Technical Planning International, the consultants responsible for the stage engineering during the refurbishment, commissioned Centre Stage Engineering and Delstar Engineering to handle the overstage and understage developments respectively. Motion control specialist AVW Controls was sub-contracted by Delstar to design and install all the understage control systems. A new orchestra elevator provides the Dome with greater flexibility than ever before. Driven by a Serapid chain, it can be used at a number of levels via programmable controls from AVW. Unusually for a specialist stage contractor, AVW was responsible for all the electrical containment of the elevator, as well as the electrical installation and commissioning. The choir riser also provides the facility to augment the stage. When deployed this is tiered and forms seating for a 50-strong choir; in order to create a larger stage area, Delstar designed, built and installed it so that the motorised seating folds up against the rear wall, rather than being raised from the stage floor, again the controls were designed and installed by AVW.
Additional temporary seating facilities are provided by the 15 seating wagons supplied by Delstar. Each use between 3-10 air casters to raise the wagon slightly, enabling it to be pushed easily onto the orchestra elevator then lowered into storage beneath the stage. Below stage, Delstar installed 26 chain hoists on which to hang the seating wagons in two layers, maximising available storage space. The chain hoists are controlled in six groups by AVW's custom designed chain hoist control system. To mark the Dome's reopening, the refurbished venue will host a star-studded international first season with performances by Buena Vista Social Club's leading lady, Omara Portuondo, plus Kiri Te Kanawa, Nigel Kennedy, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The London Philharmonic and Brighton Philharmonic.
As the refurbishment of Brighton Dome was taking place, AVW was contracted, again by Delstar Engineering, to supply and install an Impressario system in a theatre at a new theme park attraction close to Paris, and then to train the resident technicians on its use. The Animagique Theater features a show with a live cast and is lit predominantly with UV lights. The AVW Impressario system is central to the successful running of the show, controlling moving scenery, including a Lion King pop up effect, and four sliding doors. To assist the smooth changing of scenery AVW installed an automated stage track to which scenery is attached before being 'travelated' on stage.
(Ruth Rossington)
