TV & Film Stage Hire: Riot Women TV Case Study

Providing StageMobil LR and navigating complex site access for a BBC shoot.

Television and film productions require a very different approach to stage hire, combining technical precision, creative sensitivity and absolute reliability. For the BBC drama Riot Women (6 x 60), Arc Stage Hire Ltd provided specialist TV and film stage hire to support key live-performance scenes filmed on location in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.

Created and directed by Sally Wainwright and produced by Drama Republic, Riot Women follows five women who form a punk band and discover new strength, community and chaos along the way. Filming took place in a real public location, requiring a stage solution that would read authentically on camera while meeting the practical demands of a broadcast production. The series aired on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in October 2025 and is distributed worldwide by Mediawan Rights.

Stage Hire for TV and Film Production

Arc Stage Hire supplied the StageMobil LR, a 7m x 6m mobile trailer stage, as the central platform for the band’s performances. Chosen for its clean lines, speed of deployment and structural reliability, the StageMobil LR provided a stable, professional base while remaining visually adaptable for on-screen use.

Outdoor festival stage set up in a grassy park, decorated with colourful banners, rainbow artwork, and tall flags. Crew membe

In addition to supplying the stage, our team advised on theming and presentation, helping the production achieve the DIY, rebellious aesthetic central to the story. Working with the art department, we planned a patchwork blanket of hand-painted fabric signage, carefully checking dimensions, fixings and sightlines to ensure the stage looked authentic on camera while remaining safe and compliant. This combination of stage hire and creative consultation is increasingly important in TV and film environments.

Site Logistics

Filming in Hebden Bridge presented significant logistical challenges. The location required the stage to be moved through a particularly narrow access route, leaving little margin for error. Delivering stage hire for television in this context demanded detailed planning well in advance of the shoot.

Arc Stage Hire carried out a full site visit and test run, assessing access, turning points and clearances before the production day. This preparation ensured that on the shoot itself there were no delays, no surprises and no disruption to the filming schedule. The StageMobil LR was positioned accurately, on time and ready for use as soon as cameras rolled.

Why stage hire for tv and film matters.

Broadcast productions demand more than simply supplying equipment. They require partners who understand the balance between technical delivery, creative vision and location-specific constraints.

For Riot Women, Arc Stage Hire’s experience in stage hire for TV and film, combined with careful planning and design input, helped bring the production’s punk-infused energy to life.

Supporting a cast led by Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Greig, Lorraine Ashbourne and Amelia Bullmore, the stage became an integral part of the storytelling rather than just a functional platform.