IN PROFILE
ROYAL ALBERT HALL AT 150: MORE HISTORY TO MAKE Head of Production and Technical, Ollie Jeffery details the Royal Albert Hall’s road to recovery, having closed its doors to the public for the first time since World War II.
Words: Jacob Waite Photos: Royal Albert Hall
Royal Albert Hall Head of Production and Technical, Ollie Jeffery.
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All venues, from grassroots to cultural institutions like Royal Albert Hall, have suffered from the grounding of live events in March 2020. Considered by many as London’s most iconic venue – having been graced by some of the biggest and best names on the touring circuit – the 5,272-capacity space was forced to close its doors for the first time since World War II on the eve of its 150th anniversary. Following the easing of restrictions, TPi checked in with the man responsible for the delivery of the technical requirements of around 500 events scheduled at RAH every year – Head of Production and Technical, Ollie Jeffery. “The lockdown was a big hit. We were approaching our 150th anniversary with lots of plans, which we had to postpone,” commented Jeffery, who currently manages a team of 40 salaried staff and 100 casuals. “The biggest hit has been financial. The Hall receives no direct government revenue funding, so we rely on what comes into the building via partnerships, donations and ticket, food and beverage sales.” Despite pockets of work, the length of the lockdown had a significant financial impact. “We were lucky to host behind-closed-doors
events, which used the Hall in ways it had never been used before,” Jeffery explained, adding that it cost to open the venue’s doors without audiences. “We received a loan as part of the UK government’s Culture Recovery Fund (CRF), putting the Hall in debt for the first time in its history, which has subsequently changed our business plan,” he commented. The Hall reopened its doors on 19 July, welcoming back full-capacity audiences with a specially commissioned 10-movement concert created by composer, David Arnold and performed by the Royal Albert Hall Orchestra, the National Youth Choirs of Great Britain, and students from the Tri-borough Music Hub – A Circle of Sound, in celebration of RAH’s belated 150th anniversary. “We had some amazing plans and shows to celebrate this landmark year and now, our 150th has been extended into 2023,” Jeffery added. “We’ve got a few things coming up next year, such as Matthew Bourne’s The Car Man ballet scheduled for June 2022.” During the lockdown, RAH spent around £950,000 on a new ventilation system – something Jeffery says the Hall was already considering but became an even higher priority