Production & Stage Set Construction
Bespoke scenery, theatre sets, television environments, event scenery and commercial installations — taking creative ideas and turning them into practical, buildable spaces.
Not every project we build belongs in a house.
Alongside our building, renovation and carpentry work, Calico also has experience constructing bespoke stage sets, scenic environments and one-off production builds for theatre, television, events, entertainment and commercial projects.
These are often some of the most interesting projects we undertake. They require the same practical construction skills as conventional building work, but introduce a completely different set of challenges surrounding appearance, portability, access, assembly and production deadlines.
Creative construction has been part of Calico from the beginning.
Some of Calico's earliest specialist projects involved constructing themed stage environments for a company developing automated gambling software.
The installations were designed around roulette equipment and included completely different themed surroundings, including pirate-inspired scenery and Egyptian-style environments.
They were far removed from conventional fitted furniture or building work, but they introduced exactly the type of challenge we enjoy: being presented with an idea and working out how to turn it into something that can actually be built.
Pirate / Egyptian themed roulette set
Set construction / workshop image
Built differently because it needs to work differently.
Production construction doesn't always follow the same rules as permanent building work.
A set may need to look completely solid while remaining lightweight. It might need to break into sections, travel between locations, pass through restricted access or be assembled within a very short installation window.
That means thinking about how the finished piece will actually be used from the beginning of the build.
- Modular construction
- Weight and portability
- Transport and access
- Rapid assembly
- Repeated use
- Surface preparation
- Scenic finishing
- On-site installation
- Existing scenery integration
- Production deadlines
Production construction for unusual briefs.
We can become involved at different stages of a project, from taking an initial creative idea and working out how to construct it through to building from supplied drawings and installing completed scenery.
Stage Sets
Bespoke scenery, structures and practical set pieces for theatre, performance and live entertainment.
Television Sets
Practical construction and scenic elements for studio, television and production environments.
Event Scenery
Temporary scenic construction and themed environments for events, attractions and immersive experiences.
Commercial Sets
Purpose-built environments for brands, demonstrations, advertising, launches and commercial productions.
Themed Environments
Creative surroundings for entertainment, exhibitions, interactive installations and themed spaces.
Props & Structures
Larger scenic props, architectural features and unusual one-off structures requiring proper workshop construction.
Set Alterations & Repairs
Modification, strengthening, adaptation and repair of existing scenery and production elements.
Installation Support
Practical assistance assembling and adapting scenery within theatres, studios, venues and commercial spaces.
Bespoke Builds
Something that doesn't fit into a normal category? Show us the idea and we'll look at how it could be built.
From theatre stages to television, commercial and event environments.
Over the years, Calico has had the opportunity to work alongside professional production teams on a wide range of projects, from theatre and television to commercial installations and large-scale event scenery.
Every project requires a slightly different approach, but the common theme is taking a creative requirement and finding a practical way to turn it into a finished physical environment.
KD Theatre Productions
Calico has worked alongside KD Theatre Productions, providing practical set-building and construction support across professional production projects.
Working within theatre and production environments means balancing appearance, practicality and deadlines while coordinating with the wider production team.
Television Production
Our work alongside KD Theatre Productions has included construction associated with television production projects, including work connected with the BBC comedy Two Doors Down.
Projects like these require careful interpretation of the brief while producing something that works practically within a professional production environment.
Peloton – Covent Garden
Calico has also been involved in building out new Peloton production sets in Covent Garden, London.
Commercial projects such as this involve accurate construction from a creative brief, coordinating with other trades and production teams and delivering within defined installation schedules.
Goodwood Revival
Calico has also been involved in building sets and scenery for projects connected with the Goodwood Revival, working through another production company on event environments designed to contribute to the distinctive period setting of the Revival.
Event scenery presents its own challenges, particularly where visual elements need to be constructed accurately, installed efficiently and work convincingly as part of a much larger themed environment.
You don't need to arrive with a finished construction drawing.
Some clients come to us with detailed production drawings. Others have a sketch, concept image or simply an idea of what they want the finished environment to look like. We can work with either.
The Brief
Show us the concept, drawings, dimensions, reference imagery or production requirements.
Buildability
We consider materials, access, weight, transport, assembly and the best practical method of construction.
Construction
Components are fabricated, fitted and prepared with the finished production environment in mind.
Installation
Where required, we can assist with assembly, alterations and installation within the production space or venue.
The unusual projects are often the best ones.
Production work doesn't always fit neatly into a predefined category — and that's part of what makes it interesting.
Our background combines carpentry, renovation, practical building knowledge and experience making genuinely one-off items. That makes us particularly comfortable when a project needs somebody who can look at an unusual problem and work out a sensible way of building it.
From a single scenic element through to a larger modular set, we're happy to look at projects that require a little more thought than an off-the-shelf solution.
Finished bespoke production / scenic build
Let's build something different.
Whether it's going into a theatre, television studio, commercial environment, major event or somewhere completely different, send us your drawings, reference images, dimensions or initial idea and we'll take a look at how it could be built.
Talk To CalicoMore ways we can help.
Production & set construction FAQs
Do you build complete theatre and stage sets?
We can undertake complete scenic construction or become involved in individual elements of a larger production depending on the scale, design, programme and requirements of the project.
Can you work from production drawings?
Yes. We can work from supplied drawings, measurements and production specifications, or discuss how an initial concept could be turned into a practical build.
Can you build sets that need to be transported?
Yes. Where transport is part of the brief, construction can be designed around modular sections, manageable weights, access restrictions and straightforward assembly.
Do you build scenery for events as well as theatre?
Yes. Our experience extends beyond theatre and television into commercial and event environments, including previous involvement with set and scenery construction for projects connected with the Goodwood Revival.
Do you only work in Hampshire?
No. While Calico is based in Hampshire, specialist production work can take us considerably further afield. Previous projects have included work in London as well as theatre, television, commercial and event production environments.
Can you help if we only have an idea rather than a finished design?
Absolutely. Send us sketches, photographs, dimensions, reference imagery or even an initial description. We can discuss the practical construction options and what information would be needed to move the project forward.
Do you undertake one-off commercial installations?
Yes. We are particularly interested in unusual bespoke builds, commercial environments, display structures and projects that require a practical construction solution rather than a standard product.
