Summer 2024 Sightline Journal of Theatre Technology and Design ABTT Theatre Show – previews From Playhouse Theatre to Kit Kat Club Make A Difference Conference Report Robin Townley – interviewISG member 2024 SILVER ISG member 2024 BRONZE ISG member 2024 GOLDPLATINUM ISG member 2024 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 Triple E Ltd 01959 570 333 | triplee.ltd | info@triplee.ltd 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 Audinate Ltd 01273 921695 | audinate.com | lisa.baldwin@audinate.com Ayrton Digital Lighting 01842 764 631 | ayrton.eu | aryton.eu/about-us/#contact Broadweigh 01395 232020 | broadweigh.com | marketing@broadweigh.com Cameron Mackintosh Ltd 020 7637 8866 | cameronmackintosh.com | info@camack.co.uk 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 ATG Entertainment 0207 534 6100 | atgentertainment.com 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 MGC Entertainment 01473 466300 | mgc-lighting.com | uksales@mgc-lighting.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 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 10K Used Gear Limited 020 8308 9566 | 10Kused.com | info@10Kused.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 GL Events UK 01332 408 253 | www.glevents.co.uk | www.glevents.co.uk/contact-us 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 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 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 Ritchie Studio Ltd 020 7338 1100 | www.ritchie.studio | mail@ritchie.studio Rope Assemblies Ltd 01777 700714 | ropeassemblies.co.uk | sales@ropeassemblies.co.uk Spirolux Limited 01225873804 | spirolux.co.uk/about-us | info@spirolux.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. 47 no. 2 Editorial7 Awarding Excellence beyond the Apparatus – The story behind the new WHAM & Costume Awards8 From Playhouse Theatre, London, to Kit Kat Club16 A Theatre Show to Remember20 ABTT Theatre Show – Preview22 Robin Townley – ABTT Reflections26 ABTT Stephen Joseph Award, 202330 MAKE A DiFFERENCE CONFERENCE31 ITC at 5034 Theatre Ventilation Guidance36 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 editor@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: ABTT Theatre Show 2023 Courtesy of ABTT. Photo: Origin8 Photography /GLP.German.Light.Products /GermanLightProducts glp.de Fantastic colours thanks to RGBL and iQ.Gamut technologySightline Summer 2024 7 Editorial Sightline is, of course, the journal of record of the ABTT, and never more so than in this issue! This is mainly because there’s a lot going on at the moment… We are of course, featuring the imminent ABTT Theatre Show and all that it has to offer. The middle pages include details of the extensive workshop and seminar programme, which covers many fascinating issues. One of these is ventilation in auditoria. ABTT, Buro Happold Engineering and Theatres Trust have been collaborating on a report providing guidance on flow rates. This will be headlined at the Theatre Show, and we have asked Joe Williams from Buro Happold to summarise the guidance. The Theatre Show also hosts the ABTT Awards, which have expanded significantly over the years. This year marks the first awards covering WHAM (Wigs Hair and Make-Up) and costume – causes close to Anette Ollerearnshaw’s heart, as she explains in her article. It’s certainly a very different Theatre Show than it was 20 years ago, when it was visited by royalty. Roger Fox has unearthed some fascinating documents about that visit! However, it’s not all about the Theatre Show. ABTT recently held its second MAKE A DiFFERENCE Conference, which I was lucky enough to attend. The clue to these Conferences is in the name – they are Conferences where you go away with a very real commitment to practical actions. I found it a very positive event, which I am sure will have done something to improve collaboration between education and industry for the overall benefit of the sector. Robin Townley, ABTT’s CEO since 2012, will be standing down in June. In order to mark the end of his time in office, I interviewed him for this edition of Sightline, which turned into a fascinating reflection about the role of ABTT and how it has changed since the start of his involvement – which considerably pre- dates his appointment as CEO. What comes through loud and clear is that ABTT is all about the members, many of whom give up considerable amounts of free time in order to support and enable initiatives. Having said that, Robin’s responsibility for some of the massive changes in ABTT has been considerable – although he was far too modest to say so! I’ll miss him a lot, not the least for the many conversations we’ve had when thinking about topics for future editions of Sightline. His knowledge about the industry and the people within it (and therefore who to talk about a certain initiative or project) is exceptional. As we were about to go to press, Robin’s successor was announced. Liz Sillett will be taking up the role in late May, and we very much hope to carry an interview with her in Autumn Sightline! There are, of course, articles in this edition which have nothing to do with ABTT! One of them is about another membership organisation – the Independent Theatre Council (ITC). ITC is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and its CEO, Charlotte Jones, has written a piece to explain what it does and who it is for! One of its main similarities to the ABTT is the support that it offers to members – through advice and training in particular. We also decided to catch up with Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, and in particular the transformation of the Playhouse Theatre in London into a venue for the show. I’m very grateful to architects Carmody Groarke for providing access to plans as well as photos – they are incredibly helpful in providing a full picture of the changes that have been made – the great majority of which are, of course, fully reversible ,as the changes are being made to a listed building. I was particularly cheered to see that one of the changes which isn’t going to be reversible is the improved access for people with disabilities, demonstrating that even in a listed building changes can be made. I look forward to seeing some of you at the Theatre Show! Rebecca Morland Editor sightline@abtt.org.uk8 Sightline Summer 2024 Awarding Excellence beyond the Apparatus – The story behind the new WHAM & Costume Awards As the ABTT community is working at full speed to get everything ready for the annual Theatre Show at Alexandra Palace on the 5th & 6th June, I am pleased to announce that for our wigs, hair & make-up and costume colleagues, 2024 is the launch year for some new industry awards. A lot of thought, generosity and hard work has gone into making this pioneering moment happen and I thought it would be fitting to share with you how we have been able to arrive at this moment and what it represents. Agents of Change Costume in Theatre, Entertainment & Arts (CiTEA) was set up in 2018 by Catherine Kodicek and Nikki Edmonds to support and promote professional costume workers in the UK. In the autumn of 2023 the community was renamed ABTT CiTEA and welcomed their new chair Caroline Townsend, a lifelong educator and costume professional. I founded the ABTT Wigs, Hair & Make- up (WHAM) community in 2021 after many years of meaning to, but simply being too busy navigating a healthy work/life balance. At present we are a core group of experts representing the WHAM community, and our work lies in showcasing and advocating on topics that are important to our community and peers. In the winter of 2023, ABTT WHAM & CiTEA met with Theatre Show developers to announce their joining of forces and made the request for permission to introduce a new set of industry awards. Our Manifesto With warm well-wishes from the ABTT for our ambitions of pioneering awards, we felt that the most fitting first step to make our presence known in the industry, was to design an awards strand that would enhance representation, with criteria put together by our peers and sense checked across a wider demographic of stakeholders. To underpin Anette Ollerearnshaw this, we set about writing our mission manifesto; a document that would further demonstrate to the organisation the urgency and needs of fellow practitioners in the live entertainment and performing arts industry. In it we laid out the historical limitations holding back progress through employment structures and hierarchies, advancements made in education and technology in the last 20 years and the opportunities the awards would be able to create. Rooted in the historical structures in UK performing arts organisations, WHAM teams have been subordinated to costume (something I have written about in a previous article) in terms of management, resources and information flow. This is specific to the theatre world, not in TV and film where the teams are run independently and equally. However, we know that production values and audience tastes have moved on and our work now more than ever is centre stage. The benefits that the awards might be creating are plentiful; through conversations between nominees and nominators, a morale boost to industry and young professionals who can apply for the emerging excellence award, an annual opportunity to network and meet in person, the celebration of achievements that creates role models, influencing increased diversity and representation and once we have more companies and educators exhibiting at the Theatre Show, seeing and experiencing what is new to the market. The opportunities of added value for the benefit of our communities that we are anticipating are scope for organisational growth that could include a trade show for both disciplines (as part of the June Theatre Show or separate), seminars and talks held by thinkers and practitioners, mentoring and collaboration platform building, innovation showcasing, jobs boards and a whole host of professional resources with the ABTT’s vision and mission at the core. So much of this exists across social media platforms, and to position the organisation as the central hub for our professions is truly fitting; with its founding principles of being independent, non-political and non-profit making. Win / Win It is important to note that in addition to all of the above, there are commercial benefits for producers too. Winning a notable award can have a life changing effect on an artist’s career and the power of this for example is truly understood by Hollywood production studios. photo: Anette OllerearnshawWEATHERPROOF LONG-LASTING POWERFUL QUIET LIGHT ELECTRIC CHAIN HOIST LP 3 YEAR WARRANTY CH-6247 Schötz I Phone +41 41 984 11 33 I tel@gis-ag.ch I www.gis-ag.ch RIG IT EASY WITH GISNext >