Spring 2019Sightline Journal of Theatre Technology and DesignMayflower Theatre, SouthamptonRalph Koltai – Engineer of the ImaginationIntroducing Richard BunnAlexandra Palace Theatre re-opensModern Theatres - Matsumo Performing Arts Centre, Japan8Build 0207 710 4488 | www.8build.co.uk | info@8build.co.ukADB Stagelight s.a.s.u +33 (0)3 23 06 3570 | www.adbstagelight.com | info@adblighting.comAllies & Morrison 020 7921 0239 |www.alliesandmorrison.com | sfraser@alliesandmorrison.comArup 020 7636 1531 | www.arup.com/venues | artsandculture@arup.comAutograph Sales & Installations 020 7281 7574 | www.autographsales.co.uk | sales@autograph.co.ukBennetts Associates 020 7520 3300 | www.bennettsassociates.com | mail@bennettsassociates.com Centre Stage Engineering Ltd 0844 499 6250 | www.centre-stage.co.uk | info@centre-stage.co.ukChauvet Europe Ltd 01773 511 115 | www.chauvetprofessional.eu | uksales@chauvetlighting.comCity Theatrical Ltd 020 8949 5051 | www.citytheatrical.com | London@citytheatrical.comDoughty Engineering Ltd 07811 392 270 | www.doughty-engineering.co.uk | sarah@sprandcomms.comDrapemakers 01332 371 710 | www.drapemakers.com | drapes@designservices.co.ukEaton - Zero 88 01923 495 495 | www.eatonlightingsystems.com | lightingcontrolsolutions@eaton.com EM Acoustics 01483 266 520 | www.emacoustics.co.uk | info@emacoustics.co.ukGB4U Ltd 07967 556869 | www.gb4u.uk.com | Matt.lloyd@gb4u.uk.comGerriets GB Ltd 020 7639 7704 | www.gerriets.co.uk | info@gerriets.co.ukHarlequin Floors 01892 514 888 | www.harlequinfloors.com | enquiries@harlequinfloors.comHoist UK 0151 334 7682 | www.hoistuk.com | info@hoistuk.comIgus 01604 677 240 | www.igus.co.uk | sales@igus.co.ukLe Mark Group 01480 494 540 | www.lemark.co.uk | info@lemark.co.ukLee Filters 01264 366 245 I www.leefilters.com | sales@leefilters.com LSI Projects 01483 764 646 I www.lsiprojects.com | info@lsiprojects.comNODA 01733 374 790 | www.noda.org.uk | info@noda.org.ukPreevue 020 7078 8892 | www.preevue.com | info@preevue.comPush The Button Ltd 0117 370 2626 | www.PTB.co.uk | hello@PTB.co.ukRoscolab Ltd 020 8659 2300 | www.rosco.com | contact@rosco.comSerapid Ltd 01359 233 335 | www.serapid.com | info-uk@serapid.comSES (Entertainment Services) Ltd 01753 585 050 | www.site-electrics.co.uk | sales@site-electrics.co.uk Set Up (Scenery) Ltd 01763 262 323 | www.setupscenery.com | info@setupscenery.comSkelly & Couch Ltd 020 7424 7770 | www.skellyandcouch.com | anna@skellyandcouch.comSouvenir Scenic Studios 020 7237 7557 | www.souvenir.co.uk | Simon@souvenir.co.ukThe Fire Surgery Ltd 020 7921 0220 | www.thefiresurgery.com | andrew.nicholson@thefiresurgery.comThe Powerdrive Drum Co. Ltd 01525 370 292 | www.mypowerdrive.com | info@mypowerdrive.comTotal Solutions Group 0121 772 5234 | www.trussing.com | info@trussing.com Trafalgar Entertainment Group 020 7321 5400 | www.trafalgarentertainment.com | trafalgarmanagement@trafalgarentertainment.comTriple E Ltd 01959 570 333 | www.3-eee.com | info@3-eee.comVari-Lite Strand 00 44 (0)7918 161 179 | www.vari-lite.com / www.strandlighting.com| shaun.robertshaw@signify.com Voluntary Arts 02920 395 395 | www.voluntaryarts.org | info@voluntaryarts.org Allies and MorrisonSILVER ISG MEMBERSCOLLECTIVE STRENGTHIndustry Supporters’ GroupISG member 2019SILVERISG member 2019BRONZEISG member 2019GOLDISG member 2019PLATINUMSociety of London Theatre 020 7557 6700 | www.solt.co.uk | enquiries@soltukt.co.uk Steeldeck Industries Ltd 020 8692 9721 | www.steeldeckUK.com | sales@steeldeck.co.ukTheatreplan 020 7841 0440 | www.theatreplan.com | info@theatreplan.comTheatre Projects Consultants Ltd 020 7482 4224 | www.theatreprojects.com| uk@theatreprojects.comTheatres Trust 020 7836 8591 | www.theatrestrust.org.uk | info@theatrestrust.org.uk Torpedo Factory Group 01706 849 469 | www.tfg.com | hello@tfg.comUK Theatre 020 7557 6700 | www.uktheatre.org | ukt@soltukt.co.ukUnusual Rigging Ltd 01604 830 083 | www.unusual.co.uk | info@unusual.co.ukWeightmans LLP 0151 242 7935 | www.weightmans.com | Peter.Forshaw@Weightmans.comWhite Light Ltd 020 8254 4800 | www.whitelight.ltd.uk | info@whitelight.ltd.ukA.C. Entertainment Technologies 01494 446 000 | www.ac-et.com | sales@ac-et.com Aluminium Access Products Ltd 01942 514 318 | www.tallescope.co.uk | info@tallescope.co.ukCharcoalblue LLP 020 7298 0000 | www.charcoalblue.com | studio@charcoalblue.comDelfont Mackintosh Theatres Ltd 0844 482 5138 | www.delfontmackintosh.co.ukHawthorn 01664 821 140 | www.hawthorn.biz | info@hawthorn.bizHighlite International BV 0031 45 566 7700 | www.highlite.com info@highlite.comJ&C Joel Ltd 01422 833 835 | www.jcjoel.com | uksales@jcjoel.comLW Theatres 020 7557 7300 | www.lwtheatres.co.ukNational Theatre 020 7452 3333 | www.nationaltheatre.org.uk | Nimax Theatres Ltd 020 7395 0780 | www.nimaxtheatres.com | general@nimaxtheatres.comGOLD ISG MEMBERSORIGINALPRG XL Video 0845 470 6400 | www.prg.com/uk | info@prg.comPLATINUM ISG MEMBERSTAIT International 020 8208 6000 | www.taittowers.com | London@taittowers.comAmbassador Theatre Group Ltd 0207 534 6100 | www.atg.com ETC Ltd 020 8896 1000 | www.etcconnect.com | uk@etcconnect.com10K Used Gear Limited 020 8308 9566 | www.10Kused.com | info@10Kused.com 1stintheatre Ltd 0333 335 0374 | www.1stintheatre.co.uk | info@1stintheatre.co.uk AECOM 020 7061 7000 | www.aecom.com | John.burgess@aecom.comAedas Arts Team 020 7480 1500 | www.aedas.com/aedasartsteam | artsteam@aedas.comAmbersphere Solutions 020 8992 6369 | www.ambersphere.co.uk | Sales@ambersphere.co.ukAnderson Bradshaw Ltd 07544 095620 | michael@abltd.orgAudio Light Systems Ltd 0800 043 4600 | www.audiolightsystems.com | enquiry@audiolightsystems.comAVW Controls Ltd 01379 898 340 | www.avw.co.uk | info@avw.co.ukBlue Chilli Flying 01234 780 180 | www.bluechilliflying.com | info@bluechilliflying.comBuroHappold Engineering 01225 320 600 | www.burohappold.com | andrew.wylie@BuroHappold.comBurrell Foley Fischer LLP 020 7620 6114 | www.bff-architects.com | mail@bff-architects.co.ukCamstage 01727 830 151| www.camstage.com | info@camstage.com Carr & Angier 01225 446 664 | www.carrandangier.co.uk | info@carrandangier.co.ukCentral Theatre Supplies 0121 778 6400 | www.centraltheatresupplies.co.uk | enquiries@centraltheatresupplies.co.ukClark Door Ltd 01228 522 321 | www.clarkdoor.com | sales@clarkdoor.comClear-Com 001 510 337 6676 | www.clearcom.com | judy.cheng@clearcom.comConisbee 020 7700 6666 | www.conisbee.co.uk | design@conisbee.co.uk Consultancy Team UK (Ltd) 020 8888 9099 | www.consultancyteam.ltd.uk | office@consultancyteam.uk CWS Lifting and Safety Ltd0800 334 5997 | www.cwslifting.co.uk | sales@cwslifting.co.ukd&b audiotechnik GB Ltd 01453 835 884 | www.dbaudio.com | info.gb@dbaudio.comDrama By Design 01344 649 400 | www.dramabydesign.com | info@dramabydesign.comEnlightened 01179 727 123 | www.enlx.co.uk | info@enlx.co.ukEquals 020 7580 3360 | www.equalsconsulting.com | twilson@equalsconsulting.comEramita 0090 212 709 7090 | www.eramita.com | info@eramita.comeStage Production Ltd 020 7112 8903 | production.estage.net | production@estage.net Finch Consulting (Health & Safety) 07527 002 689 | www.finch-consulting.com | Melvin.Sandell@finch-consulting.comFlashlight Ltd 01706 625 866 | www.flash-light.co.uk | sales@flash-light.co.ukFlint Hire & Supply Ltd 020 7703 9786 | www.flints.co.uk | sales@flints.co.ukFoster Wilson Architects 020 7354 1315 | www.fosterwilsonarchitects.com | mail@fosterwilsonarchitects.comGDS (Global Design Solutions) 0117 325 0063| www.gds.uk.com | sales@gds.uk.comGillieron Scott Acoustic Design 020 8671 2223 | www.gsacoustics.org | info@gsacoustics.orgGort Services 01706 849 295 | www.gorts.co.uk | sales@gorts.co.ukGVA Acuity 020 7911 2265 | www.gva.co.uk/culture | mike.cook@gva.co.ukHarkness Screens (UK) Ltd 01438 725 200 | www.harkness-screens.com | sales@harkness-screens.comHarper Tackley Consultants 07976 279 701 | www.harpertackley.com | simon@harpertackley.comHaworth Tompkins 020 7250 3225 | www.haworthtompkins.com | info@haworthtompkins.comHayles and Howe Ltd 0117 972 7200 | www.haylesandhowe.co.uk | info@haylesandhowe.co.ukHOAC Schweisstechnik GmbH +49 (0) 2841 90828-0 | www.hoac.com | info@hoac.comHoward Eaton Lighting Ltd 01273 400 670 | www.helluk.com | info@helluk.comHSL Group Holdings Ltd 01254 698 808 | www.hslgroup.com | simon.stuart@hslgroup.comHussey Seatway 01985 847 200 | www.husseyseatway.com | sales@husseyseatway.comIlluminate Design 01206 709 694 | www.illuminatedesign.co.uk | info@illuminatedesign.co.ukJohn Young Creative Industries 01252 711816 | www.jyci.co.uk | johnyoung@jyci.co.ukJust Rigging & Inspections Ltd Chester01244 678 324 | www.just-rigging.com | enquiries@just-rigging.comJust Rigging & Inspections Scotland Ltd 0141 646 0499 | www.justrigging.co.uk | info@justrigging.co.ukLocker and Riley Fibrous Plastering Ltd 01245 322 022 | www.lockerandriley.com | enquiries@lockerandriley.comMayr Transmissions Ltd 01535 663 900 | www.mayr.com | sales@mayr.co.ukMDG FOG UK 01604 741 000 | www.mdgfoguk.com contact@mdgfoguk.comMultistage International Ltd 01284 750 474 | www.multistage.co.uk | info@multistage.co.ukMushroom Lighting 01604 790 900 | www.mushroomlighting.com | info@mushroomlighting.comNational Youth Theatre 020 3696 7066 | www.nyt.org.uk | info@nyt.org.ukNorthern Light 0131 622 9100 | www.northernlight.co.uk | info@northernlight.co.ukOtago Blue Ltd 01837 54059 | www.otagoblue.co.uk | sales@otagoblue.co.ukPlann Ltd 020 3846 9230 | www.plann.co | Julia@plann.coPrice and Myers 020 7631 5128 | www.pricemyers.com | mail@pricemyers.comRB Health and Safety Solutions Ltd 0845 257 1489 | www.rbhealthandsafety.co.uk | admin@rbhealthandsafety.co.ukRigging Services Direct Ltd 0845 555 6575 | www.riggingservices.co.uk | info@riggingservices.co.ukRigging Team Ltd 020 3126 4040 | www.riggingteam.com | office@riggingteam.comRobolights Ltd 01392 823 040 | www.robolights.com | sales@robolights.comRoland International 01792 702 701 | www.proav.roland.com | Bharat.Kerai@roland.comRope Assemblies Ltd 01777 700714 | www.ropeassemblies.co.uk | sales@ropeassemblies.co.ukSansei Technologies Inc. 0081 6 6393 5621 | www.sansei-technologies.com/eng | www.sansei-technologies.com/eng/contactShowTex NV 0032 3 236 84 40 | www.showtex.com | bo.bettens@showtex.comSlingco Ltd 01706 855 558 | www.thecablenet.net | sales@thecablenet.netSolutions on Stage 0117 244 8625 | www.solutionsonstage.co.uk | enquries@solutiononstage.co.ukSound Space Vision 020 8877 5860 | www.soundspacevision.com | info@soundspacevision.com Stage Electrics 03330 142 100 | www.stage-electrics.co.uk | sales@stage-electrics.co.uk Theatretech 01935 882 828 | www.theatretech.net | info@theatretech.netTheatron 00358 2 7636 4616 | www.theatron.eu | samu.backman@mansoft.fiBRONZE ISG MEMBERS Association of British Theatre Technicians55 Farringdon Road, London EC1M 3JBTel: 020 7242 9200 Fax: 020 7242 9303Email: office@abtt.org.uk Website: www.abtt.org.ukOFFICERS & COUNCILRichard Bunn ChairmanLouise Birchall Zoe Cotton Co-optedDavid Edelstein David Evans Matthew Freeman Co-optedDarren Joyce Charlotte Lockyer Peter Maccoy Tom Mannings James McKeogh Co-optedPaul Moore Co-optedAnette OllerearnshawTamykha Patterson Co-optedCaroline RouseNikki ScottJohn YoungEX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF COUNCILMichael AndersonChairman, Safety CommitteeSebastian Barnes Chairman, Training & Education Comm.Tim FosterChairman, Theatre Design Comm.Roger FoxChairman, Historical Research Comm.Jean Shevelan Chairman, NorthNet – ABTTMark White Chairman, Communications and Publications CommitteeRoger Fox Company SecretaryMatthew Jones Honorary SecretarySTAFFRobin Townley Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Elysia Moore Association Co-ordinatorStuart Roberts Financial ControllerCONSULTANTGeoffery Joyce ABTT Training Co-ordinatorRegistered Charity 282069SightlineCONTENTSvol. 42 no. 1Editorial 7Preevue in Virtual Reality 8Ralph Koltai - Engineer of the Imagination 13Mayflower Theatre, Southampton 20Letter to the Editor / Tim Streader 23Studying the ABTT 24Introducing Richard Bunn 26Book Review: Backdrop to a Legend 28Alexandra Palace Theatre re-opens 31Modern Theatres - Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre, Japan 35Isobel Hatton and the ABTT Show 41Young Members page 44Insurance case study 45Technical Standards 47Members News 50Safety Matters 51Editor Rebecca MorlandPublisher John Offord Entertainment Technology Press Ltd The Studio, High Green, Great Shelford Cambridge, Cambs CB22 5EGTel: 01223 550805 Fax: 01223 550806Advertising enquiries should be sent to john@etnow.comSightline is available by annual subscription of £120 (four issues). Sightline is published in March, June, September and December. Cheques should be made payable to Entertainment Technology Press Ltd and sent to the Publisher as above. Alternatively, please go to www.etnow.com/sightline for an order form.Opinions expressed in Sightline are not necessarily those of the Publisher or the Association of British Theatre Technicians. All rights are reserved and reproduction of any part in whatever form is prohibited without the prior permission of the ABTT and/or the Publisher. Information is published in good faith but no responsibility can be attached to the Publisher or to the Association or to any of their members or employees for the accuracy or for any liability arising therefrom. ISSN: 0265-9808 Cover: Alexandra Palace Theatre © Richard Battye, Feilden Clegg Bradley StudiosLIGHTING | AV | RIGGING | STAGING | DRAPESTECHNICAL INSTALLATIONS & SERVICING FOR THEATRES. hawthorn.biz01664 821 111install@hawthorn.bizw: t: e: HQTracksFabrics & FlooringDrapes & ShapesStage EngineeringConsumablesDid You Know?We can provide bespokedesign, manufacturing and installation services giving customers a turn-key solution anywhere on the globe.UK Europe Africa Middle East Asia Australasiaprojects@jcjoel.com www.jcjoel.com +44 (0)1422 833835Sightline Spring 2019 7 EditorialWelcome to another packed issue of Sightline!One of the highlights of this edition is Pamela Howard’s piece on renowned theatre designer Ralph Koltai, who died in December 2018. She has taken the time to talk to several of the engineers and others who assisted him in the realisation of his designs over his long and eventful career, and also has compiled many wonderful photos of those designs. Her piece provides an incredible insight into his work and times, and I am very grateful that she offered it to Sightline.As the Journal of Record of the ABTT, we are delighted to report on the now re-opened Alexandra Palace Theatre. Many ABTT members will have visited the theatre during its renovation, as part of their visit to the ABTT Theatre Show, and we have also reported on the project during its renovation, but the finished theatre is truly stunning and well worth a visit! I hope to see it in performance mode soon, and it will also be possible to see a performance during the 2019 Theatre Show. Isobel Hatton, the new Director of the Show, is interviewed in Sightline and gives us some hints of her plans for the Show. We also feature a piece from Richard Bunn, the new Chair of ABTT, introducing himself to ABTT members and beyond!We also feature two other very contrasting theatres in this edition of Sightline. Geoffrey Rowe visited Mayflower Southampton in February to see the results of their recent capital works and understand the differences that these would make to their operating model, as an independently operated leading receiving theatre. Most notable to me was the fact that 98% of the cost of the project was met through their own resources, after several years very successful trading. On the other side of the world, we feature the Matsumoto Performing Arts Centre, Japan, built in 2004. Shozo Motosugi provides a detailed account of the Arts Centre and explains its context. This will also feature in the Modern Theatres book, edited by David Staples, and due to be the subject of a major exhibition in 2020, further information on this will follow soon.The Modern Theatres initiative was on the agenda at ITEAC in 2018. The conference also explored several technological developments which could have a real impact on how theatres or theatre productions are designed and realised. One of these is VR – Virtual Reality – and we heard from Ryan Metcalf as part of one session. He has now been interviewed by John Winters, in an article which I found incredibly helpful in understanding what this technology can do. One of the most attractive and intriguing set of illustrations that I have seen for a while has come to us courtesy of Raymond Walker and Daniel Skelly, and their book on Victorian theatre working practices and the D’Oyly Carte family. The book was clearly a labour of love, and Michael Hall reviews it for us in a way that makes me want to rush out and buy it!It was early 2018, when Paul Roberts first wrote in Sightline, explaining the parameters of his research. In Studying the ABTT, he brings us up to date on progress so far. Please do get in touch with Paul if you have any information or material that might be of help – I know he’d be glad to hear from you!We had to re-write Safety Matters, our regular briefing, at the very last minute, due to an urgent directive by the Health & Safety Executive which means that, with immediate effect, there is a strengthening of their enforcement expectation for all welding fume. Further information on the implications of this in Safety Matters.When compiling this edition of Sightline, I was very sorry to hear of Fred Foster’s passing. The ETC co-founder and CEO passed away on February 8, 2019 at the age of 61. We aim to cover his career, and in particular his contribution to theatre, in the next edition of Sightline when we can give it the space it deserves.8 Sightline Spring 2019 Interview: Preevue in Virtual RealityJohn Winters talks to Ryan Metcalfe, founder of Preevue, about VR and pre-visualisation in theatre.VR is now mainstream, no longer the preserve of million-pound flight simulators, or projector caves for a high-spec engineering company. Now regular gamers can drool at the thought of hitting VR cubes to music with a lightsaber, effectively dancing like nobody’s watchingThe recent explosion in VR has been driven by the insatiable consumer tech market, bringing components and products to an affordable price. We’re here because, among other things, small high-res screens are cheap (phones…) and gaming graphics cards with their parallel processing are continuously improving, even as crypto-currency miners buy them up! Riding that wave of innovation is Ryan Metcalfe, founder of visualisation consultancy Preevue, primarily working in theatre.RM: We do laser scanning [of theatre venues and sets] and turn that into a visualisation in VR that is generally used by the producer to double check what it's gonna look like and sign it off, often used by the designer to make tweaks or to present their ideas to the rest of their production creative team.JW: So how do you use it?RM: You need to sit down and move your head around a bit, it's pretty easy going! Members of the production and creative team can wear a headset that places them inside one of the visualisations we've made. There's no skill necessary in understanding the plans or the model because they're there in front of you at true scale.A big thing with VR is the stereo displays, your eyes calculate the depth. Then in the 20 seconds or 20 minutes you’ve been in a headset, you’re brought up to speed with everybody else who spends their lives looking at CAD plans. I was over in New York for a few meetings and one of them was with an associate of the production manager of the Bat out of Hell US tour. He said, “I’ve spent six months looking at the CAD plans and I don't get it” then he put Preevue’s headset on, took 30 seconds looking around and went, “okay, I’m with it now”.JW: And what about sightlines? What does 3D + VR give me over 2D plans and sections?RM: So something like a cross section doesn't work in the vast majority of proscenium arch theatres where you've got a Victorian horseshoe curve to the seating, and a shallow raked stalls. It's quite hard to represent that with lines, and the big advantage of what Preevue does is that you need no skills – the end user seeing it doesn't need to know how to use AutoCAD, doesn't need to know how to read a plan, or how to draft.The Preevue ProcessLaser scanning – Millions of points of reference are captured in 3D, outlining where walls, seats, and scenery are with a cloud of points. Venues and/or sets are precisely digitised.Scenery – 3D CAD of the scenery, or model boxes scanned with a handheld scanner can be digitised.Re-modelling – Using the object outline and dimensioning from the point cloud, the object is manually remodelled as solids and mesh objects. The result is a lightweight model that makes efficient use of the graphics card – essential for VR applications.VR – Users can see the venue and scenery with binocular (stereo) vision, sensing depth, in an immersive and scale environment.We turn the laser scan into a fully textured file with all the sculptural work. If there's a tiny little naked cherub on the circle, it's going to be in the VR file, because people trust it then. If the carpet looks like the carpet of the Prince of Wales theatre they've spent 40 years going to they don't start questioning how accurate our venue model is, our software is, and the work we've done. Journeying into a virtual realmJW: You are poised at the forefront of an emerging industry, how have you got there?RM: So probably around 10 years ago now, I started getting interested in 3D modelling Dominion Theatre seating planAutoCAD for Theare Users – 4th edition David RipleyPrice: £32.00ISBN: 9781904031901From ‘Setting Up’ to ‘Drawing in Three Dimensions’ via ‘Drawings Within Drawings’, this compact and fully illustrated guide to AutoCAD covers everything from the basics to full colour rendering and remote 3D plotting. Fourth, completely revised edition, March 2018. Available from www.etbooks.co.uk or AmazonAlso now available:Health and Safety Management in the Live Music and Events Industy by Chris HannamWest End in Watercolour: a portrait of London theatre by John HigginsNext >