Hi-Fli is now the longest established theatre flying effects company in the UK. Based in Manchester, we provide equipment, advice and expertise for creating aerial effects - flying both performers and props. We have recently moved to our new, purpose-built stores and workshop which will be a great help in keeping our costs as low as possible.
Although it is clear that most stage flying systems perform more or less the same function, our range has been designed and developed for the quickest of installation and smoothest of operation and our experience repeatedly confirms that, as with several other things, it is what you do with it that counts.
We are having another busy year - with productions of the classic 'Peter Pan' being staged from the Lizard to Aberdeen. We were delighted to be chosen to provide the flying effects for the production to celebrate J M Barrie's 150th. anniversary in his birth place of Kirriemuir. Scotland has certainly featured in our diary this year with 'Peter Pan' flying high at Glasgow's G12 theatre, the SECC and in Dundee, Inverurie and Kilmarnock. In England, we have already flown him in Margate, New Mills, Todmorden Hippodrome, Helstone, Wakefield, and Manchester. He hasn't visited Wales yet this year - but we have flown productions of 'Pinnochio' at the Torch Theatre in Milford Haven and 'The Wizard of Oz' at the Theatre Clwyd, Mold. Although he has missed out on Wales, Pan has been to many other exotic places while on the international tour of 'Peter Pan on Ice'. Also, The Michael Clark Dance Company are travelling the world with their acclaimed show.
Disney's 'Beauty & the Beast' has surely been this year's most popular musical. Having staged the flying for the original UK tour, we have provided the equipment for many productions by amateur societies throughout the UK - over the last few weeks we have been to the Princess Theatre, Torquay, the Pomegranate Theatre, Chesterfield, the Victoria Theatre, Halifax and the beautifully re-furbished Whitley Bay Playhouse.
Other popular productions this year have been 'Jesus Christ, Superstar!' in Stockport, Frome, Birmingham, Hinckley, Oxford Playhouse, Barrow, Rugby, Crewe and Wolverhampton. Also 'Fiddler on the Roof' at Durham's Gala Theatre and the Palace Theatre in Kilmarnock and many variations of 'Scrooge' or 'A Christmas Carol' - we are especially looking forward to the UK premiere of Alan Menken's musical version and the Lowry's Christmas production of the play which promises to have some great effects. Other shows which regularly call on our services were 'The Coram Boy' at York's Theatre Royal, 'A Passionate Woman' for Hull Truck and 'Brassed Off' at Harrogate. New productions are always a treat and we provided our very realistic hanged man effect for David Lloyd James' production of 'Frozen' by Bryony Lavery. We are also always pleased to offer advice or hire equipment to the many thriving youth theatres and dance academies in the UK.