Many of the most renowned theatre Directors, Producers and Owners have asked us to design and produce theatre signs for use both on-stage and off-stage. Whether we’re working with Sir Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures to make neon sign props for Swan Lake or the theatre lighting design team from The Ambassador Theatre group are asking us to create signage to signpost their Ambassador Lounge VIP rooms, we’ve vast experience working with the theatre industry to bring your theatre sign ideas to life.
Welcome to the UK’s Renowed Theatre Sign Makers
Where to start with your signage
Unlike many other sectors, for theatres we often find that clients often have a fully designed sign specification (it’s equally fine if you don’t). Feel free to email that through to us and then we’ll call you to discuss how you’d like it to look.
Theatre props
We’re experienced in creating illuminated theatre props, specialising in signage. Whether it’s real neon DINER signs flying above the stage, lightboxes for you production or led signage, we’re recognised as a leading theatre sign maker in Britain and can turn things around very quickly.
External theatre facade signage
We’re experience in working with building owners, production companies, tenants and local authorities in designing and supplying jaw-dropping external signage for your theatre. We work with a wide range of materials to make your production stand out from the crowd.
Foyer signage and lighting
Foyer and wayfinding signage is vital for your theatre and you want your projects to be in safe hands. We offer both a design and production service and work with a broad range of materials to bring your ideas to life, so whether it’s neon, fairground lights or lightboxes we’ll make it happen.
The Options
Neon Theatre Signage
We work with all types of neon so we can advise and quote for that which meets your specific requirements. Some clients require traditional glass neon as only ‘the real deal’ will do, and they’re happy with the fragility of it and the inherent risk of transporting. Other clients prefer Neon Ultra®, our LED/Acrylic replica neon product that is robust and totally controllable using DMX through a lighting desk, meaning it can colour-change, flash or dim, dependent on what your lighting designer requires.
Fairground Lights for Theatres
We use traditional Italian fairground cabochons in our signage which come in two sizes; 45mm and 60mm and a wide range of colours including clear, red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, turquoise, pink and milky. They run on specialist 24V cabochon LEDs and are supplied with appropriate drivers. We can add them externally to facades, internally in the foyer or incorporate them into custom signage for on-set props.
Lightboxes for Theatres
Lightboxes are great ways to bring designs to life and come in lots of forms. Simple printed vinyl on opal acrylic, illuminated from within, through to pushed-through acrylic lightboxes that give a halo effect to your design. Share your design ideas with us and we can advise on the best solutions.
Custom Theatre Signage
Mix it up! Sometime less is more, but sometimes mixing it all together can create some jaw-dropping props and signs. We’re experts in combining neon with fairground lights, perhaps with some type of halo illumination and then mounting it all on a powdercoated frame that matches your production branding.
Fixing & Mounting
We can supply your props and signage with whatever fixing systems you require for your use. That could be eyelets on the top edge of lightboxes for suspending props or batons on the reverse of neon props so they can easily be hung onto a temporary set. For foyer and facade signage we can ensure that permanent fixings are in place. We’ll supply the lengths of wiring that you require for each particular sign.
Why trust Carousel Lights?
We’re trusted to supply theatre props and signage for many of the world’s most renowned organisations including Sir Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Ambassador Theatre Group, New Hampstead Theatre, Donmar Warehouse and Den Norske Opera and Ballet. If you’d like to join that list then just drop us a line.
Theatre Props – Workshop Photos
FAQ’s
What is theatre facade signage?
It’s generally considered to be the signage on the exterior of your theatre building and tends to be the permanenet signage related to the building itself, for example ‘Sadler’s Wells Theatre’.
Who can make theatre props for my production?
Carousel Lights produces theatre signage but there are a wide range of suppliers for more general props. Kays Directory is a great source of suppliers.
How fast are your turnaround times?
We can turn projects aroudn extremely quickly, typically 5-10 working days but sometimes quicker if you let us know in advance.
Is there a good UK signmaker in London specialising in props?
As a signmaker based just outside London, Carousel Lights is one of several trusted signmaker who work on high profile signage projects for theatres and productions.
Can anyone supply DMX lighting for a stage production?
Carousel Lights work with DMX systems so can supply fully controllable lighting, either pre-programmed or with encoders to work through a client’s own lighting desk.
Is real neon glass suitable for a touring production?
At the end of the day real neon is made from glass so it is fragile. That said, we supply it to several famous productions as they only want the real deal.
The simple 6 step process
It’s easier than you think
1. Your bright idea
Let us know your initial thoughts
2. A few questions
We’ll need some more details before we begin
3. The proposal
We’ll share our initial designs with you
4. Give it the thumbs up
Delighted with our design? Great – it’s time to pay
5. Let’s get to work!
We’ll start producing your design
6. Delivering the goods
Your design delivered to your door
"The light looks INCREDIBLE! We are so happy with it and I really appreciate how beautifully made it is." Sophie
"A HUGE thank-you! You'ce created such a 'wow-factor' light installation that's far better than we could ever have imagined. Everyone has been so professional and helpful every step of the way!"
Thank you so much for the light - it looked AMAZING! We've decided to keep it up and it'll no doubt stay there!
