From intricate sets and mind-blowing effects to meticulous costumes and ingenious props, every production is a feat of engineering, artistry and precision.

Some shows rely so heavily on their set design that the stage itself becomes a lead character. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues to astonish audiences with seamless transformations, levitating furniture and real-time magic effects that defy logic. Back to the Future: The Musical hurtles through time with its flying DeLorean, while Moulin Rouge! The Musical bathes the entire theatre in red velvet opulence, drawing the audience into Parisian nightlife before the first line is sung.

Props, too, can be the difference between theatre and sheer wonder. My Neighbour Totoro have stunned audiences with breath-taking puppetry - its lifelike animals and fantastical creatures operated by visible performers yet somehow entirely believable. Meanwhile, SIX demonstrates how even minimal props, when used cleverly, can drive a show with nothing more than microphones and sheer crowning glory.

And then there’s the costume teams — the unsung fashion visionaries. From the regal Tudor glamour of Six to the dazzling disco of Mamma Mia!, wardrobes are crafted with obsessive detail. Wicked continues to spin emerald enchantment with gravity-defying gowns, while The Lion King remains unmatched in its fusion of costume and puppetry.

So next time you take your seat and the lights begin to dim, spare a thought for the designers, builders, stitchers, painters, prop makers, dressers and stagehands. Their work may be hidden in the shadows - but without them, even the brightest stars couldn’t shine.

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