The Royal Opera House has been preparing for the star-studded event since October 2014, and will welcome film stars such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Felicity Jones and Tom Hiddleston down the red carpet for this year's ceremony.
Moya Maxwell, head of commercial programming at Royal Opera House, told Event: "The Bafta Film Awards is an absolute pleasure to host. We have a very close-knit professional team that delivers it year on year. Although the event is essentially the same every year, there are different challenges that we have to overcome each time because we always have to execute the set build and preparation around our demanding performance schedule.
"To the public it may seem that we are building and preparing from the Thursday morning before the event, which is when Bow Street closes in order for us to assemble Europe’s longest red carpet event, but inside the Royal Opera House we have to ensure that it’s still ‘business as usual’. We still have to deliver our seamless performance schedule, right up until Saturday’s matinee performance, which only leaves us 24 hours before our doors open for Bafta.
Clare Brown, director of production at Bafta, added: This will be the ninth year that Bafta has held the Film Awards at the Royal Opera House. The venue compliments our event perfectly as it has an abundance of elegance, style and history.
"We have the vast stage area to create an impactful set and the expertise of the Opera House staff to ensure our dreams are realised. Our guests love attending the awards and get a chance to experience the Opera House at its best."
- It is the ninth year that the Royal Opera House has hosted the Bafta Awards
- Bow Street, nearby the venue, will be closed for 108 hours for set build and event preparation
- It will take 84 hours to build the set
- The build will include two overnight pre-rigs, based around other existing performances
- The awards ceremony will last three-and-a-quarter hours in total
- It will take ten hours for the team to de-rig the event
- 1,200 members of staff will be working on the event on the day
- Ten planning meetings have taken place between October 2014 and February 2015 for this year’s Bafta Awards, involving 25 people
- 2,700 glasses of champagne will be served pre-awards
- 8,000 canapes will be served to guests
- 150 metres of red carpet will be rolled out for celebrity guests to walk on
- 850 lightbulbs will be used on Bow Street and on the red carpet
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