Both Australian production companies have chosen similar automation systems, each of which include numerous award-winning Big Tow Winches and the Acrobat control console both ideal for touring applications. Oliver!, which opened in May in Sydney to critical acclaim, will shortly be joined by Witches of Eastwick, which starts previewing in Melbourne in August. The latter uses Stage Technologies' Pathway - a specially developed software application which allows objects (in this case the three witches) to move in space along complicated, pre-programmed curved trajectories. The Pathway software will enable these complicated performer flying sequences to be re-created in other venues on a tour which visits Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney in its first six months.
Since launching the Pathway software, Stage Technologies have further developed it to produce the magical flying sequences for their latest project Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in London's West End.
(Ruth Rossington)
