‘The team overcame huge technical challenges with great creative success’

Livewire Pictures went into what was only its second year producing the Proms facing up to one of the most difficult production challenges in the event’s lengthy history.

With live events such as the Olympics and Glastonbury being cancelled in quick succession, many believed it would be impossible to host the Proms with no audience present.

The logistical issues were huge, as the number of performers permitted on stage shrank from around 100 to as few as 40, with only small vocal ensembles allowed.

Livewire dealt with each challenge with aplomb, overcoming the ‘tumbleweed effect’ of having no live audience by subtly altering the way in which the production was filmed.

One judge described feeling “moved” by the “incredibly atmospheric” performances, while another said the creative choices made by the production team were “genius” and “everything just worked for me.”

Another judge said the event “summed up everything worthy of winning, overcoming huge technical challenges with great creative success”.

With any luck, the Proms will be back to normal next year, but there is no doubt that Livewire and the BBC ensured that the concerts remained a jewel in the crown of the BBC summer schedule despite the challenges.

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