Overview
PRG came to us the week before the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup final at Lord’s needing a set of movable performance platforms for the pre-show, half-time and closing shows. The platforms had to go up and come down quickly around live play, sit on the outfield without damaging the surface, and carry sponsor branding that would read on camera. We took the brief on and delivered it inside the week.
Project Highlights
Client: PRG
Event: ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final 2026, England v Australia
Location: Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
Services Delivered: Design and adaptation of movable performance platforms, pneumatic wheel systems to protect the outfield, on-site build and removal, sponsor branding
The Challenge
The request came from Marek at PRG. He sent through a tender for a range of performance platforms that needed to be built and taken down quickly during the final, and there was about a week between that first approach and delivery on site. We didn’t spend time asking why the notice was so short, we could see what the job needed and knew we could deliver it, so we said yes.
There were two things we had to consider from the start of planning. The platforms needed to come on and off the ground fast enough to fit around live play and the broadcast schedule, and they had to do it without marking the outfield. Lord’s sets a strict weight limit on the ground itself, so anything we brought onto the pitch had to spread its load rather than concentrate it in one place. The platforms also needed to carry sponsor branding clearly enough to hold up on camera, so the commercial side of the show worked as well as the physical build.
Our Approach
Rather than build something new from scratch against the clock, we adapted stock we already hold to reach the configuration PRG were after. That kept us well inside the lead time without cutting any corners on the finished result. We keep pneumatic wheels in stock for both aluminium and steel decks for exactly this kind of job, and those wheels were what let us roll the staging on and off the Lord’s outfield without damaging the surface.
The main stage was 28ft wide by 16ft deep, with a central catwalk running out from it, giving the performers a clear focal point in front of the cameras. Alongside it we built a second set of platforms at heights between 400mm and 800mm, in sizes from 4ft square up to 8ft square, so the production had the range of levels it needed across the different parts of each show. Every platform was moved into position by hand.
The one thing we had to solve on the day was the weight allowed on the ground. We worked within it by adjusting the platform heights to keep the load inside the limit while still giving PRG the look they had asked for. Ahead of the event the main preparation was wear-checking the wheel configurations to be sure they were safe to run on the surface, which was the right thing to focus on given the time we had.
Working with PRG on Site
Getting crew and transport in place at short notice was straightforward for us. We have full-time crew rather than relying on freelance cover, and we have our own fleet of vehicles, so mobilising quickly is something we can do without a lot of moving parts to line up first. That is a large part of why a week’s notice was workable in the first place.
On site our crew worked alongside the PRG crew to get each platform into position. The audio, lighting and power were already installed, so everything was ready to connect the moment a platform reached its final spot. That kept the changeovers moving at the pace the schedule needed.
On the Day
Two main moves were needed across the day. The first was taking the pre-show platform off the ground so that play could start on time. The second was building the closing show stage once play had finished, then taking it down again straight afterwards. Both had to happen at pace to keep the broadcast and the live show on schedule.
Four of our crew were on site across five days, from the build through to the de-rig on the Monday. Working in front of a full house at Lord’s, with the acts waiting to go on, there is no room to get it wrong. The platforms went in and came out cleanly at every changeover, and the pre-show, half-time and closing segments all ran as planned.
The Outcome
Everything came together the way we planned it. Both the pre-show and closing show platforms did exactly what they were built to do, the shows ran to time, and the build stayed inside Lord’s weight restrictions from start to finish. It is the kind of short-notice, high-pressure job we are set up to take on, and having our own crew, transport and stock is what lets us take it in our stride rather than turn it away.
Client Feedback
“I’d also like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to you and your team for pulling this job together at such short notice. I know there were many challenges along the way, but the end client was extremely pleased with the outcome and is already discussing future opportunities with us.
I’d also like to personally thank Mark and the on-site team for their professionalism and flexibility in dealing with all the changes that were thrown their way. We simply couldn’t have delivered the project without their support and dedication.”
- Marek Kowalewski, Director of Sport at PRG
Looking Ahead
A job like this shows what we’re built for. Because our crew, transport and equipment are all in-house, we can commit to short lead times and demanding builds with confidence and deliver them to the standard live broadcasts demand.
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