The Hub is an exciting new venue incorporating the most up to date facilities and state of the art equipment and is a good example of the college's strong association with the performing arts. The space has been designed to effectively accentuate performances and students ability to perform at a professional level.
Stage Electrics was responsible for the installation, bringing to life the vision of a flexible and technologically advanced space for students and their performances. The brief was to install a technical system capable of supporting a new versatile 250-seat theatre dance studio, rehearsal studio and four rehearsal rooms.
The key objective throughout was to allow for flexibility within the space, with technical systems in the venue designed around this. The new venue can adapt and shape to the needs of any performance from Shakespeare to rock concerts.
The technical infrastructure in the theatre is designed to offer an environment focused around learning. The user interfaces can adapt to allow simple control of lighting and audio systems for novices, while those finishing the courses will be equipped with the fundamental procedures used in today's technical performance industries.
The design approach taken relies on equipment at the forefront of the technical performance industry. The venue is one of the first in the UK to boast the new Roland M400 desk and 1608 Reac devices and uses the latest console from Strand. The Classic Palette drives control of Martin automated lighting fixtures and a Zero88 Chilli dimming system.
Jonathan Goodwin, artistic director of The Hub, comments: "Stage Electrics' project management team has been superb. Their knowledge and ability to explore creative solutions to achieve precisely what we wanted was outstanding. The technology was pushed to its limits with the opening production but with the continuing support of Stage Electrics throughout, it proved that it could withstand all that was asked of it and more. We were overjoyed to see that the aspirations and vision for this theatre were finally being realised so flawlessly."
(Jim Evans)
