If the current pandemic has prompted you to consider new ways of operating, we’re confident we can help. Unusual is now offering a formal consultancy service so whether you’re looking to reconfigure your venue, create an outside space, improve your carbon footprint, or look for efficient, cost effective solutions for a one off project, we can help you achieve your desired outcome.
Our consultancy team is made up of highly knowledgeable individuals, who between them, have amassed millions of hours of experience over three decades of delivering top notch solutions across a range of sectors. While we’re best known for our experience in the live events sector – theatre, museums, television sporting events - our work in architecture and construction has won us high praise from the likes of Network Rail, MACE, Ballymore, Workplace Experts and Glenn Howells Architects.
We can deliver novel and bespoke solutions to meet any client’s needs and because we have no affiliation with any product brands, we are able to offer totally impartial unbiased advice and recommendations.
MEET THE TEAM
Steve Porter – live production, production management
Steve is one of the Unusual directors. He has worked on a number of projects ranging from TV shows to films, theatre productions, Royal weddings, global motor shows and various product launches. Steve joined Unusual in 1987 having previously worked as a Staging Crew Chief (Prince, George Michael, Simple Minds) and as a Tour Rigger (Spandau Ballet, Tina Turner, Lloyd Cole, Rod Stewart.
Recent work includes projects with Land Rover Jaguar, BAFTA, Olivier Awards, London Fashion Week and the Islamic Solidary Games.
Email: Steve.porter@unusual.co.uk
Mark Priestley – venue design, technical & engineering advice
Mark is head of Capital Projects at Unusual. Previously with consultants, Charcoal Blue, Mark joined Unusual in 2010 with responsibility for installations and engineering projects. He has over 25 years experience of theatre design, particularly stage engineering and technical systems, much of it gained during 19 years at the National Theatre. Since joining Unusual, Mark has been responsible for projects such as Garsington Opera Pavilion, Birmingham New Street Atrium, The Dominion Theatre refurbishment, Shaftesbury Theatre fly-tower, The Olympic Games in London, Beijing, Sochi, Pyeongchang and Rio, and for consulting and delivering on the new ENB home on London’s City Island.
Email: Mark.priestley@unusual.co.uk
Robin Elias – museums & exhibitions, spectaculars, stunts, performer flying
Robin is technical director at Unusual He joined the company in 1991. Prior to this he toured the world with stars such as The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Bob Dylan and Fleetwood Mac. In charge of special projects, Robin is your man if you want anything or anyone hung or flown in unusual places. Robin has suspended acrobats on the spokes of the London Eye for a dance performance, consulted and worked with ITV on various projects including Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Good Morning Britain and It’s Not Rocket Science and hung countless aircraft exhibits and museum artwork in venues such as the V&A, Science Museum and the Royal Academy.
Email: Robin.elias@unusual.co.uk
Tom Harper – sustainability and the Circular Economy
Tom is managing director at Unusual Rigging and also sustainability co-ordinator. Tom established the company’s carbon reduction strategy in 2013 and is exploring the company’s potential, as an organisation, to pioneer a ‘circular economic’ business model within the industry. Tom has an MBA in Innovation and the Circular Economy and has co-project managed the implementation of a custom asset tracking software system which has improved the efficiency of the company’s workflow.
Tom’s passion for the Circular Economy has seen him become a key influencer in encouraging others to adopt the practise. Unusual was a finalist in the Circulars Awards in 2017 and the company’s support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has been recognised by Support the Goals. Unusual has joined the likes of Lego, Nike and other global brands in publicly building its plans, commitments, actions and progress towards the SDGs.
Unusual is currently part of a major refurbishment at the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane. The £45 million refurbishment of the Grade 1 listed theatre being overseen by Haworth Tomkins Architects has seen Unusual recoup tonnes of ‘technical nutrients’ from the project - bits and pieces of old kit have been identified as being perfectly good to be reused.
Email: Tom.harper@unusual.co.uk
Our consultancy team is made up of highly knowledgeable individuals, who between them, have amassed millions of hours of experience over three decades of delivering top notch solutions across a range of sectors. While we’re best known for our experience in the live events sector – theatre, museums, television sporting events - our work in architecture and construction has won us high praise from the likes of Network Rail, MACE, Ballymore, Workplace Experts and Glenn Howells Architects.
We can deliver novel and bespoke solutions to meet any client’s needs and because we have no affiliation with any product brands, we are able to offer totally impartial unbiased advice and recommendations.
MEET THE TEAM
Steve Porter – live production, production management
Steve is one of the Unusual directors. He has worked on a number of projects ranging from TV shows to films, theatre productions, Royal weddings, global motor shows and various product launches. Steve joined Unusual in 1987 having previously worked as a Staging Crew Chief (Prince, George Michael, Simple Minds) and as a Tour Rigger (Spandau Ballet, Tina Turner, Lloyd Cole, Rod Stewart.
Recent work includes projects with Land Rover Jaguar, BAFTA, Olivier Awards, London Fashion Week and the Islamic Solidary Games.
Email: Steve.porter@unusual.co.uk
Mark Priestley – venue design, technical & engineering advice
Mark is head of Capital Projects at Unusual. Previously with consultants, Charcoal Blue, Mark joined Unusual in 2010 with responsibility for installations and engineering projects. He has over 25 years experience of theatre design, particularly stage engineering and technical systems, much of it gained during 19 years at the National Theatre. Since joining Unusual, Mark has been responsible for projects such as Garsington Opera Pavilion, Birmingham New Street Atrium, The Dominion Theatre refurbishment, Shaftesbury Theatre fly-tower, The Olympic Games in London, Beijing, Sochi, Pyeongchang and Rio, and for consulting and delivering on the new ENB home on London’s City Island.
Email: Mark.priestley@unusual.co.uk
Robin Elias – museums & exhibitions, spectaculars, stunts, performer flying
Robin is technical director at Unusual He joined the company in 1991. Prior to this he toured the world with stars such as The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Genesis, Bob Dylan and Fleetwood Mac. In charge of special projects, Robin is your man if you want anything or anyone hung or flown in unusual places. Robin has suspended acrobats on the spokes of the London Eye for a dance performance, consulted and worked with ITV on various projects including Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway, Good Morning Britain and It’s Not Rocket Science and hung countless aircraft exhibits and museum artwork in venues such as the V&A, Science Museum and the Royal Academy.
Email: Robin.elias@unusual.co.uk
Tom Harper – sustainability and the Circular Economy
Tom is managing director at Unusual Rigging and also sustainability co-ordinator. Tom established the company’s carbon reduction strategy in 2013 and is exploring the company’s potential, as an organisation, to pioneer a ‘circular economic’ business model within the industry. Tom has an MBA in Innovation and the Circular Economy and has co-project managed the implementation of a custom asset tracking software system which has improved the efficiency of the company’s workflow.
Tom’s passion for the Circular Economy has seen him become a key influencer in encouraging others to adopt the practise. Unusual was a finalist in the Circulars Awards in 2017 and the company’s support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals has been recognised by Support the Goals. Unusual has joined the likes of Lego, Nike and other global brands in publicly building its plans, commitments, actions and progress towards the SDGs.
Unusual is currently part of a major refurbishment at the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane. The £45 million refurbishment of the Grade 1 listed theatre being overseen by Haworth Tomkins Architects has seen Unusual recoup tonnes of ‘technical nutrients’ from the project - bits and pieces of old kit have been identified as being perfectly good to be reused.
Email: Tom.harper@unusual.co.uk