Arcadia, Sir Tom Stoppard’s celebrated play, transferred to the Duke of York’s Theatre this summer in a new production directed by Carrie Cracknell, required a reconfiguration of one of the West End’s most storied theatres into the round.

Theatre in the round is a staging format where the audience surrounds the performance space on all sides, rather than facing it from one direction as in a traditional theatre. It’s an immersive, intimate way to stage a production — and something of a departure from how most West End venues are typically built.

 

The Challenge: A Historic Theatre, Reimagined

The Duke of York’s is a traditional proscenium-arch theatre. Transforming it to in-the-round staging meant rethinking the relationship between stage and audience, while working within the constraints of a classical building.

Steeldeck supplied the tiered seating risers wrapping around the circular playing space, giving every member of the audience a clear, intimate view of the action.

 

The Build: Tiered Seating to Match the Stage

The tiered seating risers needed to follow the curve of the new circular stage, while integrating with the existing architecture of the auditorium. Built using our modular staging Steeldeck components, the tiered seating was configured to create a continuous sweep around the performance space, finished to a standard fitting for a major West End production.

The result is a blend of contemporary and classic — gilded balconies framing a close, theatre-in-the-round staging configuration.

 

 

Why Modular Staging Works for Productions Like This

Reconfiguring a historic auditorium is never straightforward. Modular staging gives productions the flexibility to reshape a space entirely — without permanent alteration to the building. With theatre productions, installations are always temporary and bespoke to the production.

 

The Result

Arcadia opens at the Duke of York’s Theatre on 20th June, running for a strictly limited 12-week season — a reinvention of a much-loved London theatre, bringing audiences closer to one of Stoppard’s most celebrated works.

Working on a production that needs tiered seating or a bespoke theatre in the round staging solution? Get in touch to discuss your project.

The chance to support the British Paralympic Associations need for step-free access at one of London’s most prestigious event venues doesn’t come along every day. The requested temporary ramp installation had to meet strict accessibility regulations, satisfy Westminster Council requirements, and look the part for a high-profile evening event — all within a six-hour window.

 

The Challenge: Steps, a Tight Deadline, and a Public Street

8 Northumberland Avenue is a restored Victorian landmark in the heart of Westminster, originally built in 1887 as the Hotel Victoria — a grand 500-room hotel, and the first building in the city to be fitted with electric lighting throughout.

The British Paralympic Association required two modular access ramps: one external, leading from the public street into the venue entrance, and one internal, providing access within the Old Billiard Room. Both needed to comply fully with accessibility regulations and blend seamlessly into the event’s overall aesthetic.

Guests were due to arrive at 6:00pm, and all works needed to be completed by 3:00pm to allow the venue team sufficient time for final preparations. Due to the venue’s location in a busy street of Westminster, we were not permitted to begin installation until 9:00am. That gave us a six-hour window from start to finish.

On top of that, the external ramp required Westminster Council approval to occupy the public street — a planning process we supported from start to finish.

 

The Build: Two Modular Access Ramps in Five Hours

External Ramp

The external ramp measured 11 metres in length and incorporated a turn to align with the venue entrance. It was constructed from Steeldeck modular platforms and built to a 1:12 gradient throughout, with landing platforms at intervals of no more than 5 metres.

To finish the ramp appropriately, we applied a hard fascia to the external edges, giving a clean, professional appearance to what would otherwise be an exposed structure. The fascia included a 150mm skirting detail at the base. All cladding was scribed and fitted on site by a specialist carpenter to ensure an accurate, precise finish.

Internal Ramp

The internal ramp measured 10 metres and ran in a straight configuration through the Old Billiard Room. Like the external ramp, it was built to a 1:12 gradient with compliant landing platforms.

Both ramps were finished with Pacific Blue carpet, supplied by MJ’s Event Services and carefully selected to match the carpet used throughout the venue. The result was a cohesive look that felt like part of the event design rather than a retrofit.

The full installation took five hours. De-rig the following day took three.

 

Why Modular Systems Work for Events Like This

Temporary ramp installation for events presents a different set of challenges to permanent accessibility works. The structure needs to be strong and fully compliant, but it also needs to go up quickly, come down cleanly, and look refined in the context of a formal event.

Modular wheelchair ramp systems are well suited to this because they can be configured to almost any layout — straight runs, turns, multiple gradients — using standardised components. Pre-fabricated infill sections can be made to order where the standard kit needs to meet a specific step height or ground condition.

For events at historic venues in particular, where permanent structural alterations aren’t an option, a well-designed modular access ramp offers a practical, compliant, and visually appealing solution.

 

 

The Result

Both ramps were in place and signed off well ahead of the 3:00pm deadline. Guests arrived at a venue that was fully accessible from street level, with access maintained throughout the building.

 

Planning an event that needs step-free access? Steeldeck provides modular wheelchair ramp systems and temporary ramp installation for events across the UK. Get in touch to discuss your project!

 

We’re proud to announce that Steeldeck Rentals has joined the SME Climate Hub and signed the SME Climate Commitment — a globally recognised pledge, aligned with the United Nations Race to Zero campaign. As an eco-friendly company, this step reflects our long-standing values around environmental responsibility.

What the Commitment Means

The SME Climate Commitment sets out three clear obligations for every business that signs it:

• Halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030
• Reach net zero by 2050
• Report progress publicly, every year

These targets are aligned with the latest climate science and the 1.5°C pathway set out in the Paris Agreement. By committing, Steeldeck Rentals joins thousands of small and medium-sized eco-friendly companies worldwide taking responsibility for their climate impact.

Where We Stand

We’ve completed our first full greenhouse gas baseline, covering Scope 1 (our direct emissions), Scope 2 (energy — 100% low carbon, as Steeldeck sources electricity from PE Solutions) and Scope 3 (our wider value chain including suppliers, transport and commuting). That baseline gives us the starting point we need to measure our progress against the commitment’s targets.

Our largest sources of emissions are transportation, forklift use, and the materials we purchase and use. These are the areas we’re focusing on first — as that’s where meaningful reduction is achievable.

Against the commitment’s target of halving emissions by 2030, we have a clear reduction pathway in place. We’re following a science-based annual reduction rate recommended by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and we’ve mapped our trajectory all the way through to 2050.

Our 2035 milestone is carbon neutrality — by way of direct reductions combined with offsetting any remaining residual emissions. Our 2050 goal is net zero, which requires deeper structural change across our operations and supply chain over the longer term.

Why It Matters

SMEs represent around 90% of businesses globally and contribute more than half of total business sector emissions. Our individual footprints may be smaller than those of large corporations, but our collective impact — and our collective potential — is enormous.

The Climate Hub commitment isn’t just a box to tick. It forms part of our wider sustainable business practices — supporting better cost control, stronger procurement decisions, and a clearer sustainability message for the clients and partners we work with.

Whatever the scale of your next production, we have the kit and the expertise to make it happen. Explore our full range of staging and equipment hire and get in touch to talk about your next project.

Accessibility is fundamental to good event design. Whether you’re delivering a festival, a theatre performance, or a conference, ensuring that your staging and seating are accessible to all audiences is essential.

At Steeldeck Rentals, we design and install accessible staging and audience seating solutions that prioritise safety, inclusivity and compliance, without compromising on performance or aesthetics.

Stage access built in

True accessibility starts at the design stage. Our modular staging systems allow us to integrate access features seamlessly into your layout, including:

• DDA-compliant ramps with appropriate gradients
• Step units with handrails for safe access
• Accessible viewing platforms for wheelchair users
• Backstage access for performers and crew
• Clearly defined entry and exit routes
• Lower height guardrail giving good sightlines for wheelchair users

By designing access into the structure from the outset, we ensure a safer, more intuitive experience for all users.

Audience seating that works for everyone

Creating inclusive audience experiences means thinking beyond standard layouts. Our audience seating solutions can be configured to:

• Provide designated wheelchair spaces within seating plans
• Maintain clear sightlines for all audience members
• Support venue seating arrangements
• Ensure safe and efficient crowd flow

Every event is different, and our friendly and experienced team work closely with organisers to create seating layouts that are both practical and inclusive.

Compliance and confidence

Accessibility isn’t just best practice, it is a requirement. Our staging and seating systems are designed and installed with safety and compliance at their core, giving organisers confidence that their event meets regulatory expectations.

From initial consultation through to installation, we consider:

• Site conditions and access constraints
• Audience capacity and movement
• Safety standards and regulations
• Integration with wider event infrastructure

Inclusive design delivers better events

Accessible design enhances creativity. When audiences, performers and crews can move safely and comfortably through a space, the overall experience improves for everyone.

Talk to the Steeldeck team about accessible staging hire and audience seating hire solutions for your next event, and create a space that works for every audience member.

Plan for access early, and deliver with confidence.

High-performance vehicles demand a platform that’s engineered to match.

Steeldeck Rentals is trusted by leading motorsport and luxury brands to deliver staging and access solutions that combine structural integrity with a flawless finish.

Whether you need a vehicle display stage, a drive-on platform, or a bespoke multi-car installation, our modular systems are engineered to handle real loads while showcasing every detail.

Car stage hire built for vehicles, designed for impact
Automotive staging has unique demands. Weight, balance and access need to be considered from the outset without compromising on aesthetics. Our car stage hire systems are engineered to support high loads, making them ideal when you need to hire a stage for a single vehicle plinth or a multi-car installation.

From elevated plinths that command attention to low-profile builds that create a seamless floor finish, every structure is designed to:

• Safely support vehicles of all sizes
• Maintain precise levels
• Deliver a refined, minimal aesthetic
• Integrate seamlessly with surrounding environments
• Deliver staging that enhances the vehicle

Steeldeck Rentals helped bring the World Premiere of One Day: The Musical to life at the iconic Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, transforming the space into an environment unlike anything audiences had experienced before.

Inspired by the beloved novel by David Nicholls, One Day called for a bold reimagining of the theatre’s traditional layout. The goal was to break down the boundary between the stage and audience, drawing viewers closer to the heart of the story.

To realise this vision, Steeldeck designed and delivered an intricate seating installation directly onto the stage, while also reconfiguring the auditorium seating. At the centre of the layout, our team built an elevated platform housing a revolving stage, creating a dynamic focal point that drove the dynamic production.

With limited space and a highly technical brief, the challenge was significant. Every element had to fit together seamlessly within a tight footprint, without compromising safety, performance or audience experience. Working closely with the production team, Steeldeck engineered a staging and seating solution that balanced precision, efficiency, and creativity.

Using our versatile modular system, the team created a strong, adaptable structure that met complex technical demands and integrated effortlessly with the theatre’s historic architecture.

The result? A striking, immersive environment that pushed the boundaries of traditional staging, showcasing how innovative thinking and collaborative engineering can turn ambitious ideas into unforgettable theatre experiences. This project also highlights Steeldeck Rentals’ expertise in theatre staging in Edinburgh and across the UK.

When the internationally acclaimed parody The Empire Strips Back landed in the UK, it brought a bold fusion of sci-fi, comedy, and burlesque to the stage. Behind the scenes, Steeldeck Rentals played a key role in shaping the audience seating experience at TESTBED in Leeds.

Known for hosting boundary-pushing performances, TESTBED provided a strong setting for the production. The brief required a seating solution that could be installed quickly, maximise capacity, and maintain clear sightlines within a non-traditional theatre environment.

Steeldeck delivered a flexible, modular seating system tailored to the venue’s adaptable layout. The result was a smart, efficient build that transformed the space into a fully realised performance setting, ensuring every audience member could fully immerse themselves in the show’s fast-paced, visually striking action.

Designed with touring productions in mind, Steeldeck’s seating hire system enabled rapid installation and seamless reconfiguration. By incorporating upholstered tip-up seating units, the team delivered a solution that maintained both comfort and safety without compromise. It’s this level of versatility that makes our seating hire system ideal for productions like The Empire Strips Back, where no two venues or layouts are ever quite the same.

As live entertainment continues to evolve, productions are increasingly seeking adaptable infrastructure capable of turning unconventional spaces into professional performance environments. This show is a perfect example of that shift, where creative ambition meets smart engineering.

From touring cabaret to immersive theatre, Steeldeck Rentals continues to support productions across the UK with modular staging hire and seating hire solutions that are as dynamic as the shows themselves.

Events demand more than just a platform and a few rows of chairs. Today’s productions need flexible staging and seating that are modular, sustainable and built to adapt. The right solution can help transform your event vision in any type of venue. Steeldeck Rentals specialises in engineered staging and seating solutions that are as intelligent as the ideas they support.

Modular by Design
Modular builds are a practical approach to event infrastructure. Our Steeldeck systems are made from standard components that join together to create bespoke configurations with:

• Custom stage shapes and heights
• Tiered seating for clear sightlines
• Integrated platforms for cameras, AV, lighting, and scenic design
• Ramps, treads and guardrails tailored to your site

This flexibility makes staging and seating work for your project.

The 2026 WhatsOnStage Awards once again brought the theatre industry together at The London Palladium for an evening to celebrate productions, performers and creative teams captivating audiences across the UK stage. 

As proud supporters of the event, Steeldeck Rentals were delighted to attend and play a small part behind the scenes in making the evening possible. Our team supplied staging elements including Steeldeck legs, treads and skirting to support the main awards stage, helping to create the platform for the night’s performances and presentations. 

Voted for entirely by the public, the WhatsOnStage Awards are a unique moment in the theatre calendar. This year’s ceremony featured performances from some of the West End’s most talked-about productions, alongside celebrations of major milestones and standout achievements across the industry. 

Congratulations to all this year’s winners and nominees, and to everyone who continues to make theatre such a vibrant and inspiring industry. 

When you’re planning an event, whether a festival, fashion show, conference, school performance or theatre production, timing is everything. Booking early to hire staging and seating is a smart decision. Steeldeck Rentals has spent nearly 30 years helping event professionals bring their projects to life with strong, versatile staging and bespoke seating solutions across the UK and Europe.

Here’s why early booking matters, and how it helps you stay ahead of the curve…

Avoid last-minute stress

Event schedules are demanding, and delays with equipment can develop into bigger problems. By booking your staging and seating early, you’re giving yourself plenty of time to:

• Understand your needs
• Plan the layout and configuration
• Confirm delivery and installation slots
• Produce and assemble bespoke elements if required

Early planning reduces risk, avoids rushed decisions and ensures your event infrastructure is properly designed rather than simply ‘made to fit’.

It’s in the detail

Providing detail early always helps. If you don’t have all the information readily available, that’s not a problem. Our dedicated project managers are here to help shape your brief and make sure nothing is missed. To get started, have your checklist ready:

• Type of event (festival, theatre, corporate, school)
• Event date(s) and build/de-rig times
• Indoor or outdoor location
• Site access details (loading bays, door widths)
• Staging: size of staging and intended use
• Seating: size of audience / number of seats needed
• Any specific structural design or layout requirements

Having these details early means we can give you an accurate quote, ensure availability, and deliver on a tight turnaround without compromise.