A spectacular performance by Katy Perry, broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX from Central Hall Westminster gave all the ‘feels’ to the venue team, who played a key role in supporting and delivering it with success.
American singer Perry, whose hits include Roar, Feels and Firework, performed live to an audience of 1,000 people, including celebrities Orlando Bloom, Jess Glynne and Alex Scott in the central London venue’s iconic Great Hall in December.
The Central Hall Venues team pulled out all the stops to support the production, which included rooftop fireworks, indoor pyrotechnics and large-scale laser displays, alongside the musical performance.
With extensive experience hosting broadcasting and TV events, including BBC One’s New Year’s Eve Concert and Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer fundraiser, the venue and its team were well placed to host the one-off performance by Perry.
To ensure the performance went without a hitch, the team worked tirelessly in the lead-up to and during the event, seeking permission from the council, creating bespoke safety measures and meticulously planning to realise the production company’s creative vision.
The stage in the Great Hall was custom-built for the event and was one of the largest setups ever constructed in the space. Adaptations were also made to accommodate additional and specialist AV equipment supplied by Perry’s production team, which was used in conjunction with the Great Hall’s state-of-the-art PA system and audio solution, upgraded in early 2024.
To enable live broadcasting of the performance, the team worked closely with the production team to carefully position cameras within the Great Hall and to secure safe cabling routes from the hall to the broadcast truck outside. Support was also provided for power distribution and LAN connectivity.
Special concessions were also made for the 200-strong crew members as well as the celebrity and VIP guests attending the event. The venue’s multiple entrances facilitated easy access for all, with bespoke security installed for the event itself.
To keep the crew fuelled, Central Hall Westminster’s in-house caterers Green & Fortune supplied hot meals and snacks in the lead-up and during the event, as well as providing specific items requested by the star and drinks for a VIP reception.
The flexibility exercised by Central Hall Westminster and its venue team, as well as its support and stunning backdrop, were commended by all involved.
Josh Hoskins, Line Producer at TalkbackThames, said: “Everyone, from ITV to Katy Perry herself, was really pleased with how the event ran on the night and the finished transmission. Central Hall Westminster provided a spectacular location and the team there helped deliver a very smooth event which we are all extremely grateful for.”
Sarah Franczak, Chief Operating Officer, Central Hall Venues, said: “To successfully host and support a performance by such a high-profile singer as Katy Perry is a challenge in itself but to support a global broadcast too requires meticulous planning, flexibility, innovative problem-solving and expertise.
“Central Hall Westminster’s iconic Great Hall, of course, provides an impressive backdrop for any event, but the fact it offers a versatile set-up and world-class infrastructure, as well as the support of an expert team is what sets us apart and makes Central Hall Westminster the premier choice for high-profile broadcast productions.
“We were thrilled that Katy Perry’s performance (literally) went with a bang and look forward to continuing to be the choice venue for live broadcast events in 2025 and beyond.”
Katy Perry: Night of a Lifetime is available to stream on ITVX.
