The World Stage Design global event celebrates the newest and best performance design work via a programme of performances, exhibitions, workshops and talks. Held in the UK for the first time, the event also held a competition to build a sustainable and recyclable theatre in less than three weeks.

The temporary venue – named the Willow Theatre by its creators, architect Tim Lai and theatre designer Brad Steinmetz – is hosting a series of events exploring environmental sustainability and the arts. Built from materials which are reusable, recyclable or reclaimed, the theatre utilises the loose-lay and portable Harlequin Reversible dance floor.

Harlequin Reversible is the original double-sided dance and performance floor. It is a lightweight calendered vinyl that rolls out quickly, lays flat and stays flat. And as it’s hard-wearing and slip-resistant on both sides, thus providing two floors in one – it provided a versatile and high performance solution for the recyclable theatre.

More than 600 performance designers from 52 countries around the world applied to showcase their work at World Stage Design 2013, prompting the event’s director to state that each exhibition slot could have been filled six times over. With the scale of interest beyond all expectations, the event is set to be the largest and most successful ever.

Only the third World Stage Design exhibition following Toronto in 2005 and Seoul in 2009, it looks set to become one of the most anticipated and exciting events in the global dance calendar. With the installation of a high performance floor, Harlequin will help to make sure that the performers can enjoy the standards they deserve from the dance floor.