Flexible seating solution for The Empire Strips Back at TESTBED

Modular seating for the touring burlesque parody production

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.