For English National Opera’s 2024 production of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, set designer Nicky Shaw reimagined the opera’s setting, transporting it to 1940s England during World War II. The production unfolds within a grand English country estate, carefully designed and built to capture the period’s atmosphere. The challenge was to develop a stage set that could seamlessly transform within a 20-minute interval, be dismantled efficiently for storage, and maintain both visual authenticity and structural integrity. 

Fabricated in our South London workshops, this set was constructed to meet the high standards required for a major repertory opera while aligning with ENO’s artistic vision. As an experienced London set company, we specialize in scenery construction that balances historical accuracy with modern stage functionality. Act One was set in an expansive basement kitchen—a lively, practical environment featuring old-fashioned sinks, exposed pipework, wooden tables, and traditional chairs. This space was brought to life with authentic period details, capturing the wartime domesticity inhabited by Land Girls and RAF personnel. 

The set was built using a steel framework clad in plywood and cotton canvas, with additional scenic elements fabricated from plastic piping and carved polystyrene to achieve precise textures and finishes. The core structure consisted of two large trucked walls and a separate trucked staircase, all designed for smooth and efficient transitions—key requirements for theatre set design and build projects in busy repertory productions. 

During the interval, the set underwent a dramatic transformation into the manor’s elegant drawing room for Act Two. This shift highlighted the contrast between the estate’s refined interiors and the wartime reality beyond its walls. The transformation was achieved by removing key set pieces, introducing additional infill panels, and revealing architectural features such as large sash windows and grand doorways, creating an atmosphere of understated elegance. 

Throughout the process, we collaborated closely with the production management team to integrate last-minute design changes and additions without compromising structural integrity or visual impact. The final result was a richly detailed, historically evocative set that seamlessly supported the storytelling—capturing both the domestic warmth of the kitchen and the grandeur of the drawing room—while ensuring the practical functionality needed for ENO’s production. 

As specialists in bespoke theatre set construction, scenic carpentry, and event scenery manufacturing, we bring creative visions to life with precision and craftsmanship. Whether for opera, theatre, TV, film, or corporate events, our team delivers custom-built stage sets that combine historical authenticity with modern efficiency.