UK - ABTT Theatre Show organisers have released a seminar programme running across 10-11 June - the days when the postponed 2020 tradeshow would have taken place.
"In light of the postponement of the 42nd ABTT Theatre Show until 2021, the ABTT felt that it was necessary to mark the occasion and provide our usual attendees with something to commemorate this event during the current pandemic," say the organisers. "While we cannot recreate or replace the experience of the ABTT Theatre Show, we hope to enable some of the conversations and discussions that take place when theatre people come together."
The schedule comprises 10 seminars (five per day), each set to last no longer than 90 minutes including Q&A.

The schedule is as follows:

10 June (Wednesday)

ALD: A spotlight on better conditions for the lighting industry and the future of lighting: ALD chair Johanna Town will be joined by industry representatives in discussing the need for clearer contracts and letters of engagement for all freelance lighting staff and the best ways of using LED lighting and how in light of the EU regulations taking effect.

Technical training in a new world: TEC chairman Sebastian Barnes, Mig Burgess (GSA), Jo Franklin (GSA), Roz Madison (RCS) and Rachel Nicholson (Backstage Academy) explore the next steps for education and how to move forward in a post-COVID world.

Hair, make-up and costume in the performing arts: Anette Ollerearnshaw, Catherine Kodicek, Julia Townend, Neill Gorton and Spob O’Brien discuss the effects of COVID-19 on the industry.

Mental health in these times: UK technical backstage entertainment industry: Lighting designer and GSA tutor Mig Burgess, research director in Clinical Psychology at the University of Surrey Dr Paul Hanna, and mental health and well-being facilitator Alison Surtees discuss the findings of the first evaluation on mental health awareness specifically within the UK technical backstage entertainment industry.

CAD for performance and Vectorworks: AutoCAD expert David Ripley reviews AutoCAD and the features relevant to production professionals. Vectorworks' Tom White discusses how to create 2D plans from 3D models.


11 June
Theatre: then and now: This presentational seminar includes: Sam Walters “In the age of technology, is live theatre yesterday’s art form?”, Barbara Day ”Theatre that is always at a beginning”, Peter Tate “To carry on or not to carry on..?” & video interviews with Richard Pilbrow and Sir Alan Ayckbourn

Challenging the status quo in sound: Dominic Bilkey, head of sound & video at the NT, Zoe Milton, freelance sound engineer and administrator from the ASD and other industry experts discuss how to ensure creative thinkers will be enabled in a post pandemic world

Sustainability: is it time for a system change? Tom Harper, MD of Unusual Rigging and the Sustainability in Production Alliance and our a panel of industry experts discuss how we could sustain the creative industry post-COVID-19.

Raising the curtain: working safe & healthy post-COVID-19: Phill Brown from SOLT UK Theatre discusses Health and Safety planning for COVID-19 with a panel of industry experts.

Mental health and well-being workshop: Alison Surtees, Mental Health First Aide Instructor in this open session for anyone wanting to go through some useful health and well-being techniques and talk about how to best look after themselves.

For timings and details on how to register, visit www.abtt.org.uk.

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