The ENO approached Stage Technologies for a solution with the view to purchasing a Nomad control console and renting 36 Big Tow winches. This would allow them to move very heavy loads quickly and safely, including a two-tonne suspension bridge, which is part of the set for Rhinegold, and allows them to stage some complicated and impressive effects for forth coming productions such as Valkyrie and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
The well-publicised delay in the completion of the building project resulted in Stage Technologies engineers having to rig and load-test all 36 hoists on a series of overnight calls. At the same time, six flymen who had never operated a Nomad before needed to be fully trained, whilst simultaneously running stage rehearsals! Stage Technologies completed the installation within the tight time-scale and to the required budget. Paul Clay, head of production for the ENO, commented: "Anyone who has been though a large building project knows the difficulty of marrying building works with complex technological systems, yet despite this the system Stage Technologies' installed has been very successful. It is a tribute to their hard work, professionalism and talent that all of this was achieved at all, let alone with humour and good grace."
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
