Collaborative design for The Purists at The Kiln Theatre
Steeldeck Rentals enjoys a long-standing relationship with London’s Kiln Theatre, an intimate venue known for its big ambitions. Regular users of our dry hire services, the theatre often incorporates our decking into their productions.
For The Purists, Deputy Production Manager Charlotte Ranson approached Steeldeck Rentals to help realise the unique set design—a split-level, skeletal representation of a New York residential building. With its industrial aesthetic featuring exposed structural frameworks and scaffolding, Steeldeck was the natural choice. We provided a robust raised platform for the upper level, seamlessly complementing the urban design of the show.
Sustainability was central to the production, with The Kiln committed to the Theatre Green Book, the initiative which champions the theatre industry to work more sustainably. By using reusable materials from Steeldeck, the theatre avoided single-use construction and minimised waste, furthering their environmental goals.
The Challenge
- Variable Elevations: The high raised platform required legs positioned on four different levels, as parts of the theatre’s stage were removed to create voids down to the pit level.
- Structural Bracing: The height of the structure required supported bracing and to allow clear bays at the front for functional doors and windows inset into the structure.
- Tight Space: The Kiln’s intimate space meant working efficiently within the theatre’s limited backstage and onstage areas. Coordinating with other contractors and ensuring safe construction practices added further complexity.
Our Solution
We examined a scaled model of the set to visualise the Steeldeck structure in situ, identify potential issues, and plan accordingly. We drafted initial deck layouts and collaborated closely with the designer and production draftsman. The complexity of the design led us to create a detailed 3D model of the structure, ensuring we could accurately assess the underside and plan for compliant bracing that met the vision.
Key aspects of the solution included:
- Designing a raised platform nearly 4m high, with clear front bays to accommodate inset windows and doors.
- Collaborating with the theatre’s rigger to safely lift and assemble the deck at height using rigging hoists.
- Sequencing the build efficiently to work within the tight space while coordinating with other contractors.
“Steeldeck have a great reputation of installing large-scale structures at an excellent standard, so I had no doubt that they would be able to help us achieve the Designer's vision and they realised it beautifully. There was no other company that crossed my mind when selecting them to come on board.”
The Result
Over the course of two months, Steeldeck Rentals worked as a key collaborator on this ambitious project, providing not just decking but expert guidance and hands-on support. The three-day build was executed efficiently, with our team adapting on-site to meet evolving requirements while maintaining the structural integrity and aesthetic goals.
The result was a striking and functional set design that perfectly captured the show’s industrial style. The Kiln Theatre team were delighted with the outcome, praising Steeldeck Rentals for our collaborative approach and ability to adapt throughout the process. This project highlighted not only our technical expertise but also our commitment to supporting creative visions in even the most challenging environments.
“We knew the design relied on a sizeable platform and a lot of scaffolding, but one of the main challenges was keeping it in budget, which Marec supported from start to finish, even when details changed along the way. The design never felt compromised by the safety levels required and when we needed items to be added late in the process, they were very accommodating and organised delivery as soon as possible, always going above and beyond my expectations. The crew were a joy to have around and the finished result has been mentioned in numerous reviews of this production - thank you Steeldeck!”