After a seven-year hiatus, Radiohead returned to the stage with one of their most technically ambitious productions to date – a 20-date European and UK arena tour that redefines the in-the-round concert experience. Kicking off at Madrid’s Movistar Arena on November 4th 2025, the tour marked the band’s first ever 360° show and a new benchmark for creative stagecraft, featuring the largest touring use of kinetic lighting winches to date.
Wonder Works was appointed to lead the technical design, coordination, and technical direction of the production, turning the creative vision – a video-led, in-the-round show – into a touring reality. Working closely with creative director Sean Evans, lighting designer Pryderi Baskerville, and video director Ellie Clement, Wonder Works developed the complete engineering solution for the moving transparent LED screens, the kinetic lighting system, the stage, audio sub frame design, and all rigging, lighting, and audio integration. The kinetic lighting system was supplied by Kinetic Lights (White Void), whose technology enabled precise, programmable motion for each individual fixture.
The concept placed Radiohead at the heart of a constantly shifting visual landscape. The band performed inside a ring of twelve ROE Vanish 8 LED panels forming a suspended “halo” that surrounded the stage and moved independently throughout the show. Each screen could rise, lower, and rotate, allowing the structure to transform fluidly in response to the music. Live camera feeds were mixed with Notch effects to create an evolving visual language that ensured every show felt distinct yet unmistakably Radiohead.
This was not a standard arena setup. The in-the-round format demanded 360° visibility and uncompromising sightlines, which shaped every technical decision. The design team replaced traditional lowering trusses with sixty individually controlled winches, each carrying a moving light that travelled independently above the stage and audience. The result was a kinetic, sculptural lighting system that shifted dynamically throughout the show without obstructing the view from any angle.
The same precision applied to the sound design. Working with system designer Josh Lloyd at Britannia Row, Wonder Works helped develop a custom central rigging-frame to suspend four hangs of L-acoustics KS21 subs in a compact configuration, clearing the space visually while maintaining the band’s signature sonic depth. Wedge monitors mounted under the stage with grilles in the stage decks further reduced the production’s footprint, keeping the aesthetic clean and unobtrusive.
Weight distribution presented one of the greatest engineering challenges. With over 50 tons of equipment suspended in the centre of the arena Wonder Works, alongside production rigger Reuben Pinkney, coordinated and optimised the rigging for all departments to ensure safe, repeatable rigging across venues.
Sustainability and touring efficiency also underpinned the design approach. The system was built primarily from rental stock, with minimal custom fabrication and efficient truck packs. Despite its complexity, the show could be loaded in and out with surprising speed.
The result is a production that captures Radiohead’s essence – inventive, atmospheric, and deeply human. The combination of kinetic movement, transparency, and precision engineering allows the audience to see, hear, and feel the band from every angle. And whilst the setlist contained no new songs, the combination of in-the-round staging and Notch-generated visuals ensured the production felt fresh and ever-changing.
Wonder Works’ Co-Director Jeremy Lloyd commented: “Radiohead have always pushed the relationship between music, art, and technology. This show was about finding the balance between intimacy and innovation – delivering a design that felt alive and reactive, but never distracted from the performance itself.”
The production’s greatest achievement was its seamless integration of movement, light, and video – an elegant reminder that even after eight years away, Radiohead remains one of the most forward-thinking live acts in the world.
CREDITS
Creative Director – Sean Evans, Lighting Design – Pryderi Baskerville, Video Director – Ellie Clement, Camera Director – Drew Mercadante, Audio FOH Engineer – Simon Hodge, Technical Design and Coordination – Wonder Works, Tour Manager – Adrian Bullock, Production Manager – John Lafferty, Production Coordinator – Jil Aram, Stage Manager – Jesse Thayer, Head Rigger – Reuben Pinkney, Head Carpenter – Stu Simms, Lighting Crew Chief – Blaine Dracup, Audio Crew Chief – Giacomo Gasparini, Video Crew Chief – Bob Aitkenhead, Automation Crew Chief – Chris Sabelleck, Kinetic Lights Crew Chief – Lutz Rennert
Vendors: Audio – Britannia Row Productions, Automation – WiCreations, Kinetic Lighting Winches – White Void, Lighting and Rigging – Lite Alternative, Staging – Tait, Video – Universal Pixels
