PRODUCTION PROFILE
Opposite: Art Director, Kate Moross; Set Designer, Jason Sherwood.
SPICE GIRLS: SPICE WORLD 2019 Infused with all the trappings of modern technical production and creative ingenuity, the Spice Girls return to bring new meaning to Girl Power, embracing stadium audiences with a message of inclusivity. ‘Cockney Spice’ Mark Cunningham witnesses it unfold at Wembley...
Rarely has Wembley Stadium witnessed a display of such unbridled joy amongst an audience as it did when the Spice Girls stepped on to the stage to “welcome all ages, all races, all gender identities, all countries of origin, all sexual orientations, all religions and beliefs, all abilities.” Over three sold-out Wembley nights, 221,971 fans worshipped at the altar of Girl Power, dressed to the nines and as much a part of the show as their idols. Performing for the first time as a four-piece without Victoria ‘Posh’ Beckham, the quartet broke Ticketmaster’s UK records when their 13date Spice World 2019 tour went on sale last November, leading many to speculate about further appearances. Dripping with all the colours of ‘90s nostalgia, the tour was a victory for the vendor collective hired by Production Manager Tony Gittins, featuring the work of Brilliant Stages, PRG, PixMob, Wigwam Acoustics, Universal Pixels, Strictly FX, Star Events Group and, at Wembley, Stageco. Fly By Nite, Beat The Street and Eat Your Hearts Out also played faultless roles. It all has to begin somewhere and in this case the buck stopped with Creative Director Lee Lodge who assembled a vibrant creative team who had shared the experience of working on Sam Smith’s The Thrill Of It All tour. Namely Set Designer, Jason Sherwood, Choreographer/Stage Director, Paul Roberts, Lighting Designer, Tim Routledge, and Art Director, Kate Moross. As Routledge observed: “When Lee calls, you know it’s going to be special. Recognising great talent is one of his great strengths and he thrives on taking people like Jason and Costume Designer, Gabriella Slade from the theatre environment and placing them in the rock ’n’ roll world.”
wanted it to be a communal, fun experience, taking fans back to a place where they had innocence and a joyful connection with the music. “We looked at this not so much as a tour but as a theatrical entertainment property, analysing what the girls mean to their fans and how we can bring them to a market that has experienced The Greatest Showman, whilst harnessing all of the potential that today’s technology can offer. You need to have passion for something like this because the fan base exudes an enthusiasm that has to be matched in order to deliver what they want to see.” In preparation, while Moross curated a generous reference library of memorabilia, Lodge conducted a musical audit of the act’s entire concert history, noting every set list and watching hours upon hours of archived live videos. “Spice World 2019 is not about a reunion, it’s not a separate entity, it’s a continuation of the fabric of the band because if you’re a fan, they’ve never really been away – this is just the next chapter,” he commented, adding that the show’s opening sequence had to be a killer. “If you can’t create a brilliant first act for the Spice Girls, you shouldn’t be in the business, because all the ingredients are right there in front of you.” The initial concepts that were shared amongst the creatives all hinged around four houses that representing a different Spice Girl. “It resembled a developed script for five distinct acts with separate narratives,” explained Lodge. “Act One is ‘The Return of the Four Queens’, Act Two is ‘Girl Power’, Act Three is ‘The Garden’, Act Four is ‘Girls Night Out’ and, finally, Act Five is ‘The Last Waltz’. By using choreographic references, graphic elements and wardrobe, we were able to structure the performance. And as for assembling the core values, I can’t think of anyone who would’ve grasped the sentiments behind the girls’ brand DNA of the girls quite like Kate.” Said Moross: “That master document was available online for all the creatives to access and see how the show was developing. It was so
THE CREATIVE JOURNEY From the outset, the creative ambition was to give the Spice Girls the live production they always wanted by designing a show that was rooted in nostalgia while reaching forward as a symbol of inclusivity. Said Lodge: “We 41
