Summer 2025 Sightline Journal of Theatre Technology and Design ABTT Theatre Show Edition Interview with Carl Root Flints, Theatrical Chandlers, the story so far Gemma Swallow – 12 years at NTS Frozen Light Theatre Company Buildings Committee Report ISG member 2025 SILVER ISG member 2025 BRONZE ISG member 2025 GOLD PLATINUM ISG member 2025 Orbital Sound 020 7501 6868 | orbitalsound.com | information@orbitalsound.com Ornate Plaster (London) Ltd 01252 718 669 | ornateplasterlondon.com | info@ornateplasterlondon.com Preevue 020 7078 8892 | preevue.com | info@preevue.com Production Resource Group UK Ltd 0345 470 6400 | prg.com/uk | ukinfo@prg.com ROBE 01604 741000 | www.robe.cz | infouk@robeuk.com Society of London Theatre 020 7557 6700 | solt.co.uk | enquiries@soltukt.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 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 Aluminium Access Products Ltd 01942 514 318 | tallescope.co.uk | info@tallescope.co.uk Ayrton Digital Lighting 01842 764 631 | ayrton.eu | aryton.eu/about-us/#contact Cameron Mackintosh Ltd 020 7637 8866 | cameronmackintosh.com | info@camack.co.uk Charcoalblue LLP 020 7298 0000 | charcoalblue.com | studio@charcoalblue.com Creative Spark 01342 457220 | creative-spark.co.uk | venuesupport@creative-spark.co.uk 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 | Nimax Theatres Ltd 020 7395 0780 | nimaxtheatres.com | general@nimaxtheatres.com 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 White Light Ltd 020 8254 4800 | info@whitelight.ltd.uk | whitelight.ltd.ukORIGINAL Arup 020 7636 1531 | arup.com/venues | artsandculture@arup.com Bennetts Associates 020 7520 3300 | bennettsassociates.com | mail@bennettsassociates.com Blue I Event Technology Ltd +44 (0)1908 032668 | blueievent.co.uk | hello@bluei.group 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 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 NODA 01733 374 790 | noda.org.uk | info@noda.org.uk Panasonic Connect 01344 853154 | eu.connect.panasonic.com | eu.connect.panasonic.com/support/contact-us Push The Button Ltd 0117 370 2626 | PTB.co.uk | hello@PTB.co.uk Robolights Ltd 01392 823 040 | robolights.com | sales@robolights.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 MEMBERSArup 020 7636 1531 | arup.com/venues | artsandculture@arup.com Bennetts Associates 020 7520 3300 | bennettsassociates.com | mail@bennettsassociates.com Blue I Event Technology Ltd +44 (0)1908 032668 | blueievent.co.uk | hello@bluei.group 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 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 NODA 01733 374 790 | noda.org.uk | info@noda.org.uk Panasonic Connect 01344 853154 | eu.connect.panasonic.com | eu.connect.panasonic.com/support/contact-us Push The Button Ltd 0117 370 2626 | PTB.co.uk | hello@PTB.co.uk Robolights Ltd 01392 823 040 | robolights.com | sales@robolights.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 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 Mig Burgess Walsh Co-Chair Oliver Brown Vice Chair Joshua Burnside Co-opted Alexander Cann Mark Dakin Jack Davies Co-opted David Evans Co-Chair Gareth Evans Co-opted Paul Moore Co-opted Jessica Nicholls Co-opted Anette Ollerearnshaw Nikki Scott Co-opted Suzy Somerville Matthew Smethurst-Evans Ben Stephen Emma Wilson Anton Woodward EX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF COUNCIL Michael AndersonChair, Safety Committee Sebastian Barnes Chair, Training & Education Committee Jack Davies Chair, ABTT Apprenticeship Network Roger Fox Chair, Historical Research Committee Simon Harper Chair, Theatre Design Committee Robert Millington Chair, Stephen Joseph Committee Matthew Jones Honorary Secretary Rhian Jones Chair, ABTT Cymru Committee Danny Lennon Chair, Sustainability Committee Peter Maccoy Chair, OISTAT Committee Robert Millington Chair, Stephen Joseph Committee Paul MooreChair, Northnet Committee Anette Ollerearnshaw Chair, Wigs, Hair and Make-up Committee Nick Page Chair, Automation Committee Dan Shelley Chair, Reset Better Committee Ben Stephen Chair, Communications and Publications Committee Loretta Tomasi Honorary Treasurer Caroline TownsendChair, CITEA Committee CONSULTANT Louise Birchall ABTT Training Co-ordinator Sightline CONTENTS vol. 48 no. 2 Theatre Green Book Page Page 8 Young Associate Page 10 The PiPA PagePage 11 Buildings Committee Page 12 An interview with Lucy Garland, Co-Artistic Director of Frozen Light Theatre CompanyPage 14 Making a Digital BookPage 16 Charcoalblue Twenty years of Theatre ConsultancyPage 19 Make a Difference conference Page 24 “Copydex”/ Latex Adhesive: What is it and is it ecological & sustainable?Page 22 The ABTT Theatre Show Turns 45Page 23 An Overview of the ABTT Theatre Show Page 24 ABTT Theatre Show Seminars & WorkshopsPage 26 Flints, Theatrical Chandlers, the story so farPage 28 Gemma Swallow – 12 years at NTS an InterviewPage 31 An Interview with Carl Root Page 34 TRAINING AND EDUCATION: Agents of Change – Developing the next Generation of Leaders Page 36 Tech Standards Page 39 Members News Page 42 Safety Matters Page 43 Editor David Evans PublisherET 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 Courtesy of ABTT. Photo: Origin8 PhotographyAt Solutions On Stage, we make compliance simple — ensuring your venue is safe, legal, and performance-ready. From Fixed Wire Testing to PIT Lift Inspections, we’ve got it covered. Contact our friendly team for expert advice. We know your venue solutionsonstage.co.uk0117 244 8625enquiries@solutionsonstage.co.uk WEATHERPROOF 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 GISSightline Summer 2025 7 Editorial Welcome to the Summer and Theatre Show edition. Included inside are details of the seminars and workshops at the show and in the centre pages we have a fascinating graphic “ABTT Theatre show in Numbers” adjacent to this is a QR code which you can use to download the groundplan of the show. The Theatre Show is the only event where the backstage theatre community comes together, business is done, new products are launched, companies see customers face to face perhaps for the only time in the year and friends reconnect. The show is intrinsically about human connection. Fulltime and freelancers converge from across the country and beyond. We are a distributed industry and these times of coming together are particularly important to reinforce our identity as a cohesive industry. This success of our real life connections is counter to a current trend identified as the “Anti-Social Society”; people are going out less, the night time economy that we depend on is facing financial and cultural challenges, nights-in are advertised as a reward on TV, people can get most things delivered so don’t need to go out and fewer and fewer people are. If people are disinclined to go out, where are we going to find the audiences? This is a question that lies at the heart of the future of our industry, but we won’t solve it if we do not work together, be that venues, directors, suppliers and in the end councils and government. Working together underlies the Make a Difference conference and we have a report on the very popular and successful event that was held at Rose Bruford. The theme of the conference was ‘rethinking backstage technical teaching and apprenticeships with and for industry,” and two of the speakers share their perspectives. Regular contributor Anette Ollerearnshaw also references the conference in her piece about developing the next generation of leaders using Theatre Deli’s practice as an example. It takes time to solve problems and to be successful and we hear about two industry institutions that have made that journey; Ben Lyle MD of Flints gives us an oversight of the company’s evolution, starting as an adjunct to Alistair Flint’s scenery business growing to be the country’s leading and probably the world’s only theatrical chandler. Robin Townley writes a companion piece to Tim Foster’s review of Charcoalblue’s book in the last edition of Sightline, tracing their evolution in an industry that is constantly innovating. There is a fascinating interview with Carl Root, Production Manager at the RSC whose career incorporates working with many brilliant people on innumerable significant shows. Gemma Swallow talks us through her career including 12 years at National Theatre Scotland. From a Malaysian jungle to the Highlands and Irelands of Scotland, she has toured extensively. Just like Carl she can trace the moment that she became hooked on theatre to a single show that she saw in her youth. Proof, if it were needed that taking children to the theatre is essential. Stage Sight are having a pause, but we have the return of our Young Associates page which has some very helpful advice. This edition’s Theatre Green Book piece is written by Lilli Geissendorfer who astutely talks about how it is never too early to start talking about sustainability and how it should be embedded at the R and D stage before a show is even thought about. Following on from Clara Clark’s piece about prop making in the last Sightline, David Rigden tells us about the environmental credentials of a key tool for the prop maker. The ABTT Buildings Committee have their first article addressing the redevelopment of Pitlochry Festival Theatre and Juliette Moore tells us about the pros and cons of using a digital prompt copy. Finally, Csilla Toldy talks to Frozen Light Theatre Company who won last year’s ABTT Stephen Joseph Award for their remarkable work. It is worth noting that from July the ABTT is open for nominations for this year’s award, details can be found on the ABTT website.8 Sightline Summer 2025 At Theatre Green Book, we know we can’t afford to keep creativity and sustainability in separate rooms. To achieve Theatre Green Books Basic for Sustainable Productions, it recommends embedding sustainability conversations right from the start of the creative process, from the very first conversations with directors and designers. But what if we go back to the step before that? Artist development comes in many shapes and sizes, from R&D weeks, skills training, and mentorship to scratch nights, networking events, and feedback sessions. It’s the lifeblood of new work, where creatives go from uncertain spark to confident proposal. And it’s always about more than just making new work – it’s about shaping voices, building futures, and supporting artists to take bold steps forward. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: if we offer all these things without addressing the climate crisis, we are building careers on foundations that are unsustainable – morally, socially, and environmentally. The boldest step we can take now is to embed environmental sustainability into every layer of that journey. Failure is our greatest teacher The right to fail is fundamental for artist development. And, I would argue, fundamental to progress on climate change. When we succeed, we often move forward without questioning why or how things worked. But failure forces us to pause, reflect, and analyse. It’s in moments of difficulty that creativity flourishes and deeper learning takes root. Success affirms; failure transforms. And that means there’s a lot of similarity between great artist development and great climate action. So what if we viewed all artist development as an opportunity for climate action? How might we grow theatre makers *and* grow greener practices – side by side? In the same room? From funding to mentorship, residencies to workshops: how could we make each step lighter, smarter, and more future-facing? 80% of carbon is locked in at the design stage This assertion is a widely cited concept in sustainable design. Theatre Green Book works on the same principle – 80% of the environmental impact gets determined by what happens and is decided right at the start of any new show; much of which may or may not have been worked up during one or more R&D phases – in other words, during artist development. Embedding Theatre Green Book into artist development could therefore have a hugely positive influence on the environmental impact of a piece of performance throughout its lifecycle. Greening Artist Development: Nurturing theatre makers with the planet in mind Lilli GeissendorferSo what does embedding environmental responsibility in artist development look like practically? It looks like residencies powered by renewable energy and locally sourced, second hand materials. It looks like funding criteria that ask artists how they will care for the planet in their process – not just in their themes. Mentoring that includes climate literacy as well as skills and confidence building. It also means that organisations must lead by example, using Theatre Green Book across their Buildings, Operations and Productions. For theatre makers 1.Make climate needs as normal as your access needs – use a green rider 2.Quote for the true cost of eco-friendly materials, production practices, and travel 3.Put your climate credentials on your CV 4.Highlight how all your work, explicitly or implicitly, speaks to the crisis 5.Ask those offering you artist development for their sustainability action plans For venues, funders, organisations and commissioners: 1.Set up a green artist development sub-group to support each other 2.Invite applicants to submit proposals with sustainable options built in as the default 3.Explicitly prioritise projects exploring themes of climate change 4.Incorporate climate literacy training into your artist development offers 5.Measure and minimise the carbon footprint of artist development activities 6.Include eco-conscious practice in the mentoring conversation Embed sustainability criteria into R&D and commissioning agreements Artist Development Toolkit Theatre Green Book offers a set of tools and resources for making productions, buildings and operations more sustainable. Artist development cuts across all three of these and comes in many different shapes and sizes. There is a need for a dedicated toolkit on greening artist development - if you would like to contribute to it, please get in touch. Integrating environmental sustainability into artist development pathways is both a creative and ethical imperative. By rethinking how we train, support, and showcase artists, we can build a sector that actively contributes to a more just and liveable future.Sightline Summer 2025 9 - JUNE 202 All the latesttheatre innovations, tech and networking opportunitiesunder one roof! Only35minutesdoorto doorfromtheWestEnd! abtttheatreshow.co.uk SAVE THE DATE ALEXANDRA PALACE, LONDONNext >