The Netherlands - The Dutch National Opera & Ballet has selected 13 ETC Prodigy P2 stage machinery hoists and 32 ColorSource V fixtures for its Studio Boekman theatre.
ETC dealer Ampco Flashlight Sales worked on the installation and supplied the equipment, which includes P2-300kg hoists and ColorSource V luminaires; 20 ColorSource Spot V and 12 ColorSource Fresnel V fixtures.
The Dutch National Opera & Ballet – the largest theatre production house in the Netherlands – transformed a former municipality space into Studio Boekman, a premier black box theatre in Amsterdam. The Dutch National Opera & Ballet has a reputation for excellence and a commitment to innovation. Its investment in ETC’s products aligns with the venue’s efforts to use advanced technology and improve their efficiency.
Technical director at the National Opera and Ballet (NO&B) Pieter Huijgen comments: “I previously saw an installation of the Prodigy P2 hoist and witnessed just how fast and easy it is to install and to operate. It is a very simple concept, which is exactly what we were looking for – we wanted a system which could easily be used by all technicians, not limited to fully certified fly operators.
“We looked at several options but struggled to find a solution which would work in a smaller space with limited technical possibilities. The other options that we looked at also didn’t meet governmental regulations, whereas ETC’s P2 hoist passed all EU regulations and fit in the space.”
ETC’s Prodigy P2 system’s safety features and compact dimensions make it easy to use and simple to install, which was a key factor in selecting it for Studio Boekman. The quick installation also resulted in less disruption to productions and saved added costs. “We were able to complete the full installation of the hoists in just a few days and received immediate feedback on how simple and easy it is for everyone to operate it,” adds Huijgen.
“We have a great long-standing relationship with ETC. Having worked at the NO&B for 20 years, I’ve had experience in all things ETC and knew the company well. Our trust in the quality and high standard of ETC products is why we knew the stage machinery and fixtures would be the best choice for Studio Boekman.”
Bas van Schelven, sales manager at Ampco Flashlight Sales comments: “As a long-standing ETC dealer this was our first project with ETC’s stage machinery systems. We were happy that the promised ease of installation came true: Prodigy P2 is a pre-configured construction kit.
“The installation time was completed within a week so we could have the Prodigy P2 up and running in the limited time available to finish the project. As always, we had great support from ETC to do the commissioning on site. We believe ETC’s Prodigy P2 is the solution when the time to install stage machinery is tight – which happens most of the time in renovating existing installations.”
ETC European rigging sales manager Enrico Nobile comments: “This project was a great collaboration between ETC’s rigging team, the NO&B and Ampco Flashlight Sales. We had the best group of people involved, and this was the key to successfully setting up the right plan for the installation in accordance with the NO&B’s needs.
“To drive the Prodigy P2 Hoist, our premium stage automation control system was selected – the Foundation touchscreen controller. Foundation offers a very simple user interface with a full hoist status report available and ready to receive real-time feedback from any hoists in the system. Double plug-in control points were also installed to use the Foundation desk with its 15m cable – and place it in any position to suit the operator’s needs.”
