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ABTT Annual Awards 2007 Winners
The winners of this year’s Annual Awards and the Technician of the Year, were presented with their Hook Clamp trophies – jointly sponsored by Andolite Ltd and Triple E Ltd – at the Annual Awards Dinner – sponsored by PRG Europe – on 13th June at the Commonwealth Club in London.
Chairman of the Judges, Robin Townley, ABTT Hon. Secretary, remarked that there were again more nominations this year than ever before and that nominations continued to arrive from the ABTT Theatre Show floor, well into the morning. Judging took place throughout the day, with the final decision made shortly before the start of the Awards Dinner in the evening.
Sound Product of the Year 2007: Orbital Sound for Zaxcom Digital Radio Mic System. Judges’ comment: “A very impressive, forward thinking application of digital technology.”
Lighting Product of the Year 2007: Global Design Solutions for Blues System. Judges’ comment: “A significant advance in backstage illumination”
Stage Engineering/Rigging Product of the Year 2007: Unusual Rigging for Revolution. Judges’ comment: “A very well conceived and executed solution in which the significant investment in the development process is clearly manifest in the quality of the product.
Widget of the Year 2007: The Smart Clamp by Robolights. Judges’ comment: “An encouraging development in moving the evolution of the hook clamp into the 21st century.”
Stand of the Year 2007: J&C Joel. Judges’ comment: “Pure opulence, elegance, old world charm, clubland ambience and sumptuous shelving.”
The ABTT Technician of the Year 2007 was Othman ‘Hoffman’ McGregor-Read of the Hackney Empire, London. Summing up this year’s recipient, Petrus Bertschinger, Hoffman’s great friend and colleague, said: “Known to all as Hoffman or Hoff, he is one of Britain’s greatest present day stage managers. By this I mean the technician responsible for overseeing all activities on the stage itself – from running the set fit-up, managing the scenic elements of a show, or simply assisting the actors on and off stage.”
“He is also the best Hemp Flyman in the country and a man known to be able to carry a stick of Steeldeck under each arm.
“If a lighting technician can be compared to a moving light – always in bits on the bench; a sound engineer to a radio mic – they can only count to three; and a Rigger to a chain hoist – who’s cable’s jumped his clutch; then Othman McGregor-Read is one of the pin-hinges of theatre – durable, reliable, fool-proof and essential.”
In picture: the J&C Joel team with their award for best stand.
More award pictures in the Photo News Gallery at etnow.com
22nd June 2007
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