Winter 2023 Sightline Journal of Theatre Technology and Design Aviva Studios, Manchester Bristol Beacon Reports and thoughts from ITEAC and the Tyne Theatre Conference Book Review: Theatre Spaces, 1920:2020ISG member 2023 SILVER ISG member 2023 BRONZE ISG member 2023 GOLD PLATINUM ISG member 2023 Nimax Theatres Ltd 020 7395 0780 | nimaxtheatres.com | general@nimaxtheatres.com Ornate Plaster (London) Ltd 01252 718 669 | ornateplasterlondon.com | info@ornateplasterlondon.com Preevue 020 7078 8892 | preevue.com | info@preevue.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 Torpedo Factory Group 01706 849 469 | tfg.com | sales@tfg.com 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 West End Rigging Ltd 01223 901169 | howard.dandy@westendrigging.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 Delfont Mackintosh Theatres Ltd 0844 482 5138 | delfontmackintosh.co.uk Disney Cruise Line - TAEEL 0208 458 4212 | excellententertainment.biz | theagency@excellententertainment.biz Encore 01664 821 111 | encore-emea.com | info-uk@encoreglobal.com Ferco Seating Systems Ltd 01743 761244 | www.fercoseating.com | jane.shepherd@fercoseating.co.uk Flint Hire & Supply Ltd 020 7703 9786 | flints.co.uk | sales@flints.co.uk Harlequin Floors 01892 514 888 | harlequinfloors.com | enquiries@harlequinfloors.com J&C Joel Ltd 01422 833 835 | jcjoel.com | sales@jcjoel.com LW Theatres 020 7557 7300 | lwtheatres.co.uk | customer.relations@lwtheatres.co.uk National Theatre 020 7452 3333 | nationaltheatre.org.uk | ORIGINAL PLATINUM ISG MEMBERS TAIT International 020 8208 6000 | taittowers.com | London@taittowers.com Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd 0207 534 6100 | atg.co.uk ETC Ltd 020 8896 1000 | etcconnect.com | uk@etcconnect.com GOLD ISG MEMBERS West End Rigging Ltd ORIGINAL Arup 020 7636 1531 | arup.com/venues | artsandculture@arup.com Bennetts Associates 020 7520 3300 | bennettsassociates.com | mail@bennettsassociates.com Carallon Limited 020 7471 9400 | www.carallon.com | info@carallon.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 | hdurrant@igus.co.uk Kinesys 020 8481 9850 | kinesys.com | sales@kinesys.com Le Mark Group 01480 494 540 | lemark.co.uk | info@lemark.co.uk LSI Projects 01483 764 646 I lsiprojects.com | info@lsiprojects.com Misto ART +358(0)50 56 46 924 | misto.art | office@misto.art NODA 01733 374 790 | noda.org.uk | info@noda.org.uk Production Resource Group UK Ltd 0345 470 6400 | prg.com/uk | marketinguk@prg.com Push The Button Ltd 0117 370 2626 | PTB.co.uk | hello@PTB.co.uk Robolights Ltd 01392 823 040 | robolights.com | sales@robolights.com Sennheiser UK 01628 402 200 | sennheiser.com/mics | info@sennheiser.com Serapid Ltd 01359 233 335 | serapid.com | info-uk@serapid.com SES (Entertainment Services) Ltd 01753 585 050 | site-electrics.co.uk | sales@site-electrics.co.uk Shure UK 01992 703058 | shure.com/en-GB/support | info@shure.com Skelly & Couch Ltd 020 7424 7770 | skellyandcouch.com | admin@skellyandcouch.com Smartrad Creative Limited 07711 469787 | www.smartrad.org | smartradcreativeprojects@gmail.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 MEMBERS3LR Lighting Ltd 0117 325 9098 | 3lrlighting.com | sales@3lrlighting.com AAC Technical Services Ltd 01842 764 631 | aactech.co.uk | aactheatresystems.co.uk/contact A.C. Entertainment Technologies 01494 446 000 | ac-et.com | sales@ac-et.com AECOM 020 7061 7000 | aecom.com | John.burgess@aecom.com Ambersphere Solutions Ltd 0208 992 6369 | ambersphere.co.uk | sales@ambersphere.co.uk Anderson Bradshaw Ltd 07544 095620 | michael@abltd.org 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 | jennifer.phillips@BuroHappold.com Burrell Foley Fischer LLP 020 7620 6114 | bff-architects.com | mail@bff-architects.co.uk Camstage 01727 830 151| camstage.com | sales-team@camstage.com Central Theatre Supplies 0121 778 6400 | centraltheatresupplies.co.uk | enquiries@centraltheatresupplies.co.uk Clark Door Ltd 01228 522 321 | clarkdoor.com | sales@clarkdoor.com Conisbee 020 7700 6666 | conisbee.co.uk | design@conisbee.co.uk CWS Lifting and Safety Ltd 0117 941 5306 | cwslifting.co.uk | sales@cwslifting.co.uk d&b audiotechnik GB Ltd 01453 835 884 | dbaudio.com | info.gb@dbaudio.com DK Integrated Systems Ltd 07513 060527 | dkintegratedsystems.com | luke@dkintegratedsystems.com Durham Scenic Workshops 0191 371 9238 | durhamscenicworkshops.co.uk | info@durhamscenicworkshops.co.uk Enlightened 01179 727 123 | enlx.co.uk | info@enlx.co.uk Equals 020 7580 3360 | equalsconsulting.com | mail@equalsconsulting.com Figueras Seating Europe SL +34 93 844 50 50 | www.figueras.com | erovira@figueras.com Flashlight Ltd 01706 625 866 | flash-light.co.uk | sales@flash-light.co.uk Floral Pavilion Theatre 0151 666 0000 | www.floralpavilion.com | floralpavilionevents@wirral.gov.uk Foster Wilson Size 020 7354 1315 | fosterwilsonsize.com | mail@fosterwilsonsize.com Gillieron Scott Acoustic Design 020 8671 2223 | gsacoustics.org | info@gsacoustics.org Glantre Engineering Ltd 0118 964 0000 | glantre.com | info@glantre.com Globestock Ltd 01691 654 966 | globestock.co.uk | info@globestock.co.uk GoboPlus 020 3603 1335 | goboplus.com | enquiries@goboplus.com Harper Tackley Consultants 07976 279 701 | harpertackley.com | simon@harpertackley.com Haworth Tompkins 020 7250 3225 | haworthtompkins.com | info@haworthtompkins.com Hayles and Howe Ltd 0117 972 7200 | haylesandhowe.co.uk | info@haylesandhowe.co.uk Henley Theatre Services 01491 412347 | henleytheatreservices.com | office@henleytheatre.com Highlite International BV 0031 45 566 7700 | highlite.com | info@highlite.com Hoist UK 0151 334 7682 | hoistuk.com | info@hoistuk.com Howard Eaton Lighting Ltd 01273 400 670 | helluk.com | info@helluk.com Illuminate Design 01206 709 694 | illuminatedesign.co.uk | info@illuminatedesign.co.uk Infinity Technical & Production Services Ltd 0330 128 1525 | infinity-technical. co.uk | info@infinity-technical.co.uk John Young Creative Industries 01252 711816 | jyci.co.uk | johnyoung@jyci.co.uk Light Motif Ltd 020 7183 5381 | www.lightmotif.co.uk | info@lightmotif.co.uk Locker and Riley Fibrous Plastering Ltd 01245 322 022 | lockerandriley.com | enquiries@lockerandriley.com Mayr Transmissions Ltd 01535 663 900 | mayr.com | sales@mayr.co.uk MDG FOG UK 01604 741 000 | mdgfoguk.com contact@mdgfoguk.com Mushroom Lighting 01604 790 900 | mushroomlighting.com | info@mushroomlighting.com Northern Light 0131 622 9100 | northernlight.co.uk | info@northernlight.co.uk North Star Engineers 020 8888 9099 | northstarengineers.uk | admin@northstar.engineer Plann Ltd 020 3846 9230 | plann.co | Julia@plann.co Production Safety Ltd 973 159 402 | productionsafety.co.uk | mail@productionsafety.co.uk Punchdrunk Global Ltd +44 208 191 01900 | punchdrunk.com | info@punchdrunk.com RB Health and Safety Solutions Ltd 0845 257 1489 | rbhealthandsafety.co.uk | admin@rbhealthandsafety.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 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 The Production Family 0208 004 9757 | theproductionfamily.co.uk | hello@theproductionfamily.co.uk Wave Technical Ltd 01582 738 400 | wave-technical.co.uk | technical@wave-technical.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 COUNCIL Louise Birchall Mig Burgess Walsh Co-Chair Joshua Burnside Co-opted Oliver Brown Vice Chair Alexander Cann Jack Davies Co-opted David Evans Co-Chair Gareth Evans Co-opted Paul Moore Co-opted Jessica Nicholls Co-opted Anette Ollerearnshaw Suzy Somerville Matthew Smethurst-Evans 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 Ben Stephen 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. 4 Editorial7 From Tyne Theatre to Savoy Place10 Schwabe-Hasait Cyclorama Lighting12 Bristol Beacon, a preview16 Book Review: Theatre Spaces,1920-2020 22 Aviva Studios, Manchester24 ITEAC 2023 30 ITEAC Founding Sponsor’s Speech 33 Introducing ABTT Cymru34 The Tyne Theatre Conference35 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: Bristol Beacon, courtesy of Levitt BernsteinVIDEOSCREENSERVICES.COM T: +44 (0)7795 505020 E: ADRIAN@VIDEOSCREENSERVICES.COMSightline Winter 2023 7 Editorial After a relatively quiet period two significant – and very different – performance buildings are opening, and I’m delighted to be covering both in this edition of Sightline. The work on both venues has only been possible because of the commitment and significant investment of their respective local authorities. Whilst both will be expecting economic returns from their investment, both venues are also operated by organisations with a strong commitment to bringing culture to their communities. Aviva Studios, formerly known as the Factory, and operated by Manchester International Festival, is finally open in Manchester, after a long and expensive gestation period. It is a building that has flexibility at its heart, encompassing as it does two spaces, one of which may be used as a performance space or a gallery. This flexibility has required considerable ingenuity as regards its technical infrastructure. Jenni Harris from theatre consultants Charcoalblue explains more. In contrast, Bristol Beacon, operated by Bristol Music Trust, has a long history as a music venue, with its first event taking place in 1867. Previously known as Colston Hall, the building has had many iterations. The first phase of its renovation took place in 2009 and created a substantial foyer extension. The second is even more far-reaching. As well as the concert hall itself, the scheme has also created a flexible second space, and has turned its extensive cellars into education and community spaces. The venue is due to open at the end of November, but Richard York was lucky enough to tour the building recently and provides a detailed preview. Acoustics are key to the success of any concert hall, and therefore Richard will report back in Spring Sightline! We also hear about two very contrasting Conferences. Iain Mackintosh is, I believe, the only person who managed to attend (part of) both ITEAC and the Tyne Theatre and Opera House Conference, and has shared his thoughts about the two very different events. We also have more detailed reports on both of these major events. One of the most positive things about ITEAC 2023 has been its legacy, in the shape of the ITEAC website, with its host of talks and films and presentations. This will be a resource for the industry for quite some time – perhaps until the next ITEAC? – and deserves to be better known. I directed a contact there a few days ago who was looking for ideas about a potential project, and they were inspired! So, please do spread the word if you’re not familiar with it already! I’m also kicking myself for missing the Tyne Theatre and Opera House Conference, which is also covered by Mark Fox. It sounds like an eclectic mix of scholarly and not so scholarly, and I would have loved to have seen some of that stage machinery in action! Hopefully some of the photos provide a flavour of what was missed. Coincidentally, this edition of Sightline also includes a review of Iain’s latest book – the brilliantly titled Theatre Spaces, 1920- 2020, Finding the Fun in Functionalism. I haven’t got round to reading it yet, but having now read Gavin Green’s review, I’m very keen to do so, and will be putting it on my Christmas list! David Bertenshaw is also looking at an aspect of theatre history that started about 100 years ago – the Schwabe-Hasait Cyclorama lighting system, which used 7 colours to provide a very broad range of tones. He summarises his extensive research on the subject – which is an enticing preview to his e-book. By the time Sightline is out, it will nearly be time for the ABTT Christmas Party. I very much hope to see some of you there! Rebecca Morland Editor sightline@abtt.org.uk8 Sightline Winter 2023 From Tyne Theatre to Savoy Place Two conferences and only five days apart. 13 to 15 September at the Tyne Theatre and Opera House Newcastle (1867). which has Britain’s only complete wooden stage machinery intact on a raked nineteenth century stage, and ITEAC staged by the ABTT in London 19 to 20 September down by the Thames. The latter was the sixth quadrennial International Theatre Engineering & Architecture Conference, the first having been conceived and staged by Richard (Dick) Brett in 2002. Not many got to both. I managed a bit of each. That so many had made the journey up north was largely due to Dr David (Dave) Wilmore who is still the only man in Europe to hold a PhD in nineteenth century stage machinery. No dry academic it was Dave who led the team which restored the stage and fly tower in 1986 after a fire had destroyed much of what had been brought back to life just a few years earlier. Untouched it had gathered dust upstage of the cinema screen of what had become the Stoll Picture Theatre in 1919 and which was still showing movies in 1974. Mothballing rather than modernising the bits that matter had turned out to be what had led to the Tyne being listed Grade One, one of only eight theatres awarded Grade One status in in all Britain. Dave’s conference also had a long title, Victorian and Edwardian Theatre in Performance: Music & Machinery – Stagecraft & Spectacle. Almost all theatres created in Britain from 1832 to 1917 had raked stages Iain Mackintosh though the stage of the 1858 Royal Opera House Covent Garden was flattened as early as 1902. This led architect and theatre consultant Peter Ruthven Hall and I to kick off the final session of the Tyne conference with a scripted double act duologue with 26 images which we entitled Raked or Flat? Strange things came to light in the research. The Cuvillies Theatre Munich of 1753 had its stage flattened and its stage machinery junked when this wonderful baroque auditorium was rebuilt on an adjacent site soon after the Second World War. From that date on the user had to choose between having a forestage or having an orchestra pit there being but a single modern lift. This pushed the singer back behind the picture frame proscenium which move was becoming the fashion. The indignity was repeated at Bayreuth at the Margravine’s Opera House of 1750 in a series of ‘improvements’ starting in 1962. The trigger had been simply to make it easier to transfer productions of the Bavarian State Opera from Munich to Bayreuth. Later in famous larger opera houses such as La Scala Milan and La Fenice Venice the singer was no longer able to project from a position of strength on the forestage, which had made for magic acoustics. That area in plan was now taken up with an enlarged orchestra pit and additional rows of income producing front stalls. While the restoration of auditoriums is rigorously researched by scholars and architects the planning of the playing area is Peter Ruthven Hall and Iain Mackintosh do their duologue Photo: Carl Joyce /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 >