Unusual Rigging

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.

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

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

• Stage rigging services
• Theatre automation systems
• Performer flying systems
• Stage engineering installations
• Rigging equipment hire

Headquarters

HQ city

Bugbrooke

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Equipment Hire: Hiring out rigging equipment including chain hoists (407 units supplied for Crossroads Pantomimes alone), ladder beam, aluminium truss, and automation systems.
4. 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.
5. 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

Core 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

Named customers20 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging 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

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Unusual Rigging