"The theatre technicians at the RSAMD know the lighting business inside out, so we were really under the spotlight in terms of delivering a state-of-the-art system," says Black Light's installations project manager, Paul McGreal. "However, we were the first choice for the job and were able to deliver a high-quality, bespoke system within budget and to a tight deadline."
The installation project was instigated because the New Athenaeum's old equipment was starting to become unreliable. It was also becoming difficult to source spare parts for some of the theatre's equipment. To bring the theatre's systems up to date, Black Light reviewed its current technology and then drew up a refurbishment plan that was primarily based around products from Zero 88.
Every step was taken to ensure that the new system matched the theatre's historic interior; for example a new lighting bar was installed which was specially powder coated to blend in with the look of the building.
Achieving the highest level of technical excellence was only one of the challenges Black Light met at the RSAMD. The project also demanded high levels of cleanliness and tidiness as the company's technicians were operating in a working theatre and therefore had to be scrupulous in everything they did.
One of the more unusual elements in the RSAMD installation was the renovation of what is known as the Lord Chamberlain's switch. This historic switch is positioned next to one seat in the New Athenaeum's auditorium. In the past, if the censor was unhappy with anything he saw, then he could bring the house lights up by activating this switch. "We had to make sure that this switch was linked in with the new equipment we were installing," explains McGreal. "It was a real case of old meeting new."
(Jim Evans)
