Behind the scenes of the greatest show on Earth
Backstage at the biggest show on Earth (probably) there’s a small problem creating a hullabaloo. One of the stage technicians has spotted a mouse in the storage area where the 40-plus sets and the props are housed for the Eurovision Song Contest at the Liverpool Arena.
The storage facility is the size of a football pitch, so it’s unlikely the furry visitor will be caught anytime soon.
Eurovision can be wonderfully weird but surely a live mouse would be the quirkiest prop in its history.
Art director Naejin Kim, responsible for staging at the contest, looks serious, then bursts out laughing.
“There is no room for mice,” she says with a smile.
The storage facility is the film set for Willy Wonka and the Eurovision factory. The sets here are for the 31 nations taking part, as well as for the headline acts. Performers during the week-long event include Rita Ora.
Naejin’s team have been getting the sets ready for months. She says: “The problem we have is there are so many countries taking part and very little time between set changes.
“Everything needs to be wheeled out really fast and wheeled off again.”
The stage set-up time between performances is under a minute. “That’s when things can get damaged,” she says.
Each country’s delegates decided how they wanted their set to look.
It was then made here or flown over.
All the countries signed off the sets last week after watching the first dress rehearsal.
“That’s their moment to say if they don’t like something and want any tweaks. Either they will fly over new staging or we will do something. But that window is closed. Those are the rules,” Naejin says firmly.
She of course can’t give me names of countries with last-minute requests but the strict tone of her voice makes me think many have tried.
And who can blame them? As fun as Eurovision is, it is still a competition. Staging contributes to who goes home with the dreaded “nul points”.
A team of at least seven props guys wheels the sets on the stage – sometimes with the contestants already on them, ready to perform. Watching rehearsals, I see there’s the return of that Eurovision favourite – lying down while singing.
It’s like being Alice in Euro Wonderland, wandering in the labyrinth of corridors at the arena complex, walking past intriguing door signs – what are mountain performers?
The wardrobe department is an explosion of colour. Caroline Murfin is cutting a dress for Ukraine’s entry.
Caroline says: “I got here at 8am and won’t be leaving till probably past 9pm. There are over 500 outfits we are working on... Nothing is too outlandish or over the top – it’s Eurovision.”
Tahra Zafar, Eurovision’s head of costume, says: “There are four to five metres of fabric used for each outfit. That’s around 2,000 metres of fabric.”
“There are tens of thousands of sequins. We have been drowning in sequins,” she adds, exasperated.
“They’re all over the department, all our kids have got sequins, all our underwear has got sequins.”
It’s Tahra’s job to keep an eye out for any last-minute headaches. She says: “There can be a few of those. The headline talent can turn up on the day in what they’re wearing and it doesn’t work under the lights or clashes with something someone else is wearing. We are pretty nimble in finding solutions.”
And there are the logistical issues of the hosts’ multiple costume changes. While practising their links, presenters Alesha Dixon, Hannah Waddingham and Julia Sanina are keeping it casual.
Ted Lasso actress Hannah started in tottering 3in heels, but an hour later, she’s in slippers. After this week’s semi-finals, 26 nations will make it to Saturday’s grand final. The UK’s entry – performed by Mae Muller – is among the handful that are automatically through.
Over 100,000 people from across the globe have descended on Liverpool.
Merseyside police have all hands – and paws – on deck. Sgt Claire Billows works with springer spaniel Molly, a drugs/firearms detection dog.
Sgt Billows says: “My colleagues and our dogs patrol the major sites, but will also give a proper warm Liverpool welcome so everyone leaves knowing this really is the friendliest city.”