THEATRE & STAGE 23
Tim Burton’s cult classic Beetlejuice has found new life on stage. But recreating its surreal world takes much more than clever costumes and scary set designs Words Verity Butler Images Johan Persson
riting about Beetlejuice in the middle of a heatwave in July feels slightly odd. However, the timing does go to show how the spooky sensation’s popularity knows no real bounds. First unleashed in 1988 through Tim Burton’s gothic imagination, the story of the ‘bio-exorcist’ became an instant classic – thanks to Burton’s much-loved cocktail of horror, comedy and surreal visual storytelling. Unsurprisingly, this winning combination has offered ample opportunity for live entertainment over the years. Big Fish , Edward Scissorhands and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory have all seen stage adaptations – and no, I’m not referring to the infamous ‘Willy’s Chocolate Experience’ viral disaster in Glasgow back in 2024. Similarly, Beetlejuice made its way to Broadway in 2019 – and now it has crossed the pond to haunt the West End’s Prince Edward Theatre until April 2027. The show offers a masterclass in modern theatrical illusion – with every transformation and location change relying entirely on an intricate web of scenic design, lighting, projection, automation and video technology. Audiences are swept from the world of the living to the Neitherworld – and back again – all while an extraordinary system of AV is working tirelessly to make the performance appear effortless. A core aspect of this is a huge, moving LED wall supplied by Universal Pixels. Far from acting as a simple digital backdrop, the screen integrates with the physical scenery, synchronising with projection, lighting and automation in order to create a constantly evolving set. SCREEN OR SCENE? Unlike a lot of today’s productions, where you often find LED screens remaining fixed during the performance, Beetlejuice sought something far more ambitious. “The Leyard CLO-M4L 3.9mm LED was chosen primarily because of its lightweight construction
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