Summer 2023 Sightline Journal of Theatre Technology and Design ABTT Theatre Show Preview ITEAC 2023 Preview Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot Musings on Concert HallsISG member 2023 SILVER ISG member 2023 BRONZE ISG member 2023 GOLDPLATINUM ISG member 2023 Ornate Plaster (London) Ltd 01252 718 669 | ornateplasterlondon.com | info@ornateplasterlondon.com Society of London Theatre 020 7557 6700 | solt.co.uk | enquiries@soltukt.co.uk Souvenir Scenic Studios 020 7237 7557 | souvenir.co.uk | info@souvenir.co.uk Steeldeck Industries Ltd 020 8692 9721 | steeldeckUK.com | sales@steeldeck.co.uk Theatreplan 020 7841 0440 | theatreplan.com | info@theatreplan.com Theatres Trust 020 7836 8591 | theatrestrust.org.uk | info@theatrestrust.org.uk The Walt Disney Company 020 8222 1000 | disney.co.uk/about-us | help@disney.co.uk Torpedo Factory Group 01706 849 469 | tfg.com | sales@tfg.com Trail Systems +358 (0) 40 517 43 74 | trail.fi | contact@trail.fi Tysers Entertainment & Sport (formerly Integro) 0203 9150 0342 | tysersentertainment.com | andy.rudge@tysers.com UK Theatre 020 7557 6700 | uktheatre.org | ukt@soltukt.co.uk Unusual Rigging Ltd 01604 830 083 | unusual.co.uk | info@unusual.co.uk Vari*Lite Strand Zero 88 +31 (0) 543 542 531 / +44 (0)1633 838 088 vari-lite.com / strandlighting.com / zero88.com | enquiries@zero88.com / entertainment.europe@signify.com White Light Ltd 020 8254 4800 | whitelight.ltd.uk | info@whitelight.ltd.uk Aluminium Access Products Ltd 01942 514 318 | tallescope.co.uk | info@tallescope.co.uk Arno Acoustics 07984 727 730 | arnoacoustics.com | info@arnoacoustics.com Audinate Ltd 01273 921695 | audinate.com | lisa.baldwin@audinate.com Broadweigh 01395 232020 | broadweigh.com | marketing@broadweigh.com Charcoalblue LLP 020 7298 0000 | charcoalblue.com | studio@charcoalblue.com Collaborative Creations 020 7886 8545 | collaborativecreations.co.uk | hello@creativebd.co.uk Delfont Mackintosh Theatres Ltd 0844 482 5138 | delfontmackintosh.co.uk Encore 01664 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992 6369 | ambersphere.co.uk | sales@ambersphere.co.uk Arup 020 7636 1531 | arup.com/venues | artsandculture@arup.com Autograph Sales & Installations 020 7281 7574 | autographsales.co.uk | sales@autograph.co.uk Bennetts Associates 020 7520 3300 | bennettsassociates.com | mail@bennettsassociates.com Centre Stage Engineering Ltd 0844 499 6250 | centre-stage.co.uk | info@centre-stage.co.uk Chauvet Europe Ltd 01773 511 115 | chauvetprofessional.eu | uksales@chauvetlighting.com City Theatrical Ltd 020 8949 5051 | citytheatrical.com | London@citytheatrical.com Clear-Com 001 510 337 6600 | clearcom.com | salessupportemea@clearcom.com Doughty Engineering Ltd 07811 392 270 | doughty-engineering.co.uk | sarah@sprandcomms.com Drapemakers 01332 371 710 | drapemakers.com | drapes@designservices.co.uk EM Acoustics 01483 266 520 | emacoustics.co.uk | info@emacoustics.co.uk Gerriets GB Ltd 020 7639 7704 | gerriets.co.uk | info@gerriets.co.uk igus (UK) Ltd 01604 677204 | www.igus.co.uk | 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skellyandcouch.com | admin@skellyandcouch.com Solutions on Stage 0117 244 8625 | solutionsonstage.co.uk | enquiries@solutionsonstage.co.uk Stage Right Theatre Consultants Ltd 01386 313 169 | srtcltd.co.uk | julia.redfern@srtcltd.co.uk Stage Sound Services Ltd 029 2061 3577 | stagesoundservices.co.uk | hires@stagesoundservices.co.uk Theatre Projects Consultants Ltd 020 7482 4224 | theatreprojects.com | uk@theatreprojects.com The Fire Surgery Ltd 020 7921 0220 | thefiresurgery.com | andrew.nicholson@thefiresurgery.com The Powerdrive Drum Co. Ltd 01525 370 292 | mypowerdrive.com | info@mypowerdrive.com The Stage 020 7403 1818 | thestage.co.uk | reception@thestage.co.uk Total Solutions Group 0121 772 5234 | trussing.com | info@trussing.com Trafalgar Entertainment Group 020 7321 5400 | trafalgarentertainment.com | trafalgarmanagement@trafalgarentertainment.com Triple E Ltd 01959 570 333 | triplee.ltd | info@triplee.ltd Voluntary Arts 02920 395 395 | voluntaryarts.org | info@voluntaryarts.org Wonder Works Limited 020 8819 9040 | wonder.co.uk | info@wonder.co.uk SILVER ISG MEMBERS ORIGINAL10K Used Gear Limited 020 8308 9566 | 10Kused.com | info@10Kused.com 1stintheatre Ltd 0333 335 0374 | 1stintheatre.co.uk | info@1stintheatre.co.uk 3LR Lighting Ltd 0117 325 9098 | 3lrlighting.com | sales@3lrlighting.com A.C. Entertainment Technologies 01494 446 000 | ac-et.com | sales@ac-et.com AECOM 020 7061 7000 | aecom.com | John.burgess@aecom.com Aedas Arts Team 020 7480 1500 | aedas.com/aedasartsteam | artsteam@aedas.com Anderson Bradshaw Ltd 07544 095620 | michael@abltd.org Anystage Productions Ltd 07712 655 481 | anystage.co.uk | paul@anystage.co.uk Artisan PlasterCraft 01959 571 135 | artisanplastercraft.com | info@artisanplastercraft.com Artistic Licence Engineering Ltd 020 8863 4515 | artisticlicence.com | sales@artisticlicence.com Audio Light Systems Ltd 0800 043 4600 | audiolightsystems.com | enquiry@audiolightsystems.com Avison Young 020 7911 2265 | avisonyoung.co.uk | mike.cook@avisonyoung.com AVW Controls Ltd 01379 898 340 | avw.co.uk | info@avw.co.uk Black Cat Music & Acoustics 01892 619 719 | blackcatmusic.co.uk | sales@blackcatmusic.co.uk Blue Chilli Flying 01234 780 180 | bluechilliflying.com | info@bluechilliflying.com BuroHappold Engineering 01225 320 600 | burohappold.com | 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rbhealthandsafety.co.uk | admin@rbhealthandsafety.co.uk Rigger +44 (0) 333 772 0120 | rigger.co.uk | contact@rigger.co.uk Rigging Services Direct Ltd 0845 555 6575 | riggingservices.co.uk | info@riggingservices.co.uk Rigging Team Ltd 020 3126 4040 | riggingteam.com | office@riggingteam.com Rope Assemblies Ltd 01777 700714 | ropeassemblies.co.uk | sales@ropeassemblies.co.uk Slingco Ltd 01706 855 558 | thecablenet.net | sales@thecablenet.net Sound Space Vision 020 8877 5860 | soundspacevision.com | SSV@soundspacevision.com Stage Electrics 03330 142 102 | stage-electrics.co.uk | sales@stage-electrics.co.uk Sundrax Ltd 020 8991 3319 | www.sundrax.com | salesteam@sundrax.com Theatretech 01935 882 828 | theatretech.net | info@theatretech.net Tyrell 0207 148 6200 | tyrellcct.com | sales@tyrell.com Vectorworks Inc 01635 580318 | vectorworks.net/en-GB | uksales@vectorworks.net We are Blueshed 01353 723750 | weareblueshed.co.uk | hire@weareblueshed.co.uk XM Automation Ltd +44 7956 987 463 | xmautomation.co.uk | mark.ager@xmautomation.co.uk Yesplan UK Ltd +44 (0) 7800 854404 | yesplan.be/en | info@yesplan.co.uk BRONZE ISG MEMBERSAssociation of British Theatre Technicians 22 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0QL Tel: 020 7242 9200 Email: office@abtt.org.uk Website: www.abtt.org.uk Registered Charity 282069 David Evans Co-Chair COUNCIL Louise Birchall Oliver Brown Mig Burgess Walsh Co-Chair Joshua Burnside Co-opted Alexander Cann Andy Franks Matthew Freeman Co-opted Peter Maccoy Paul Moore Co-opted Jessica Nicholls Co-opted Caroline Rouse Nikki Scott Vice Chair Ben Stephen Emma Wilson Anton Woodward EX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL Michael Anderson Chairman, Safety Committee Sebastian Barnes Chairman, Training & Education Comm. Vacant Chair, Stephen Joseph Committee Jennifer Chislett Chair, School Theatre Support Group Tim Foster Chairman, Theatre Design Comm. Roger Fox Chairman Historical Research Comm. Matthew Jones Honorary Secretary Anette Ollerearnshaw Chair, Wigs, Hair & Make-up Comm. Nick Page Chair, Automation Comm. Jack Davies UK Theatre & Live Events Apprenticeship Network Founder Jean Shevelan Chairman, NorthNet – Comm. Loretta Tomasi Honorary Treasurer Mark White Chairman, Communications and Publications Committee STAFF Robin Townley Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elysia Moore Association and Events Manager Amy Bodman Association Administrator Stuart Roberts Financial Controller CONSULTANT Geoffrey Joyce ABTT Training Co-ordinator Sightline CONTENTS vol. 46 no. 2 Editorial7 MAKE A DiFFERENCE Conference Report 8 Shakespeare North Playhouse, Prescot12 ITEAC 2023 Preview20 ABTT Theatre Show Preview22 Musings on Concert Halls26 ABTT Virtual Ideas Platform32 Malmö Stadsteater Hippodromen, Sweden34 Young Associates37 Technical Standards39 Members News42 Safety Matters43 Editor Rebecca Morland PublisherJohn Offord ET 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 Cover: The Cockpit galleries, Shakespeare Playhouse North Photo © Infinite 3D Photography To advertise here please contact editor@etnow.comVIDEOSCREENSERVICES.COM T: +44 (0)7795 505020 E: ADRIAN@VIDEOSCREENSERVICES.COMSightline Summer 2023 7 Editorial Sometimes issues of Sightline have definite themes running through them. This isn’t according to some great strategic plan, agreed in ABTT HQ, sadly enough – I only wish it was! This particular issue is definitely looking further afield than usual. This isn’t a surprise in the run-up to ITEAC 2023, which, in its new iteration, is even more international than previously. We have been lucky enough to be given a preview of some of the speakers and some of the sessions, which cover the three themes of Environmental Sustainability; Digital Revolution and Communities. I’m very much hoping that some of themes and questions raised in sessions will be the subject of future Sightline articles. Ones that have particularly caught my eye are the session on “Are we Building the Right Theatres” – whether we’re developing the infrastructure that is needed for future communities, in the time of climate change, and with the impact of digital. And indeed the session on theatres in Asia which are already embracing digital as part of their future. There looks to be a lot to learn, and we will of course report back on the Conference in future editions. Also looking further afield (and coincidentally reported on at ITEAC), we look at a renovation project in Malmö, Sweden, co-led by Haworth Tompkins. I must confess that until I read this, I wasn’t aware that the style of performance building known as a Hippodrome existed beyond the UK – where the most notable example is of course, the currently very much in peril Brighton Hippodrome. The main difference between the two is that this Hippodrome was very much in use (and seemed very much loved) before the renovation project, but had acknowledged issues to do with its lack of visibility, due to its positioning behind other buildings. This project has given it that visibility, and therefore done much to secure the future of this beautiful building. It’s definitely on my list of theatres to visit in the future! David Staples has quite clearly visited many concert halls throughout the world, during his long and distinguished career, and has written about some of the conclusions he has come to in his article “Musings on Concert Halls”. He also brought to my attention a description of a type of concert hall – “vineyard” – like the small, terraced, and angled fields of a vineyard. Having just returned from the Amalfi Coast, where vineyards and other crops, hung onto every available scrap of land, I found it a very apposite description… Rather closer to home, I’m delighted to include a major report on Shakespeare North Playhouse, the new venue in Prescot which won Theatre of the Year in the Stage Awards. Ed Elbourne, from theatre consultants ARUP, explains the context for the project, while Tim Foster reviews it. Again, it’s a theatre that I really want to visit – and it is worth pointing out that there is an ABTT/ALPD tour organised on 19th June for which (at the time of writing) some places remain. The other forthcoming event which features in Sightline, is of course the ABTT Theatre Show – we include a floor plan and detailed information on the many seminars and workshops that are included. One of these will be a report back on the recent and very successful MAKE A DiFFERENCE conference. Ben Stephen feeds back his thoughts as a participant at this event. Another initiative that is being featured at the Theatre Show is the ABTT “Virtual Ideas Platform” which returns for a second year. Charles Haines explains more about this innovative development. And finally, as the holidays approach, if any readers are planning to include visits to theatres and other performance spaces as part of their summer break, please do let me know. It would be great to include your feedback and reports in autumn Sightline. I look forward to seeing you at the ABTT show! Rebecca Morland Editor sightline@abtt.org.uk8 Sightline Summer 2023 On Friday April 21st I was fired-up to attend the ABTT MAKE A DiFFERENCE conference at my home venue the Albany, Deptford. Chaired by Mig Burgess-Walsh, co-chair of the ABTT and Senior Lecturer at GSA, delegates were invited to discuss in-person the industry’s current Recruitment and Retention difficulties. In a previous edition of Sightline, Mig reported that a short survey had been conducted regarding recruitment and retention and the data presented in the previous edition was presented to the conference delegates in an online pre-meeting. Delegates to the conference submitted expressions of interest alongside a commitment to action-orientated outcomes from the meeting. Seventy colleagues from across the industry came together and publicly signed up to collaborative action. Representatives consisted of technical directors, production managers, stage managers, technical managers, HR leads, technicians, creative practitioners, producers, education practitioners and industry advocates. All sectors within the industry were represented with a strong recognition of regions, not just London, including commercial, subsidised, producing, receiving and touring theatre sectors alongside education at all levels as well as industry bodies and sector welfare organisations. Large scale theatres and groups of theatres through to small independents were all in attendance. Key to this new conference and method of working together, all delegates were MAKE A DiFFERENCE Conference Report Ben Stephen challenged in the pre-conference meeting and materials to only attend if they were prepared to take action in their working lives to address the issues raised. They were also provoked in advance to share their thoughts on the three main topics of Education and Outreach, Pay and Job Security by considering: •What are the barriers to achieving improvements in these areas? •What initiatives and strategies have you practically implemented in your organisation that’s had a positive impact to recruitment and retention. Be prepared to share things that have worked. •Bring one proactive thought, idea or action that you would like to move forward with in relation to one of the topics. These specific challenges were expanded to: •What ideas and thoughts on these issues do you have that need some more joined up thinking? •Who could you link with to achieve better results? •How can you expand your ideas so that they can become broad industry working achievements? •What organisations or companies do you need to work with to realise your ideas? •How can the ABTT help? This work in the run up to the conference day allowed all of us in the room to open up to each other quickly and to share our thoughts and opinions honestly, aiming for positive action and fairness. The day began in a large plenary session but we broke out into small groups of six multiple times throughout the day before returning to the group meeting. BARRIERS Each area for consideration started by considering barriers to progress, then examining current strategies that might be working before proposing actions that could be taken further forwards. An interesting and lively discussion centred on “the show must go on” and our backstage cultures. Where often our commitment and passion drives our work ethic and takes priority over our own well-being needs. A lack of desire to try new methods or systems was also mentioned with overcoming the phrase “we’ve always done it that way” being positively challenged. Money and time unsurprisingly featured heavily, but areas we can more readily address are communication and uniting together that we must combat attitudes of /GLP.German.Light.Products /GermanLightProducts germanlightproducts.com The next generation of high performance professional LED washlights HIGH CRI natural color rendering CRI: 90 | TLCI: 90 UNIQUE DESIGN super quiet operation Baseless Design, only 13 kg ADVANCED ZOOM 3.5° beam to 60° wash super fast zoom mechanicsNext >