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Performers Fly from Stage Technologies to Stansted
To order wine at this venue is to initiate a live aerial performance, where 'wine angels' fly up the face of the 13-metre tall tower and descend with your desired bottle. To achieve this Stage Technologies have supplied four BigTow winches that are controlled by radio linked operator pendants. These handheld, wireless pendants enable the wine angels to control their own movements up and down the tower. Their 2-point hip harnesses allow them to turn upside-down and swing from side to side whilst performing choreographed routines. Stage Technologies' BigTow winches, originally designed for the theatre and live entertainment industries, have always been engineered to the highest possible safety standards for flying performers, so needed no modifications to fulfill the requirements of this project.
Wine Angel Lorraine Sadler is an experienced performer, having worked on a flying trapeze and high speed flying at the Millennium Dome. The wine tower differs from her previous experiences and although the height is not a problem, the tight space makes it harder to choreograph and manoeuvre, however over time they have discovered many more imaginative ways of working. "A different experience, a different challenge!" comments Lorraine, "We mostly control each other, as it is easier to perform and great fun, the customers are really impressed, gobsmacked! It's unique"
The main difference from theatre Performer flying systems is the complexity of the control and operation. The wine tower needed simple and easy control, up and down and stop when the button is released, a huge contrast from the sophisticated software Stage Technologies have developed for performances such as those at the Millennium Dome and currently in use on Mary Poppins in the West End and Cirque du Soleil productions in Las Vegas. The wine tower needed to be operated by staff with no or very little prior knowledge or experience of automation technology. A diagnostic display panel was supplied to aid with troubleshooting, enabling the system to be handed over to the hotel with confidence that they could resolve any problems easily and safely.
Edwin Shirley's creative design, combined with Stage Technologies experience in live performance, has produced a centrepiece that has pushed the boundaries of interior design for bars and restaurants.
3rd December 2004
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