AC-SP sets bar high for Motionhouse
- Details
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Motionhouse creates and tours a wide range of inspiring and powerful productions to theatres and festivals in the UK and across the globe.
Earlier this year, Motionhouse moved into its inspirational new rehearsal space in the new home of British furniture manufacturer Vitsœ in Leamington Spa. The co-habitation was conceived by Vitsœ and Motionhouse to create a vibrant and like-minded working community, and Motionhouse’s move to Vitsœ received capital funding from Arts Council England.
AC-SP needed to adhere to a strict technical specification in order for the installation to blend in with the building.
The original idea was to have motorised truss grids within each of the rehearsal bays, however, initial costs were higher than expected. As a more cost-effective alternative, AC-SP project manager, Chris Little specified Sixty82 fixed ladder truss grids into each rehearsal bay, along with a 3m motorised truss using Columbus McKinnon D8+ Model F motors and Kinesys load monitoring and control.
One of the key requirements from the building owner was that all of the truss had to be installed above the bottom of the timber horizontal beams. This was technically challenging, as a requirement from Motionhouse was to get the rigs a close as possible to the centre beam between each rehearsal bay. The building roof main I Beams are installed in a way to enable the optimum angle for letting light through the roof skylight, and optimum angle for the solar panels' 26.5° and 40° angles.
Traditional I-Beam clamps weren't suitable for this installation, so AC-SP sourced Tiger beam clamps, which can take a load in any direction.
AC-SP supplied Prolights Stark 400CC moving washlights, Eclipse FC Profiles and StudioCOB FC luminaires for each of the rehearsal bay rigs, arranged according to Motionhouse's own LD's design. A Pharos TPC touch panel controller enables the dancers to recall pre-determined lighting states for shows, along with general lighting scenes for day-to-day rehearsals. A Luminex Ethernet DMX8 handles the sACN to DMX conversion, along with data distribution to the fixed & motorised grids.
A Luminex Gigacore26i network switch handles not only the lighting distribution, but video also. The audio system comprises of D.A.D Touring 208 active loudspeakers, an Allen & Heath GR4 analogue rack mount mixer, and Denon media player.
Since the installation was completed, the system has been used for rehearsals of Motionhouse’s current touring production Charge.
Louise Richards, executive director of Motionhouse, comments: "We are delighted with the lighting and AV system. It has been a challenging project with some very specific requirements. However, A.C. Special Projects came up with effective solutions to all of our needs, which were within the very tight timeframe and on budget. The new production rig has really enhanced our creative space, enabling artists and performers to fully immerse themselves in their rehearsals."
(Jim Evans)
