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Entertainment Technologies 01494 446 000 | www.ac-et.com | sales@ac-et.com Aluminium Access Products Ltd 01942 514 318 | www.tallescope.co.uk | info@tallescope.co.ukAmbassador Theatre Group Ltd 020 7297 3910 | www.atg.co.ukAmbersphere Solutions 020 8992 6369 | www.ambersphere.co.uk| Sales@ambersphere.co.ukCharcoalblue LLP 020 7298 0000 | www.charcoalblue.com | studio@charcoalblue.comClay Paky Spa 00 39 035 65 43 11 | www.claypaky.it | info@claypaky.itDelfont Mackintosh Theatres Ltd 0844 482 5138 | www.delfontmackintosh.co.ukETC Ltd 020 8896 1000 | www.etcconnect.com | uk@etcconnect.comGallowglass Training Ltd 0845 600 5030 | www.gallowglasstraining.com | Training@gallowglasstraining.comGDS (Global Design Solutions) 0117 325 0063| www.gds.uk.com | matt.lloyd@gds.uk.comHawthorn 01664 821 140 | www.hawthorn.biz | Kate.Brudenell@hawthorn.bizJ&C Joel Ltd 01422 833 835 | www.jcjoel.com | sales@jcjoel.comNimax Theatres Ltd 020 7395 0780 | www.nimaxtheatres.com | general@nimaxtheatres.comReally Useful Theatres Group 020 7557 7300 | www.reallyusefultheatres.co.ukSafetyLiftinGear 0808 123 6969 | www.safetyliftingear.com | sales@safetyliftingear.comSociety of London Theatre 020 7557 6700 | www.solt.co.uk | enquiries@soltukt.co.uk Theatres Trust 020 7836 8591 | www.theatrestrust.org.uk | info@theatrestrust.org.ukUK Theatre 020 7557 6700 | www.uktheatre.org | ukt@soltukt.co.ukUnusual Rigging Ltd 01604 830 083 | www.unusual.co.uk | info@unusual.co.ukWhite Light Ltd 020 8254 4800 | www.whitelight.ltd.uk | info@whitelight.ltd.ukGDS®®GOLD ISG MEMBERSHQTracksFabrics & FlooringDrapes & ShapesStage EngineeringConsumablesDid You Know?We can provide bespokedesign, manufacturing and installation services giving customers a turn-key solution anywhere on the globe.UK Europe Africa Middle East Asia Australasiaprojects@jcjoel.com www.jcjoel.com +44 (0)1422 833835 Association of British Theatre Technicians55 Farringdon Road, London EC1M 3JBTel: 020 7242 9200 Fax: 020 7242 9303Email: office@abtt.org.uk Website: www.abtt.org.ukOFFICERS & COUNCILLouise Jeffreys ChairwomanRichard Bunn Vice-ChairmanZoe Cotton Co-optedDavid Edelstein David Evans Matthew Freeman Co-optedPeter Maccoy Tom Mannings James McKeogh Co-optedPaul Moore Co-optedRikki NewmanAnette OllerearnshawCaroline RouseNikki ScottMark WhiteJohn YoungEX OFFICIO MEMBERS OF COUNCILMichael AndersonChairman, Safety CommitteeSebastian Barnes Chairman, Training & Education Comm.Tim FosterChairman, Theatre Design Comm.Roger FoxChairman, Historical Research Comm.Jean Shevelan Chairman, NorthNet – ABTTMark White Chairman, Communications and Publications CommitteeRoger Fox Company SecretaryDavid Adams Deputy Company SecretaryMatthew Jones Honorary SecretarySTAFFRobin Townley Chief Executive Officer (CEO)Elysia Moore Association Co-ordinatorStuart Roberts Financial ControllerCONSULTANTGeoffery Joyce ABTT Training Co-ordinatorRegistered Charity 282069SightlineCONTENTSvol. 40 no. 4Editorial 6Darlington Hippodrome and The Hullabaloo 7Theatres and Placemaking 14The Sainsbury and Vanbrugh Theatres 18National Theatre: Open Access, Smart Capture 20 Book Review: London Theatres 24Modern Theatres: Royal Exchange 27A Royal Affair 35Boxed in for too long 39Sir Peter Hall and the ABTT 42ITEAC preview 43Safety Matters 45Members News 47Editor Rebecca MorlandAssociate Editor Paul Connolly Publisher John Offord Entertainment Technology Press Ltd The Studio, High Green, Great Shelford Cambridge, Cambs CB22 5EGTel: 01223 550805 Fax: 01223 550806Advertising enquiries should be sent to john@etnow.com Sightline is available by annual subscription of £30 (four issues). Sightline is published in March, June, September and December. Cheques should be made payable to Entertainment Technology Press Ltd and sent to the Publisher as above. Alternatively, please go to www.etnow.com/sightline for an order form.Opinions expressed in Sightline are not necessarily those of the Publisher or the Asso-ciation 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: Darlington Hippodrome by night. Photo: Jonathan BlenchLIGHTING | SOUND | VIDEORIGGING | STAGING | DRAPESA COMPLETE INSTALLATION SERVICEhawthorn.biz01664 821 111hire@hawthorn.bizw: t: e: 6 Sightline Winter 2017 EditorialIn this edition of Sightline, we cover an incredibly wide range of topics, with various contributors uncovering or re-assessing theatre buildings, explaining major renovations and outlining technological developments. I am very grateful to all who have taken the time to write such an interesting collection of articles.I was lucky enough to attend the press launch of the National Theatre’s Open Access, Smart Capture system, and had the opportunity to test the glasses that audience members will use. They really do have the potential to revolutionise theatre-going for so many people. I couldn’t begin to explain the technology that lies behind the glasses, so am extremely grateful to Sam Wise, whose article explains exactly what is involved. The scheme is now undergoing testing at the National, which we will watch with interest, and hopefully report back on in future.Another highlight of the last few months for me was the Theatres Trust’s annual Conference – Theatres and Placemaking. Placemaking is a subject that can seem very theoretical and part of “planning speak”, but in reality, as a number of case studies showed, it is about the relationship between theatres and their community, and how operators, local authorities and architects can use to create better buildings. A good example of this has just re-opened in Darlington, and we hear from David Coundon, from Space Architects, about the renovation of the Darlington Civic (now renamed the Darlington Hippodrome) and the associated new childrens’ theatre, the Hullaballoo. This major renovation would not have been possible without the enlightened support of the local council, as well as Arts Council and Heritage Lottery Fund. Sir Peter Hall’s sad death quite rightly got much coverage in the press. Architectural historian, Alistair Fair, outlines his role in the development of several major theatres. We also explore his involvement in the early years of the ABTT itself, which is not much known. With the assistance of ABTT’s archivist, Jane Thornton, we unearthed the original ledger with his name in it (as the fifth person to sign up as a member). At that point membership was two guineas! The latest in the Modern Theatres series is a re-evaluation of the wonderful Royal Exchange in Manchester by Andy Hayles – still a thrilling theatre space today. The Modern Theatres series of articles was conceived by David Staples, Chairman of the Editorial Board of ITEAC,and the series is leading up to the next ITEAC conference in London in June 2018. .Another theatre we feature is the Theatre Royal Nottingham. Jonathan Brown has been exploring the history of its auditorium, following a discovery he made.Looking forward to 2018, there will be two new developments in the pages of Sightline. Applications recently closed for the AK Bennett-Hunter Award for Backstage Journalism. This award was established in the member of Ken Bennett-Hunter, a previous editor and subsequently associate Editor of Sightline, and an advocate and passionate champion of the issues and developments affecting theatre technicians, designers and managers. The Award is a partnership between the Association of British Theatre Technicians, Skillscene, the Society of London Theatre, The Stage, Stage Management Association and UK Theatre, and will help meet the need for more journalists specialising in back stage and technical theatre. We look forward to the winner’s contributions to Sightline in 2018.2018 marks the 40th Anniversary of the ABTT, and the ABTT is collaborating with the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama on a Collaborative Doctoral Project on the History of the ABTT. Paul Roberts will be researching the history of the ABTT, and its impact on the theatre industry. He will share some of his findings in Sightline over the next few years, and will, I know, welcome input from ABTT members at various points! More from Paul in Spring Sightline.Sightline Winter 2017 7 Darlington Hippodrome & Hullabaloo Children’s TheatreINTRODUCTIONThe redevelopment and restoration of the Grade II listed Darlington Civic Theatre has returned this much-loved Edwardian building by Owens and Ward back to its former glory whilst at the same time making significant design improvements and considerably extending the facilities. In summary this project comprises:• the refurbishment, remodelling and extension of the former Darlington Civic Theatre – relaunched as the Darlington Hippodrome• the creation of a new Children’s Theatre called The HullabalooThe project was completed early in November 2017 and the original theatre re-opened under its former name, Darlington Hippodrome, with it’s first “post revamp” performance on 21 November 2017. The new Hullabaloo Children’s Theatre had its first ever public performance on 11 December 2017.APPOINTMENTDarlington Borough Council tendered in 2014 for consultants to undertake the new build, restoration, remodelling and refurbishment programme. Space Architects were ultimately appointed in October 2014 following a rigorous design competition and interview process. David Coundon, Space Architects, introduces this major scheme which has created a new cultural hubFUNDINGIn March 2016 it was announced that Darlington Civic Theatre had received a confirmed £4.5m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The grant formed a key part of the budget for the £11.3m project.This came hot on the heels of a £1.5m grant awarded by Arts Council England (ACE) to Theatre Hullabaloo to support its £2.9m project.Other support came from Darlington Borough Council, a restoration levy on ticket sales and a fundraising campaign.SITEThe 0.3 hectare site is located at on the corner of Parkgate and Borough Road within the Parkgate Conservation Area between the A167 central ring road and Darlington Central Railway Station to the east of Darlington town centre.It originally comprised the Grade II listed historic Darlington Hippodrome/Palace Theatre, a series of shops/restaurants to the west and a 1989 extension to the theatre to the north. North of this was an original Fire Station and Fire House (which were built contemporaneously with the theatre but most recently were used as carpet showroom).The site also included the original service Photo by Jonathan Blench8 Sightline Winter 2017 yard and get-in adjacent to Tannery Yard. There were also several outbuildings on the site including a conservatory and garage which were demolished as part of the works.The original theatre was designed by Owens and Ward and completed in 1907 but after a series of piecemeal extensions and decades of poor maintenance, this cultural asset had fallen into a state of disrepair that required significant capital investment to carry out the restoration programme necessary to sustain and develop it for current and future generationsOBJECTIVESFrom the outset, the client, end users, funding bodies, key stakeholders and the project team identified the following as key issues that needed to be addressed in the Darlington Hippodrome design proposals:• Restoration of the original fabric in a sensitive manner• Enhancement and enlargement of the front of house facilities• Increased seating capacity• Enhanced technical capabilities to attract larger productions• Increased food and beverage facilities throughout the building• Extensive public access throughout the day• Increased range of activities, e.g. exhibitions, training, education• Sustainable building with good long-term maintenance plan• Development of new audiences• Long term sustainable business plan modelSimultaneously the same team established the following objectives for the Hullabaloo Children’s Theatre:• Provision of a separate theatre specifically for Children• Provision of an identifiable ‘children’s theatre’ entrance, foyer, café and box office• Creation of play areas inside and out• Creation of education and activity space for all ages.Hullabaloo Childrens TheatreHippodrome – Exterior of entrance and foyerCharles John Phipps F.S.A. Görel GarlickPrice: £26.95ISBN: 9781904031895This book is the first in-depth biography of the leading Victorian theatre architect Charles Phipps. His designs dislodged the Victorian theatre from its dependence on the Georgian playhouse and ushered in a new modernity utilising the latest technology in lighting, stage machinery and building construction and his work was a major influence on younger architects, notably Frank Matcham. The book traces Phipps’s colourful career and his, often fraught, relationships with clients, as well as his attitude to changing safety regulations and those who attempted to enforce them. The book also re-examines the Exeter Theatre fire and its aftermath, which reverberated throughout the country, and how Phipps managed to cling on to his career before returning with new ideas in his last years.Available from www.etbooks.co.uk or AmazonNext >