Autograph Sound Recording have had a hectic first few months with 22 productions opening around the country since January. The year started with a sound design and equipment rental project called Northern Odyssey, an ambitious one-off concert at the new Odyssey Arena in Northern Ireland. Sound design was by Autograph's Nick Lidster, whose most recent design is for Bounce, which opened at the end of April at the Roundhouse in Chalk Farm, London.Feelgood, the political satire based on the current governments spin-doctoring, opened and sold out at the Hampstead theatre in January followed by a small countrywide tour, before it started a longer run in London's West End. Autograph's Simon Baker sound designed this hilarious new play before starting work on his new project Closer to Heaven, Really Useful Group's new musical collaboration with The Pet Shop Boys, which opens at the Arts Theatre in June. In-between these two projects Simon managed to fit in a few weeks at The Prince of Wales Theatre, wearing his associate sound designer’s hat, for The Witches of Eastwick’s move out of The Theatre Royal Drury Lane into the more intimate space where Autograph's Andrew Bruce adapted his innovative use of the L'Acoustic d-Vdosc loudspeaker system.Drury Lane is now getting ready to receive the much acclaimed new production of My Fair Lady from The Royal National Theatre, where it has been playing to sell out audiences since March. Autograph is supplying the complete sound and communications system for both venues. Another old favourite, Jesus Christ Superstar started its year-long UK tour in February at the Edinburgh Playhouse. Autograph's Ken Hampton oversaw the supply and installation of the system, which will visit 12 theatres over the course of a year.
The Royal Shakespeare Company have also been keeping Autograph busy, with The Secret Garden move to London from Stratford. Autograph's chairman, Andrew Bruce and managing director, Terry Jardine, co-designed the project, while Matt McKenzie has been supervising the transfer of his design for the RSC's production of Henry V to the Barbican and designing the sound for Hamlet and Lieutenant of Inishmore in the 2001 season at Stratford. With the rest of the year looking as busy as the first four months, Autograph will be having a further recruitment drive in the summer, followed by additional building improvements and expansion to cope with their increasing workload.
