Work: Rick Wakeman @ Hampton Court Palace

The last two weekends of April, I was working with Rick Wakeman and his production crew for his latest show, The Six Wives of Henry VIII, live at Hampton Court Palace. The show is based on the music from his concept album, released in 1973, of the same name. Rick has said he wanted to do this show that year as part of the promotion for it. He was denied, but has now been given full permission for it to go ahead. It now happily coincides with a 400 year anniversary of the rule of Henry VIII, which Hampton Court Palace is rightly celebrating.


Rick must be one of the most famous keyboard players worldwide. His use of synthesizers and keyboard based instruments in the 60's, 70's and 80's was probably a key factor in popularising the synth as a serious instrument.

As a member of the band Yes he was famed for using multiple keyboards on his stage show and creating huge soundscapes with the latest synths from Moog. With a penchant for the dramatic, he dons a selection of capes for the stage shows. The iconic image that I recall from his most successful era is probably of him standing on the White Cliffs of Dover surrounded by keyboards, dressed as Merlin the Wizard, from the court of Camelot. That being the character he played from the album inspired by that subject.

Now much older and 'wiser' (some might say grumpier), he still enjoys the dramatic effects that he used to play with during his time with Yes and his solo work from the decades since. This, his latest show project, is no different. The stage plan is full of interesting and technical features, planned and put together over many months. The “grand piano” that's raised some two and a half metres from the stage. The riser upon which sits a mocked up church organ, which will rise to the same height as the piano at some point during the set. The stage itself is extremely grand, and I have been told that it is in fact the same stage that is used at Glastonbury Festival for one of the secondary stages. But it is large for a reason. It needs to stage a full orchestra (The Orchestra Europa), choir (The English Chamber Choir) and the entire of Mr Wakeman's band (The English Rock Ensemble). All in all some 50 people on stage at any one time.

From a technical perspective, this show really is quite something. From the impressive FoH position to the ridiculous Monitor desk over 120 channels are being fed from stage around the venue to various points. The entire thing is also being recorded for various other projects that have been put into place. The sound is being recorded for, not one but, two live albums and also for a DVD and BluRay release. The lighting is also spectacular. Difficult to explain in words but the pictures below should be show you how dramatic they are. The lighting must also be compatible with the high definition (HD) cameras that are in to film the event for the DVD and BluRay.

The stage by day

Rehearsals on Thursday evening


Ricks Rig

I'll talk more about some of the specific technologies (DigiCo SD7!!!), that are on show here today, in another blog once I've read up about them and fully understand they're capabilities.

Anyhow, on with the music!