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The Rigging Partnership with Take That
TRP was approached to provide the automated solutions to the performer flying elements of the Circus Tour for Take That. Playing to a million people over 20 dates the sell out tour was bigger than anything the band had done before.
TRP worked with the band for their Come to Town Christmas TV Special which previewed the Tours' Circus theme. After rehearsals at 3 Mills Studios the TV show was shot at Granada Studios in Manchester. Given that multiple effects were needed in a tight space TRP opted to use Navigator software from FTSI (Fisher Technical Services) with their MOD winch system. This allowed rigging of multiple effects off individual winches, and also get the speed and acceleration required to make the effects look alive and not like a tired old corporate show!!
Once planning on the tour started TRP were brought in to work with production manager Chris Vaughan from the Production Office, the tours head rigger Phil Broad and Kim Gavin the show producer. The remit was to provide the automation and rigging for the performer effects, as well as the health and safety package required for all of the aerial effects and circus effects.
For the automation on the main stage, two of FTSI's F series winches with Navigator software were used to make a 2D bridle 43m wide and 19m high to work within Es Devlin's set design, based on a concept by show producer Kim Gavin. The rig allowed for multiple effects from one system. These ranged from trapeze acts to performers with flaming hoops around their waists. The rig could also be split to allow for two jack-in-the-box effects.
Over on the B stage the show opened with a 9000 cubic feet hot air balloon with a performer suspended in a basket below it. This was tethered via three Fisher Q winches. The winches are a compact zero fleet unit using Dyneema that sat at the base of the B stage. Each winch has 30m of travel, a SWL of 250kgs and speeds of up to 2m/s. Each winch was in a self-contained frame that allowed them to be locked onto ballast cages which were independent of the B stage structure. TRP opted for FTSI's Navigator system to handle the sophisticated 3D moves required.
TRP is well known for specialisms in performer flying and performer at height safety and training. Therefore as part of the health and safety package, TRP also advised on the show specific training and inductions required by the aerial performers during the rehearsal period. TRP then provided the performer safety equipment required for a wide variety of effects and set pieces throughout the show, this included everything from simple work restraints to full performer flying harnesses. For example, all the performers' operating and appearing on the Elephant supplied by Asylum and Brilliant Stages required bespoke work positioning solutions, and then a number of training sessions not only to be able to access the set piece and use the equipment safely but to then be able to perform the choreographic movements required. The risk assessments and method statements were provided which needed to tie in all the circus elements of the show for the tour to present to each venue. So as well as the flying elements this also needed to cover Chinese bungee jumpers, unicycles (with the band riding them), trampolines, a 5m high 40m long tight rope walk act that went from the main stage to the B stage (calculations done by TRP), flaming hoops and clowns dangling under hot air balloons.
10th July 2009
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