A DAY WITH

A day with... CHARLOTTE LLOYD WEBBER

The Director of the team putting together this year’s Christmas display at Castle Howard in Yorkshire tells us how the magic is created

BRITAIN: Tell us about this year’s

Christmas theme at Castle Howard.

CLW: This year’s theme is Into the Woods: A Fairy Tale Christmas. We’re exploring some of the best-loved fairy tales and creating our own narrative where different characters, such as Snow White, Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel, Jack, and Rapunzel come together in a magical adventure through the dazzling festive splendour of Castle Howard, culminating in the story of Cinderella, which unfolds down the majestic Long Galley with video projection and bespoke soundscape that can be heard throughout the house…

B: Where do your ideas come from? CLW: The beginning is always the immediate environment where the event will take place. We always try to complement, enhance and find synchronicity with the spaces so it feels that the designs truly belong there rather than being super-imposed.

B: What does a typical workday look like for you? CLW: During an installation period time is very tight and runs like a military operation. We start as early as 7am with a team debrief of the previous day’s activities and then often work 12-14 hours straight through and on occasion through the night, if required!

B: How long does it take to set up an event? CLW: We build throughout the year and then it takes around three weeks to fully install and then layer lighting, sound and projection. As we approach the final install it is my responsibility to constantly move between all the departments to make sure everything is being executed properly and on time and to come up with last minute fixes when the unanticipated happens!

B: What is your favourite part of the day? CLW: I love popping in to see how different pieces are evolving – and, more often than not, I’m delighted and amazed! B: What do you find most rewarding? CLW: The moment in the design process where we fully realise how the narrative will unfold. And the sheer range of extraordinary and talented people I get to work with. I also always look forward to the expression on our clients’ and then the visitors’ faces when they finally see the finished piece.

B: What challenges do you face

day to day?

CLW: Containing the vision within the budget! Stately home events are often essential in raising desperately needed restoration funds so these remarkable places can be shared with the community and beyond for many generations to come, but this means being extremely resourceful from an event point of view. The other is sustainability in terms of the impact of the event, and finding ways to reduce waste, re-use and recycle.

B: What has been your proudest moment in the job? CLW: Winning the UK Heritage Award for Best Event for Castle Howard’s The Twelve Days of Christmas was wonderful in that it recognized the huge collective effort of everyone involved across the Castle Howard estate. That, and having the opportunity to share the process of building and installing Narnia last year with millions of people who would otherwise never get to see it via the Channel 4 documentary… The crew are back this year filming Into the Woods: A Fairy Tale Christmas.

B: How does it feel to see your hard work on display? CLW: The first time I walk through the completed Castle Howard installation always takes my breath away. Not only is it a huge privilege to work in such a remarkable environment, but the sheer collective endeavour to bring it to fruition and create an experiential journey for many thousands of people across all ages and walks of life really is an honour like no other I know! Into The Woods: A Fairytale Christmas is at Castle Howard from 12 November until 2 January. www.castlehoward.co.uk