"The college required us to provide a versatile rig that would allow the space to be transformed from a dance studio into a theatre space and back again" notes Matt Stridgen, White Light's projects co-ordinator responsible for the Bird College installation. "This required the installation of a new lighting grid and lighting infrastructure together with tracking and drapes to allow the space itself to be varied."
The new installation is based around an 8m by 7.5m internally-wired lighting grid featuring 20 15A sockets as well as a DMX outlet for control of automated lighting or other lighting accessories, plus additional plain bars for rigging, new boom positions and a front-of-house lighting bar, all hung from the studio's existing wooden roof. The lighting sockets were wired back to a new dimmer position fitted with two Zero Chilli 10-amp dimmer packs, one 24-way and one 12-way. The dimmers are controlled by an ETC SmartFade ML console located in a control position at the rear of the studio. As part of the installation, White Light cleaned and PAT-tested the existing lantern stock as well as supplying six new Selecon Acclaim Fresnels, 12 Acclaim Zoomspots and 12 Par Cans.
"For the tracks and drapes, we used the Hall Stage T60 system, with tracks installed to allow the drapes to be pulled back into the corners of the studio to offer the maximum use of the dance floor, or to be pulled out to create backstage and wing space" Stridgen notes. The installation features two T60 Overlap Hand Line Tracks, two T60 Straight Walk Along Tracks and two T60 U-Shaped Walk Along Tracks together with 3.3m high, chain weighted black wool serge drapes.
"We also provided training for the college on the use of their new SmartFade console," Stridgen adds, "and the whole installation, including training, was completed in time for their production of Guys and Dolls."
(Jim Evans)
