Earlier today, SVT and the EBU presented the stage design for the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm this May. It got us thinking here at Eurovision Ireland about the previous Stages we have witnessed over the history of the contest. Here we present the Top 10 Good and possibly Not-So-Good stages from years gone by.

The Good

1 Copenhagen 2014

Copenhagen was a stunning structure both on screen and inside the arena. The scaffold structure was suppose to form the front of a ship and this was apparent once you took a good look. The structure itself was multipurpose. Not only did it form a video wall, but could also be used 3D as a multi level stage during the interval act.

2 Düsseldorf 2011

Although to some the stage in Düsseldorf closely resembled that of the year before in Oslo, there was one major difference. Not only did the video wall provide some fantastic and vivid imagery, it was the first time it was removed completely to reveal the green room to the whole audience for the voting procedure. Nobody could hide!

3 Baku 2012

In Baku, the cat walks continued as seen in 2010 and 2011, but for the first time we had a Green Room situated inside the arena with the audience. This tradition has continued every year with the exception of Malmo 2013 so far.

4 Moscow 2009

Big is beautiful as they say and this was certainly big and beautiful. Using nearly the entire world supply of LED screens and lights this was Russia putting on a show for the world. Not only that the stage literally moved for every performance and some countries exploited that to the max. It was indeed a ‘Fairytale’ on the night.

5 Dublin 1997

Eurovision stage 1997 by RTE – Photograph Courtesy of EurofanMadrid

This was the start of the more “futuristic” stage designs. For Dublin’s final staging to date, an amazing star ship type stage was built with television monitors integrated all over the set adding a more modern twist – something the BBC couldn’t manage the following year.

The Not-So-Good

6 Birmingham 1998

After an amazing stage design the year before in Dublin, the BBC reverted the stage design to a rather more simple affair. The highlight of this particular set must be a few twinkly lights! What Birmingham did do to its credit is that it brought the big stadium concept to the contest.

7 Copenhagen 2001

Like Birmingham, this stage was just simple and lacked any character. It also didn’t help that the Football arena used was just too big and the stage appeared as tiny, both in the arena and on television.

8 Italy 1991

Originally this contest was suppose to take place in San Remo, but was moved to the outskirts of Rome. The contest was held in some film studios and the stage looked as if they just through a couple of old film set pieces together.

9 Oslo 2010

This stage design can simply be described as unique. There was no video wall and a lighting system was used to create the backdrops – along with a few moving pieces of scenery elements, most of which appeared in 3 or 4 songs each. 2010 also saw the start of the obsession with catwalks.

10 Belgrade 2008

With this stage design, it is as if RTS couldn’t be bothered and copied the stage design from the year before, albeit adding an additional structure on the left to the stage to emphasise the Confluence.

Do we agree with our choices or do you have other suggestions? Please feel free to comment below.

Author: Richard Taylor

Source: Eurovision Ireland