The school has created its new facility by converting a former gymnasium to provide a flexible and intimate studio that can be used either as a studio space or, at the push of a button to bring out the electrically-powered retractable seating, as a studio theatre.
White Light's Roger Hennigan liaised with the school's head of drama, Neil Zoladkiewicz to work out the most efficient use of the school's budget to provide the most flexible and useful set of facilities.
"White Light suggested and advised on options, showing a keen understanding of the educational requirements of the new studio as well as the need to create an exciting new performance space," Zoladkiewicz notes. "As a result the equipment they have installed has already proved to be student friendly, and highly appropriate for both training purposes and for drama examination requirements."
The lighting system comprises a fixed Andolite lighting grid with 80 outlets (including floor-level outlets) fed by a mains patch, a house light system, a 48-way dimmer system consisting of LSC Eko dimmers, an LSC maXim LP memory lighting console plus lanterns from ETC (Source Four Zooms), Robert Juliat (RJ310 Fresnels) and Thomas (four-cell floods).
The project also encompassed backstage lighting, a worklight system with dimmable fluorescents and GDS Blue Dome LED fixtures, an intercom system, a small sound system (EV SX300 speakers, EV Q66 amps, Allen and Heath mixing desk), curtains on Hall T70 tracks for the studio plus power supplies for the Studio, foyer and classroom. White Light also provided staff training sessions.
(Jim Evans)
