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Stage Technologies Takes Platinum at Theatre Engineering & Architecture Conference
The Association of British Theatre Technicians has announced that Stage Technologies is the Platinum Sponsor of its forthcoming Theatre Engineering & Architecture Conference (TEA06), to be held in London, 11-13 June 2006.
The three-day conference will bring together the world’s leading theatre architects, engineers, consultants, acousticians, clients and technicians, plus venue and project managers, to discuss together the myriad topics that relate to the international performing arts industry.
Previously staged in 2002, the 2006 Conference has been much anticipated by professionals in the fields of planning, designing, constructing and equipping all types of performance spaces, from major opera houses through to schools and community centres, as it offers a unique opportunity for specialists to participate in and hear from those involved in the exciting mix of art and science.
The decision of Stage Technologies to become the principle sponsor of TEA06 recognises the vital role automation plays in performance venues and the company’s growth as the leading exponent in that technology.
A relatively young, privately owned company, Stage Technologies has seen steady growth since its first control system for stage equipment was used in 1994. Subsequently, its development of a major stage automation control system led to a landmark powered flying installation at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, which was completed in late 1999. The Nomad Control Desks first used on this project are now used in many permanent installations worldwide, and the company’s other consoles including Acrobat and the Illusionist in many productions, shows and concerts around the globe from London’s West End to Las Vegas.
Realising the need for excellence in mechanical equipments to complement its controls, Stage Technologies produced the ‘BigTow’ series of winches, which in its various formats can fly scenery or performers, motorise counterweights and move stage wagons. The value of these modular, high-specification hoists can be seen particularly in the company’s present work for Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas and Mary Poppins in the West End, as well as in permanently installed systems in theatres and opera houses from Chicago to Sydney.
Recently the company has been developing new products aimed at users who may previously have believed that these sophisticated control systems and high specification mechanics were too expensive or too complicated for their applications. The company believes that these products can and should be available to all users and not merely those at the top end of the purchasing ladder who have large budgets to spend on capital projects. Stage Technologies is now introducing low cost products, including the recent award winning BeamHoist, which can be purchased on a modular basis to allow venues to gradually introduce automated solutions without the potentially high overhead of bespoke design or training. This approach has brought the cost of powered flying installations down to a level where it is challenging conventional counterweight systems and comes at a time when there is considerable interest in the mechanics of flying systems for the smaller venue not least because of the question of the strain on the body caused by loading and unloading counterweights.
Richard Brett, Director, TEA06 commented: “Stage Technologies is an example of how ‘show business’ can be a successful business where exciting, reliable and flexible products are developed for this specific market and the company is fully integrated in its industry. We are proud to have Stage Technologies as the Platinum Sponsor of the 2006 Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference, as the financial support they are providing will allow the ABTT to further the practical, safe and economic development of performance arts venues worldwide.”
John Hastie, marketing director, Stage Technologies, said on behalf of the company: “We recognise the important role that the Theatre Engineering & Architecture Conference plays in communication and education within our technical industry and believe that by supporting and working closely with the Conference as the Platinum sponsor, Stage Technologies has the opportunity to speak face to face with the planners, designers and consultants of theatre engineering to communicate the importance of automation systems in general. Automation technology has developed rapidly over the past 10 years and is now accessible to all entertainment venues regardless of their size.”
Booking for the TEA06 opens in December – regularly updated information can be found at: http://www.theatre-event.com
24th November 2005
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