050 REPORT
CARYL C H UR C H I L L T H E AT RE Company: LTM Location: London, UK Stage Electrics has completed the supply and installation of the lighting and audio infrastructure and stage engineering within the newly-built Caryl Churchill Theatre at London’s Royal Holloway University. Affiliated to the University of London, Royal Holloway University prides itself on its reputation for having one of the UK’s leading drama and theatre departments with an international reputation for the quality of its research in many different aspects of drama, theatre and performance studies. The innovatively-designed Caryl Churchill Theatre replaced the University’s pre-existing 30-year old black box Studio Theatre with a new, flexible, future-proof facility that also incorporates two large rehearsal studios, dressing rooms, a workshop and a new foyer. Its new auditorium offers an increased seating capacity of 178 seats arranged around three sides of the auditorium and over two levels, with a third level entirely dedicated to technical operations and control. Stage Electrics was appointed by builders Morgan Sindall to supply and install the infrastructure elements as specified by theatre consultants, Theatreplan. These include all dimming solutions, house and working lights, DMX distribution, cabling and customised facilities panels. Theatreplan’s John Whitaker worked closely with Sean Brennan of Royal Holloway University and the Stage Electrics’ team of Design and Commercial Manager, Mark Larcombe and Technical Project Manager, Martin Woodage, to establish the best solutions for each element and deliver a theatre that was functional, flexible and future-proof. Stage Electrics supplied two sections of motorised Prolyte truss to form a grid that covers the whole front-of-house roof resulting in an extremely flexible performance area. Each truss is supplied with double purchase suspension mechanisms complete with eight Loadguard chain hoists from Lift Turn Move (LTM), customised
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chain diversion assemblies, all rigging accessories and a cable tray located within the truss. An IGUS Energy chain cable management system was added to the truss grid sections complete with cables and chain collecting ‘baskets’. The control system includes fixed wiring to the chain hoists, a motor control cabinet and a control pendant. All parts and assemblies were tested in-house by Stage Electrics before installation. Stage Electrics installed a mono rail system for rigging and hanging scenery. This consists of three customised mono rails, mounted on rollers and Loadguard chain hoists, suspended over the stage and central performing areas. The rails can be configured for end-on or lateral performances and have been designed to allow further additions in future. Stage Electrics added a finishing touch with the provision of two curtains on Triple E curtain tracks within the main house, one behind and one opposite the retractable seating, and a further set of curtains in each of the two rehearsal studios adjacent to the main auditorium. “We were pleased that Stage Electrics won the technical outfitting contract,” said Sean. “We have used the company for equipment purchases over the years and have always been satisfied by the level of service we have received. Stage Electrics is a large national company but it maintains a personal approach. “The college and department is extremely satisfied with the technical installation in the theatre which is neat, intuitive and functional. The Caryl Churchill Theatre has become the flagship venue within the department offering a level of flexibility and user interface that makes the building a pleasure to work in for researchers, students, academics and technicians.”
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