The Kayam
The Kayam Theatre Tent
Year 1986 to current
The Kayam is named after the Persian polymath Omar Khayyám, whose surname means the tentmaker. The form of the structure deliberately evokes the curvilinear shapes of myth and folklore.
Rudi Enos designed the Kayam at a time when most large tents in the world used multiple intermediate poles inside the tent to support the weight of the roof, the wind loads and any other suspended items. When comparing traditional Big Top design to the Kayam, the differences are startling. This structure started the concept of vast areas sitting between the main masts, moving them away from the centre and allowing much larger stages, clear views for the audiences and almost as importantly, a clear line of sight for TV and film cameras.
Previous to this time in Europe, only the very largest shows had tents larger than 35m / 115ft across the largest dimension. The Kayam was the first structure to well exceed this, and was also later extended to provide 11,200m2 of cover under one roof. Therefore it can sensibly be said that most modern temporary tensile structures owe some or all parts of their design to the Kayam, but none with the same appeal and allure.
The Kayam provides a blackout structure, in which stage lighting can still be seen during the day.
The Kayam Concert Tent
Year 1997 / 98 to current
The Kayam Concert Tent is a variant of the Kayam Theatre Tent. Variants can include round and square ends or triangular sections, the largest being the Concert Tent configuration. The concert tent design uses a triangular section to join 3 Kayam ends together, to form a huge area in the middle of the structure. The design has since been extended to 11,200m2 and has the possibility of further increases in size.
In the year 2000 the rock band Radiohead used the Kayam exclusively for their sold-out European Kid A tour, performing for over 200,000 people. This was the first time a chart topping, market leading rock group undertook a sell-out tour using no traditional venues. The band decided to use the Kayam after performing in the structure on two previous occasions.
The Kayam is available exclusively in Europe from kayam.co.uk and worldwide from Rudi Enos Design.
“One of the best concerts I've ever been to. Radiohead were on top form and the circus tent just made it that bit more special; such a memorable experience. You could say, everything was in its right place :)”
Jonathan figgis, Kid A tour-goer
“…they knew exactly what they were doing with their 8,000-strong crowd, turning the huge tent into an intimate space.”
2014 Kayam, Insomnia Gaming Festival, Coventry (Recommend 2x speed).
2024 Kayam, Burberry Winter 24 Show, London
The Kayam’s iconic silhouette has become the visual moniker for festivals, and used by many as a visual byword for the outdoor events industry.
