West End Rigging (WER) has completed the design and installation of a new motorised lighting grid and perimeter tab track system at New Diorama Theatre, one of the UK’s most influential studio venues for independent theatre.
The project forms part of a wider programme of digital and technical investment at the venue, supported by funding from Bloomberg’s Digital Accelerator programme. Known for nurturing work at an early stage that goes on to have national and international impact – including productions such as Operation Mincemeat – the venue required an upgraded technical infrastructure that could support experimentation, rapid turnarounds and long-term creative development.
WER was brought on board to replace the theatre’s existing aluminium lighting grid, which had become heavily dented and aged, limiting access, slowing technical turnarounds and restricting what could be safely rigged due to the absence of verified safe working load information. Working closely with New Diorama’s in-house technical team, WER’s technical director, Howard Dandy, undertook a series of site visits before developing a detailed engineering design.
The WER team presented three fully costed options, developed to reflect both the technical requirements of the space and the realities of operating as a charitable organisation. The venue selected a motorised lighting grid solution, alongside the redesign and installation of the venue’s perimeter tab track system.
To support the theatre as they waited for charitable funding to come through, WER froze pricing for six months prior to delivery.
Howard Dandy, Technical Director at West End Rigging, commented: “New Diorama’s existing grid had reached the point where it was actively limiting what the venue could do — not just creatively, but practically and safely. The aim wasn’t to over-engineer the space, but to give them a system that genuinely improves access, speeds up changeovers and provides clear, verified load data they can rely on day to day.”
He continued: “The motorised grid strikes that balance, delivering a step-change in flexibility while remaining appropriate for a studio theatre and a charitable organisation. Just as importantly, the technical documentation now gives the team confidence when planning work and future developments.”
The new motorised system replaces the theatre’s previous static rig, allowing the grid to be lowered to floor level for focusing and setup. The upgrade has significantly improved access, increased rigging capacity, and expanded the range of technical configurations the venue can support.
Jonathan Maydew Gale, Executive Director and Co-CEO of New Diorama Theatre, said: “Investing in this new rig is vital to New Diorama’s mission of championing ambitious, artist-led work. We need infrastructure that can support artists to integrate technology into their creative vision, and this installation future-proofs New Diorama, ensuring we can continue providing the technical capability that emerging companies need to realise their most innovative and daring work. We’re fortunate to have a reputation where new ideas feel at home — and now we have the rigging infrastructure to match that ambition.”
He added: “The team at West End Rigging has been exceptional throughout the process. From first contact through to installation and ongoing support, their expertise, care and commitment have been second to none.”
Installation was completed ahead of schedule, with the works delivered in four days rather than the planned week. In addition to the physical installation, WER provided a comprehensive technical pack to support ongoing compliance, including structural calculations undertaken in collaboration with consulting engineers, alongside detailed drawings and documentation for the venue’s records.
The upgraded system was brought into technical use in January 2026, with the first production to use the new system, Guidelines – a debut show from CONGLOMERATE.
