens' each year in terms of look and aesthetics, there are also new, different, and surprise elements which add to the fun. Patrick always comes up with dynamic solutions and often they will involve drapes or 'softs'."

For the Blackpool "special" episode of the 2016 Strictly series, staged at the world famous Tower Ballroom, another 400' of Pea-light strings were supplied to replicate the signature effect. These were overlaid onto 400' of plum colored velvet drape which was also used for masking stage and set elements.

The Christmas edition of the show included another (2000) of Pea-Lights to add extra Christmas sparkle. These were incorporated into a variety of swags and strings and suspended from the staircases and other set pieces, giving extra special flourishes of glamour and glitz!

It's been a busy end-of-year for S+H in the TV sector. Other notables have included supplying 300 square metres of ShowLED LED animation cloth to the BBC's 2016 Children In Need appeal telethon, broadcast from BBC Centre Elstree, which was specified by designer Dominic Tolfts.

For the 2016 Christmas special of games show Blankety Blank presented by David Walliams and recorded at London Studios for broadcaster ITV, designer Joshua Grace added 100m of S+H's ShowLED RGB cloth to the set, deployed around the scenic pieces and the back of the audience.