The main stage makes use of over 1,200 ways of ETC's Sine Wave dimming and switches, including 840 ways of ETC Matrix Mk II modular install dimmers and 360 ways of ETC distributed SineWave Power Bars. In addition to this, the Studio stage makes use of 260 ways of ETC Sensor+ SCR dimming.
Says project manager for Bico Professionel, S°ren J°rgensen: "The specification called for the same type of network and equipment as we already had at its sister venue, the Operaen (Copenhagen Opera House) - including ETC's Net3 (ACN) Ethernet show network and SineWave distributed dimming, but in addition to this they also choose to have SineWave installation dimmers. We had recently worked with ETC on another project and knew them to be a safe solution, and that they could easily supply everything we needed."
Across the Playhouse, some 150 Source Four conventional luminaires and 24 Source Four Revolution moving lights were used, as well as over 40 Source Four HID Junior Zooms in the foyer, which are controlled by an ETC Unison houselight system.
Seating 750, the main stage was inspired by northern Italian renaissance theatre, with its horseshoe shaped galleries. The secondary stage, seating 250, is known as Portscenen (The Gate Stage), reflecting the fact that the large doors in the northern wall can be opened to draw the stage out onto the quay. The theatre's intimate Studio Stage seats an audience of about 100. The Playhouse, which cost some DKK 900m (£100m), performs theatrical repertoire in Danish, as well as children's activities, concerts, debates and lectures.
Tim Stokholm, regional manager for Northern Europe, says: "The Playhouse has been open since February and has been receiving critical acclaim for its productions. Performances are often quiet, so it is vital that the luminaires and filaments make as little noise as possible. The last thing you would want during a quiet scene is the lamp buzz being louder than the performers. ETC's SineWave dimming removes audible filament buzz. Venues have also found their energy costs reduced, and because there is less stress on the filament, lamps require frequent replacement. The distributed ETC SineWave dimmers in the lighting bridges have given the theatre a huge flexibility and provided cost savings in the installation."
(Lee Baldock)
