6 minute read
CHARLOTTE LLOYD WEBBER
It’s set to be a magical Christmas at Belvoir as theatre designer Charlotte Lloyd Webber turns fairy godmother to create the Castle’s beautiful festive displays, enchanting visitors, young and old alike! Here we meet the designer and find out what goes into creating the impressive displays...
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IT WAS THE MONTH BEFORE CHRISTMAS, and all through the Castle lots of people were stirring. Not least among them was Charlotte Lloyd Webber, working with Belvoir Castle and some of the country’s other leading stately homes to prepare some really stunning festive displays. We joined the designer and her team at the stables just five minutes down the road from the Belvoir Castle, surrounded by foliage, fabric and some seriously scaled-up plans for the festive season.
“It’s my second season working for Belvoir Castle, and this years we’re really upping the ante with some stunning displays and the much-loved narrative of Cinderella, told in visual form with lots of colour throughout a number of the Castle’s state rooms.”
Charlotte’s provenance is working in theatre, having co-founded Lamplighter Drama and also the Oxford Shakespeare Company. With experience of theatre design, and contacts at properties like York’s Castle Howard though, the designer was approached around six years ago to lend her expertise to creating festive installations for visitors to enjoying some of the country’s most beautiful stately homes. Doing so with such success – aesthetic and commercial – led to Charlotte founding CLW Event Design two and a half years ago, and this year, she’s in the throes of creating Christmas experiences for Castle Howard, Bamburgh Castle and Belvoir Castle. Each property’s displays are between a year and a year and a half in the planning necessitating, Charlotte reckons, no fewer than 8,000 baubles for Belvoir and a kilometre of lighting at Castle Howard.
“Last year’s displays at Belvoir Castle were themed around a Regency Christmas, and so this year we’re also introducing a narrative element to the displays, telling the classic story of Cinderella.”
“It’s about putting the story into context in the property,” says Charlotte. “The narrative, the art and architecture of Belvoir Castle and the displays can all come together to work congruously.” “Initial ideas are pitched and can be finalised even before the current festive season, so right now we’ve a good idea of what we’d like to see for Christmas 2023. That enables us to begin designing, with visual sign-offs of the whole project around April or May, by which time we’ve also had a good opportunity to evaluate what worked well for this year’s Christmas display, too, and what our visitors really enjoyed.” Building the displays takes from May or June right until we install round October. There’s a core team of six but with a bulging contact book, Charlotte also brings along the talents of graphic designers, costume designers, florists and lighting designers, not to mention woodwork and metalwork specialists. “The starting point is always the property,” says Charlotte. “I let the architecture inform the scheme. It’s fundamental since it dictates the physical space and route of visitors through the displays.” “But interiors of older, grander properties can also be quite dark, so to really make the most of each display, I’m always keen to utilise professional theatre lighting – in this case, working with Bretta Gerecke – and our professional soundscape designer to create an immersive experience.” Journeying through Belvoir Castle this season, visitors will see both Lady Tremaine’s gilded life and that of her two daughters, Anastasia and Drizella. They’ll also see the humble manner in which Cinderella lives. Lady Tremaine in the Elizabeth Saloon is pure high camp, with an enormous wig, her chaise lounge and a Chartreuse gown. Later, in the State Dining Room, we meet the Fairy Godmother against a backdrop of soft pastels and pinks, with the orange of Cinderella’s pumpkin as is transforms into a glittering carriage. >>
>> Belvoir Castle’s Picture Gallery and Ballroom reflect the ball at which Cinderella meets the Prince with Charlotte’s co-creator Adrian Lillie having created a really stunning couture dress for the event.
The displays tell the story chronologically as visitors pass through the rooms of the Castle culminating, of course, in the wedding of Cinderella and Prince Charming in the Regents’s Gallery.
“Belvoir Castle has the most extraordinary beauty so it’s always a pleasure to walk around the rooms, and every time you do so you see new details in the architecture and new colours. It’s also wonderful to work with The Duchess of Rutland who has a great eye, comes from a design background and who really appreciates the work involved in creating the displays and making them work as well as they can in order to thrill visitors.” “We want everyone to have a great time, of course, but ensuring visitors to properties like Belvoir Castle also means they have funds to facilitate the upkeep of these big and often very demanding historic buildings.” The time it takes not just to design or make but to install the displays is measured in weeks, not hours or days. Castle Howard alone saw 75,000 people visit to see Charlotte’s work, and that not only means great entertainment for the crowds, but funds the stately homes and castles’ upkeep, for future generations too. So visiting this year’s displays will not only provide a wonderful day out for visitors, but will ensure a happy ever after for Belvoir Castle, too. n
What’s On at BELVOIR
n Brand New Adventure Playground Younger visitors will enjoy Belvoir Castle’s brand new Adventure Playground is inspired by the iconic architecture of Belvoir Estate and its past and present explorers. Entry included in either a Castle & Garden Ticket, Garden Only Ticket or Annual Pass.
n Father Christmas at the Castle A magical opportunity for children to meet the famous Belvoir Elves, listen to a story told by Mrs Claus and see the jolly man himself, Father Christmas. Each child will also receive a gift to take home. Pre-booking required, £15/child.
n Festive Afternoon Tea at the Castle Revel in a sumptuous Festive Afternoon Tea experience in the grandeur of the Regency-styled tearoom. Only available for visitors with a Cinderella Christmas at Belvoir Admissions Ticket. Pre-booking required, £25/ad, £15/child.
n Engine Yard Christmas Markets Soak up the festive atmosphere at the Engine Yard with our Scandinavian style Christmas Markets taking place over five consecutive weekends, starting 18th November. Explore an abundance of artisan delights, discover unique gifts and feast on festive favourites. Browse over 20 Christmas stalls hosted by independent brands each market weekend, alongside our permanent boutique retail stores. Pre-booking required, £25/ad, £15/child.
