A motorised horizontally-moving belt at stage level used for moving scenery or actors on / off stage. Direction and speed are easily controlled. Can be used for spectacular transformations, with more flexibility than track-based automation systems.
The systems used on stage are often provided by industrial suppliers – conveyor belts are used in factory automation (and in luggage management systems in airports across the world). Canning Conveyor has provided travelators for a number of shows and movie/TV projects, including The Comedy About Spies (2025)
Suppliers such as Brilliant Stages (now TAIT) have also provided travelators for theatre and other events.
Travelators on Stage
- 1986 – The Phantom of the Opera (His Majesty’s Theatre)
The Travelator bridge was built by Delstar Engineering and was controlled as part of the automation system. It was part of the set upstage. and used twice during the show, firstly when the Phantom and Christine are en route to the catacombs in Act one, and later as part of the mausoleum set. The Travelator controls can be seen on the original 1986 Phantom automation control desk
Original Phantom of the Opera Automation Desk (1986)
Built by Barry Steel, who did similar work for many of the new musicals of the era, this console was created especially for the original production of The Phantom of the Opera, which opened at Her Majesty’s (now His Majesty’s) Theatre in London in October 1986.
From Cameron Mackintosh Ltd
- 1987– Into the Woods (Martin Beck Theatre, Broadway, NYC) then 1990 in London (Phoenix Theatre)
Travelator downstage used for moving props and set pieces such as the coach & horses. - 1999 – Spend, Spend, Spend (Piccadilly Theatre)
2 travelators – one upstage, one downstage - 2001 – My Fair Lady (Theatre Royal Drury Lane)
Three travelators used as a cost-effective method for this National Theatre transfer - 2002 – Our House (Cambridge Theatre)
Travelator downstage used for quick and easy movement of props on and off stage and for walking sequences. Controlled separately from the main automation system - 2006 – The Sound of Music (London Palladium)
Travelator provided by Stage Technology - 2009 – Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Palace Theatre) TO BE CONFIRMED
- 2011 – Ghost: The Musical (Piccadilly Theatre)
2 travelators - 2012/2022 – Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty (Plymouth, Sadlers Wells, touring)
- 2015 – Missing by Gecko Theatre (Battersea Arts Centre)
Travelator by C-Trak Conveyors
- 2016 – Funny Girl (Savoy Theatre)
Travelator by Canning Conveyor - 2016? – The Trial (Young Vic)
2 Travelators, by Canning Conveyor
- 2020 – Crave (Chichester Festival Theatre)
4 Travelators by Canning Conveyor
- 2024 – Hello Dolly (London Palladium)
2 Travelators by Tait - 2024 – Death Becomes Her (Broadway)
- 2025 – The Comedy About Spies (Noel Coward Theatre)
Travelator downstage, provided by Canning Conveyor
Other Travelators
Widely used in theme parks as an aid to loading visitors onto continuously moving ride systems. Examples include the Haunted Mansion at Disney parks, and Harry Potter And The Forbidden Journey at Universal Parks.
Metal versions (horizontal escalators, effectively) are used as moving walkways in airports internationally, and also in Ikea stores and other retail / mall environments..
First published 3 August 2025 edited by Jon Primrose