Unusual Rigging
Unusual Rigging is a UK specialist rigging and stage engineering firm founded in 1983, serving theatres, live events, museums, heritage sites, and major international sporting events with bespoke rigging, automation, performer flying systems, and LOLER-compliant maintenance.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersBugbrooke, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Unusual Rigging does
Unusual Rigging Limited is a UK-based specialist rigging services company founded in 1983 and headquartered in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire, with a registered office in London. The company designs, engineers, installs and maintains high-level rigging systems — including bespoke lifting, moving, tracking and suspending solutions, automated chain hoist systems (Kinesys-controlled), performer flying systems, and stage house infrastructure — for theatres, live events, museums, heritage sites, and international sporting spectacles. Its five service lines are Bespoke Rigging, Theatre Production Rigging and Touring, Stage Engineering and Permanent Installations, Inspections (LOLER-compliant), and Automation.
The company operates a project-based B2B enterprise model serving roughly 70+ theatre productions per year plus recurring LOLER inspection and maintenance contracts. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific, with revenue streams spanning one-time engineering installations, professional services (rigging support, inspections), and usage-based equipment hire. Distribution is direct, with no retail or self-serve channels; projects are won through reputation, track record, and direct enterprise relationships. Marquee clients include Wicked (West End, since 2006), Warner Bros. (Superman atop The Shard), Theatre Royal Drury Lane, English National Ballet, Tate Britain, Crossroads Pantomimes, and the Olympic, Paralympic, Commonwealth Games and Eurovision organising committees. The company is privately held, employs 51–100 people, and positions sustainability as a differentiator, with an award-winning biogenic-material HQ storing approximately 94.5 tonnes of CO2.
Unusual Rigging firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Unusual Rigging
- Legal name
- Unusual Rigging Limited
- Website
- https://unusual.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Unusual Rigging is a UK specialist rigging and stage engineering firm founded in 1983, serving theatres, live events, museums, heritage sites, and major international sporting events with bespoke rigging, automation, performer flying systems, and LOLER-compliant maintenance.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Unusual Rigging industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Stage Rigging Services
- NAICS
- Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392)
- SIC
- Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Staging & Rigging Services (MPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Rigging & Truss Services (Ground/Overhead, Automation) (THAHAEAD), Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE), Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN)
Keywords
Where Unusual Rigging is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Bugbrooke
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Unusual Rigging business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Bespoke Rigging Services: Custom rigging solutions designed and delivered for individual projects, from initial concept through to on-site installation and delivery. Includes specialist high-level rigging, suspended installations, and complex engineering challenges.
- Theatre Production Rigging and Touring: Ongoing rigging support for theatrical productions including West End shows, national and international tours. Services include flying effects, scenery rigging, inspections and maintenance.
- Equipment Hire: Hiring out rigging equipment including chain hoists (407 units supplied for Crossroads Pantomimes alone), ladder beam, aluminium truss, and automation systems.
- Inspection and Maintenance Services: LOLER-compliant inspections and maintenance for permanently installed systems, whether supplied by Unusual or third parties. Includes routine servicing and record-keeping.
- Stage Engineering and Permanent Installations: Design and installation of stage house infrastructure, permanent mechanical systems, and long-term venue solutions including grid systems, lifts, and access platforms.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
Unusual Rigging product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Unusual Rigging designs, supplies, and operates specialist rigging systems that suspend, elevate and move equipment, scenery, and people for theatre productions, live events, museums, heritage sites, and international sporting events. The company offers bespoke rigging solutions, theatre production rigging and touring support, stage engineering and permanent installations, LOLER-compliant inspections, and precision automation including Kinesys-controlled chain hoists with full 3D programming. It maintains a substantial in-house inventory of chain hoists, ladder beams, aluminium truss, and automation systems for hire and project delivery.
Product overview
Unusual Rigging is a specialist rigging services company operating since 1983, offering a portfolio of interconnected services rather than a software product. The core offering comprises five integrated service lines: Bespoke Rigging (the foundational service for lifting, moving, tracking and suspending), Theatre Production Rigging and Touring (supporting West End and touring productions), Stage Engineering and Permanent Installations (designing engineered infrastructure), Inspections (maintaining LOLER-compliant safety standards), and Automation (precision-controlled lifting and tracking with 3D programming capability). These services work together to deliver complex projects across theatre, live events, museums, heritage sites, and international sporting spectacles.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Bespoke Rigging Custom-designed lifting, moving, tracking and suspending solutions for permanent installations and temporary productions, including the suspension of aircraft, automobiles, large artefacts, and production scenery. Provided to theatre, live event, museum, heritage, and sporting event clients.
- Theatre Production Rigging and Touring Ongoing rigging support for West End, national, and international touring theatrical productions, including flying effects, scenery rigging, inspections, and maintenance. Supports over seventy productions per year.
- Stage Engineering and Permanent Installations Design and installation of stage house systems, engineered infrastructure, grid systems, lifts, counterweight sets, galleries, and access platforms for permanent theatre and venue installations.
- Inspections and Maintenance LOLER-compliant inspections, maintenance, and certification services for permanently installed rigging systems, whether originally supplied by Unusual Rigging or third parties, with record-keeping support.
- Automation In-house automation experience covering planning, installation, and technical programming, using Kinesys-controlled variable-speed automated chain hoists with precision accuracy up to and including full 3D programming for lifting and tracking systems.
- Equipment Hire Hiring out of rigging equipment including chain hoists, ladder beams, aluminium truss, and automation systems for production and event use.
Quantifiable outcome
- 70+ theatre productions supported annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Unusual Rigging
Customer profileNamed customers20 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Unusual Rigging technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Unusual Rigging partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Unusual Rigging competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Movecat: German-based manufacturer of stage automation and motion control systems used in theatre and live entertainment. Directly comparable on the automation engineering dimension with Kinesys-controlled precision hoists.
- Kinesys (Area Four Industries): UK-based provider of motion control and automation systems for live entertainment, including the Kinesys brand used by Unusual Rigging. Comparable as a technology partner and adjacent automation systems supplier in entertainment rigging.
Broad incumbents
- PRG (Production Resource Group): Largest global provider of entertainment technology including rigging, staging, and automation across concerts, theatre, and corporate events. Wider portfolio but directly overlaps on rigging services for major live productions.
Direct peers
- Hoist UK: UK manufacturer and supplier of chain hoists, lifting equipment, and crane systems serving entertainment, theatre, and industrial customers. Comparable as a rigging equipment specialist supplying both equipment and services to live events.
- J&C Joel: Global supplier of theatrical fabrics, stage equipment, and rigging solutions to West End and international theatre productions. Overlaps with Unusual Rigging in supplying engineered solutions to theatre venues and touring shows.
- Sapsis Rigging: US-based entertainment rigging consultancy and services firm working on Broadway, concerts, and touring productions. Comparable in providing specialist rigging engineering and performer flying systems for live entertainment.
- Brilliant Stages: UK scenic construction and stage engineering firm serving theatre, concerts, and live events. Directly comparable in delivering bespoke stage engineering and structural rigging solutions to UK productions.
- TAIT: Global provider of staging, automation, and rigging solutions for live events, theatre, and touring productions. Operates at the same premium end of the live entertainment rigging market with comparable automation capabilities.
- Stage Electrics: UK-based provider of theatrical lighting, rigging, and production services to West End venues and touring productions. Directly comparable to Unusual Rigging in serving UK theatres with staging, rigging, and equipment hire.
Regional players
- Christie Lites: North American provider of lighting, rigging, and production equipment rental for concerts and live events. Comparable as a rigging equipment hire and event production services peer, though primarily North American versus Unusual's UK focus.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Unusual Rigging financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Unusual Rigging leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Unusual Rigging funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Unusual Rigging M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Unusual Rigging
What does Unusual Rigging do?
Unusual Rigging designs, supplies, and operates specialist rigging systems that suspend, elevate and move equipment, scenery, and people for theatre productions, live events, museums, heritage sites, and international sporting events. The company offers bespoke rigging solutions, theatre production rigging and touring support, stage engineering and permanent installations, LOLER-compliant inspections, and precision automation including Kinesys-controlled chain hoists with full 3D programming. It maintains a substantial in-house inventory of chain hoists, ladder beams, aluminium truss, and automation systems for hire and project delivery.
Is Unusual Rigging a public or private company?
Unusual Rigging is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Unusual Rigging founded?
Unusual Rigging was founded in 1983. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Unusual Rigging based?
Unusual Rigging is headquartered in Bugbrooke, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Unusual Rigging make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Bespoke Rigging Services are the primary driver. The others are theatre Production Rigging and Touring, equipment Hire, inspection and Maintenance Services and stage Engineering and Permanent Installations.
Who are Unusual Rigging's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Movecat and Kinesys (Area Four Industries). PRG (Production Resource Group) is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Hoist UK, J&C Joel, Sapsis Rigging, Brilliant Stages, TAIT and Stage Electrics. Christie Lites is listed as a regional player.
Does Unusual Rigging have an API?
No public API is recorded for Unusual Rigging.
What industry is Unusual Rigging in?
Unusual Rigging's product category is Stage Rigging Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAGAKAA, Staging & Rigging Services, with a secondary code of THAHAEAD, Rigging & Truss Services (Ground/Overhead, Automation). Its NAICS code is 333923 and its SIC code is 7350.