Autumn 2021 Sightline Journal of Theatre Technology and Design Theatre projects: Mercury Theatre, Colchester Stockton Globe Theatre Royal Drury Lane Trafalgar Theatre Peter Moro and Partners – Theatres and Beyond Modern Theatres – reviewedCOLLECTIVE STRENGTH Industry Supporters’ Group ISG member 2021 SILVER ISG member 2021 BRONZE ISG member 2021 GOLD PLATINUM ISG member 2021 Ornate Plaster (London) Ltd 01252 718 669 / 07930 068 008 | www.ornateplasterlondon.com | info@ornateplasterlondon.com Society of London Theatre 020 7557 6700 | www.solt.co.uk | enquiries@soltukt.co.uk Souvenir Scenic Studios 020 7237 7557 | www.souvenir.co.uk | info@souvenir.co.uk Steeldeck Industries Ltd 020 8692 9721 | www.steeldeckUK.com | sales@steeldeck.co.uk Theatreplan 020 7841 0440 | www.theatreplan.com | info@theatreplan.com Theatres Trust 020 7836 8591 | www.theatrestrust.org.uk | info@theatrestrust.org.uk Torpedo Factory Group 01706 849 469 | www.tfg.com | sales@tfg.com Trail Systems +358 (0) 40 517 43 74 | www.trail.fi| contact@trail.fi Tysers Entertainment & Sport (formerly Integro) 0203 9150 0342 | www.tysersentertainment.com | andy.rudge@tysers.com UK Theatre 020 7557 6700 | www.uktheatre.org | ukt@soltukt.co.uk Unusual Rigging Ltd 01604 830 083 | www.unusual.co.uk | info@unusual.co.uk White Light Ltd 020 8254 4800 | www.whitelight.ltd.uk | info@whitelight.ltd.uk Aluminium Access Products Ltd 01942 514 318 | www.tallescope.co.uk | info@tallescope.co.uk Arno Acoustics 07984 727 730 | www.arnoacoustics.com | info@arnoacoustics.com Broadweigh 01395 232020 | www.broadweigh.com | marketing@broadweigh.com Charcoalblue LLP 020 7298 0000 | www.charcoalblue.com | studio@charcoalblue.com Collaborative Creations 020 7886 8545 | www.collaborativecreations.co.uk | hello@creativebd.co.uk Delfont Mackintosh Theatres Ltd 0844 482 5138 | www.delfontmackintosh.co.uk Flint Hire & Supply Ltd 020 7703 9786 | www.flints.co.uk | sales@flints.co.uk Hawthorn 01664 821 140 | www.hawthorn.biz | 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| www.ambersphere.co.uk | sales@ambersphere.co.uk Arup 020 7636 1531 | www.arup.com/venues | artsandculture@arup.com Autograph Sales & Installations 020 7281 7574 | www.autographsales.co.uk | sales@autograph.co.uk Bennetts 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.uk Chauvet Europe Ltd 01773 511 115 | www.chauvetprofessional.eu | uksales@chauvetlighting.com City Theatrical Ltd 020 8949 5051 | www.citytheatrical.com | London@citytheatrical.com Clear-Com 001 510 337 6600 | www.clearcom.com | salessupportemea@clearcom.com Doughty Engineering Ltd 07811 392 270 | www.doughty-engineering.co.uk | sarah@sprandcomms.com Drapemakers 01332 371 710 | www.drapemakers.com | drapes@designservices.co.uk EM Acoustics 01483 266 520 | www.emacoustics.co.uk | info@emacoustics.co.uk Gerriets GB Ltd 020 7639 7704 | www.gerriets.co.uk | info@gerriets.co.uk Harlequin Floors 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enquiries@solutionsonstage.co.uk Stage Right Theatre Consultants Ltd 01386 313 169 | www.srtcltd.co.uk | julia.redfern@srtcltd.co.uk Theatre Projects Consultants Ltd 020 7482 4224 | www.theatreprojects.com | uk@theatreprojects.com The Fire Surgery Ltd 020 7921 0220 | www.thefiresurgery.com | andrew.nicholson@thefiresurgery.com The Powerdrive Drum Co. 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Entertainment Technologies 01494 446 000 | www.ac-et.com | sales@ac-et.com AECOM 020 7061 7000 | www.aecom.com | John.burgess@aecom.com Aedas Arts Team 020 7480 1500 | www.aedas.com/aedasartsteam | artsteam@aedas.com Anderson Bradshaw Ltd 07544 095620 | michael@abltd.org Artistic Licence Engineering Ltd 020 8863 4515 | www.artisticlicence.com | sales@artisticlicence.com Audio Light Systems Ltd 0800 043 4600 | www.audiolightsystems.com | enquiry@audiolightsystems.com Avison Young 020 7911 2265 | www.avisonyoung.co.uk | mike.cook@avisonyoung.com AVW Controls Ltd 01379 898 340 | www.avw.co.uk | info@avw.co.uk Black Cat Music & Acoustics 01892 619 719 | www.blackcatmusic.co.uk | sales@blackcatmusic.co.uk Blue Chilli Flying 01234 780 180 | www.bluechilliflying.com | info@bluechilliflying.com BuroHappold Engineering 01225 320 600 | www.burohappold.com | jennifer.phillips@BuroHappold.com Burrell Foley Fischer LLP 020 7620 6114 | www.bff-architects.com | mail@bff-architects.co.uk Camstage 01727 830 151| www.camstage.com | sales-team@camstage.com Carr & Angier 01225 446 664 | www.carrandangier.co.uk | info@carrandangier.co.uk Central Theatre Supplies 0121 778 6400 | www.centraltheatresupplies.co.uk | enquiries@centraltheatresupplies.co.uk Clark Door Ltd 01228 522 321 | www.clarkdoor.com | sales@clarkdoor.com Conisbee 020 7700 6666 | www.conisbee.co.uk | design@conisbee.co.uk CWS Lifting and Safety Ltd 0117 941 5306 | www.cwslifting.co.uk | sales@cwslifting.co.uk d&b audiotechnik GB Ltd 01453 835 884 | www.dbaudio.com | info.gb@dbaudio.com Drama By Design 0845 644 3846 | www.dramabydesign.com | info@dramabydesign.com Durham Scenic Workshops 0191 371 9238 | www.durhamscenicworkshops.co.uk | info@durhamscenicworkshops.co.uk Enlightened 01179 727 123 | www.enlx.co.uk | info@enlx.co.uk Equals 020 7580 3360 | www.equalsconsulting.com | mail@equalsconsulting.com Finch Consulting (Health & Safety) 07527 002 689 | www.finch-consulting.com | Melvin.Sandell@finch-consulting.com Flashlight Ltd 01706 625 866 | www.flash-light.co.uk | sales@flash-light.co.uk Foster Wilson Size 020 7354 1315 | www.fosterwilsonsize.com | mail@fosterwilsonsize.com Gillieron Scott Acoustic Design 020 8671 2223 | www.gsacoustics.org | info@gsacoustics.org GoboPlus 020 3603 1335 | www.goboplus.com | enquiries@goboplus.com Gort Services 01706 849 295 | www.gorts.co.uk | sales@gorts.co.uk Harkness Screens (UK) Ltd 01438 725 200 | www.harkness-screens.com | sales@harkness-screens.com Harper Tackley Consultants 07976 279 701 | www.harpertackley.com | simon@harpertackley.com Haworth Tompkins 020 7250 3225 | www.haworthtompkins.com | info@haworthtompkins.com Hayles and Howe Ltd 0117 972 7200 | www.haylesandhowe.co.uk | info@haylesandhowe.co.uk Henley Theatre Services 01491 412347 | www.henleytheatreservices.com | office@henleytheatre.com Highlite International BV 0031 45 566 7700 | www.highlite.com | info@highlite.com HOAC Schweisstechnik GmbH +49 (0) 2841 90828-0 | www.hoac.com | 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www.mushroomlighting.com | info@mushroomlighting.com Northern Light 0131 622 9100 | www.northernlight.co.uk | info@northernlight.co.uk Otago Blue Ltd 01837 54059 | www.otagoblue.co.uk | info@otagoblue.co.uk Plann Ltd 020 3846 9230 | www.plann.co | Julia@plann.co Press Red Rentals Ltd 01952 587 049 | www.pressred.biz | rentals@pressred.biz Production Safety Ltd 07973 159 402 | www.productionsafety.co.uk | mail@productionsafety.co.uk Pulse Consult 0121 389 8658 | www.pulseconsult.co.uk | enquiries@pulseconsult.co.uk RB Health and Safety Solutions Ltd 0845 257 1489 | www.rbhealthandsafety.co.uk | admin@rbhealthandsafety.co.uk Rigging Services Direct Ltd 0845 555 6575 | www.riggingservices.co.uk | info@riggingservices.co.uk Rigging Team Ltd 020 3126 4040 | www.riggingteam.com | office@riggingteam.com Robolights Ltd 01392 823 040 | www.robolights.com | sales@robolights.com Rope Assemblies Ltd 01777 700714 | www.ropeassemblies.co.uk | sales@ropeassemblies.co.uk Sansei Technologies Inc. 0081 6 6393 5621 | www.sansei-technologies.com/eng | www.sansei-technologies.com/eng/contact Slingco Ltd 01706 855 558 | www.thecablenet.net | sales@thecablenet.net Sound Space Vision 020 8877 5860 | www.soundspacevision.com | SSV@soundspacevision.com Stage Electrics 03330 142 102 | www.stage-electrics.co.uk | sales@stage-electrics.co.uk Theatretech 01935 882 828 | www.theatretech.net | info@theatretech.net Tyrell 0207 148 6200 | www.tyrellcct.com | sales@tyrell.com Vectorworks Inc 01635 580318 | www.vectorworks.net/en-GB | uksales@vectorworks.net We are Blueshed 01353 723750 | www.weareblueshed.co.uk | hire@weareblueshed.co.uk XM Automation Ltd +44 7956 987 463 | www.xmautomation.co.uk | mark.ager@xmautomation.co.uk Zero 88 01923 495495 | www.zero88.com | enquiries@zero88.com BRONZE ISG MEMBERS COLLECTIVE STRENGTH Industry Supporters’ Group Association of British Theatre Technicians 55 Farringdon Road, London EC1M 3JB Tel: 020 7242 9200 Email: office@abtt.org.uk Website: www.abtt.org.uk OFFICERS & COUNCIL Richard Bunn Chairman Louise Birchall Mig Burgess Alexander Cann David Evans Andy Franks Matthew Freeman Co-opted Peter Maccoy Ben Mills Co-opted Paul Moore Co-opted Caroline Rouse Nikki Scott Emma Wilson Anton Woodward EX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL Michael Anderson Chairman, Safety Committee Sebastian Barnes Chairman, Training & Education Comm. Tim Foster Chairman, Theatre Design Comm. Roger Fox Chairman, Historical Research Comm. Jean Shevelan Chairman, NorthNet – Comm Mark White Chairman, Communications and Publications Committee Roger Fox Company Secretary Matthew Jones Honorary Secretary Loretta Tomasi Honorary Treasurer Tamykha Patterson UK Theatre & Live Events Apprenticeship Network Founder STAFF Robin Townley Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elysia Moore Association Co-ordinator Stuart Roberts Financial Controller CONSULTANT Geoffrey Joyce ABTT Training Co-ordinator Registered Charity 282069 Sightline CONTENTS vol. 44 no. 3 Editorial 7 The Stockton Globe 8 Book Review – Modern Theatres 13 Mercury Rising – The Mercury Theatre, Colchester 16 Book Review – The Special Theatre Years 1800-1900 20 The Trafalgar Theatre, London 22 The Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London 26 Theatre Doors 32 Peter Moro and Partners: Theatres and Beyond 34 Young Associates 37 Technical Standards 39 Members News 42 Safety Matters 43 Editor Rebecca Morland Publisher John Offord Entertainment Technology Press Ltd The Studio, High Green, Great Shelford Cambridge, Cambs CB22 5EG Tel: 01223 550805 Fax: 01223 550806 Advertising enquiries should be sent to john@etnow.com Sightline is published in March, June, September and December. Copies are sent to ABTT members as a benefit of membership. Current and past copies are also available via the ABTT website www.abtt.org.uk/shop at a cost of £5.00 (ABTT members) or £10.00 (non-Members). 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 Theatre Royal Drury Lane Photo: Haworth Tompkins/Philip VileSUPPLIER OF LED SOLUTIONS FOR LARGE VOLUME FILM PRODUCTION VIDEOSCREENSERVICES.COM T: +44 (0)7795 505020 E: ADRIAN@VIDEOSCREENSERVICES.COMSightline Autumn 2021 7 Editorial One of the most obvious indicators of the theatre industry coming back to life is the number of theatres re-opening after their capital projects. This is wonderful to see, but has presented Sightline with an unexpected challenge. I love covering capital projects, and I know that readers enjoy reading about them as well. However, for this edition, I was faced with an embarrassment of riches! We have ended up covering four major theatre projects, but I am very aware that there are others out there that we haven’t been able to include, for which I apologise. Hopefully, we’ll be able to include these in future issues. One of the highlights of the last couple of months for me has been visiting theatres again, both as an audience member but also to understand more about their capital projects. I was delighted to go to the Mercury in Colchester at the start of July. Not only was this a theatre I used to work at, and have very fond memories of, but it was incredibly positive to see the theatre coming back to life in its first few days after re-opening. The renovation will enable it to fulfil its role as a community hub, and is a tribute to the hands-on involvement of its team, and the support of its local authority. A contrasting scheme is the renovation of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, led by architects Haworth Tompkins. I was lucky enough to tour around the theatre in late July, and even doing so on one of the hottest days of the year didn’t detract from my admiration of this impressive scheme which manages to both take the theatre back to its Georgian roots, and make it a much more accessible and inclusive building. Sadly, I was unable to visit the Stockton Globe, but David Wilmore, lead consultant on the project, has written about this major scheme, driven by a local authority who totally understand the role that a venue can play in the regeneration of its high street and local economy. This has been endorsed by a just released Arts Council report. The evidence in this report should encourage other local authorities to follow the examples of Colchester Borough Council and Stockton on Tees Borough Council. Our final theatre project is the Trafalgar Theatre, previously known as the Whitehall. Architect Tim Foster outlines the considerable research which went in to the restoration of this theatre to its 1930s glory. I remember visiting the theatre at one of the low points in its history, when it was known as The Theatre of War – I seem to remember a LOT of camouflage netting – and it’s wonderful to see how it now looks. It would have been a lovely coincidence if one of the theatres included had been designed by eminent theatre architect Peter Moro, but I sadly couldn’t arrange this! Architectural Historian Alistair Fair outlines Peter Moro’s achievements, which go far beyond theatre, as an introduction to his major book, due out in the autumn. There do seem to be quite a lot of interesting theatre-related books around at the moment. David Staple’s long-awaited Modern Theatres is now available, and we asked Theatre Consultant John Riddell to review it for Sightline. We also asked Richard York to review Michael Hall’s fascinating piece on the changes to lighting technology between 1800 and 1900. There will be other book reviews in the next edition of Sightline. We are aiming to get this edition of Sightline out in time for the ABTT/PLASA show, on 5-7 September. This will be the first major trade event to take place in real life for quite some time, and I am looking forward to being there, and hopefully catching up with people in real life. If you aren’t able to be there, we will, of course be reporting on the highlights in the next edition – most notably the ABTT Awards. Oh, and my theatre visit. I finally got to the National Theatre to see Under Milk Wood (my third attempt to see a show there) – in the reconfigured Olivier. It was wonderful! Rebecca Morland Editor sightline@abtt.org.uk8 Sightline Autumn 2021 The Globe Theatre: a grade II listed building built in 1935 by two local butchers as a replacement to two earlier cinemas and incorporating their very own meat emporium whilst using the Shakespearean quotation, “The Play’s The Thing”. Frankly a more unlikely intimate drama house you could not imagine – seating almost 2,372 with a wide single balcony the Globe was from the outset a classic “super-theatre” designed during that much neglected period; the inter-war theatre building boom. Novocastrian architects Percy L. Browne and Alfred Harding created a classic piece of architectural “hedging” – it looked like a typical Art Deco cinema equipped with The Stockton Globe or “Theatre Stock in a Global Pandemic” by David Wilmore a huge projection room, and (just in case) a large stage house fully equipped with single purchase counterweights, dressing rooms and an orchestra pit. During those heady inter-war years the Globe must have sat slightly uncomfortably within a High Street which was recognised as one of the most complete Georgian market towns in the country. It is likely that the planners even as early as 1935 insisted upon the stalls being excavated 8 metres below street level in order to reduce the massing of this huge building within such a sensitive setting. Clearly “The Play Wasn’t The Thing” and the butchers sold out to ABC Cinemas in 1938, but the building continued as a split operation for many years with annual pantomimes, and visits from all the usual touring companies including Carl Rosa Opera, the Royal Ballet and D’Oyly Carte. On the 22 nd November 1963 Beatlemania arrived in Stockton and during the performance news broke of President Kennedy’s assassination. In 1977 the bingo fraternity came riding over the hill to take control of the building – our surviving theatre heritage would have been so much poorer without this numbers game! Unwittingly they have been (and in certain instances continue to be) temporary occupants, custodians and ultimate saviours of so many historic theatres. Eventually even bingo began to struggle in Stockton and the doors were finally closed in 1996. The building then changed hands Next >