Stage Technologies was on site at the Lyric for installation, commissioning, show programming during technical rehearsals, operator training and the press performance. The equipment installed consisted of an Illusionist console, a Maxis PTS control system, eight BigTow Classic winches, four counterweight assist winches (used to propel in-house flying bars), two point hoists installed in the grid (used for a platform elevation), a floor track, and a chair that traverses across the back wall of the set.
The production was so popular that the Lyric extended its run by two weeks, and it was decided to transfer the show to the Novello Theatre on the back of this runaway success.
The Novello Theatre also uses a Stage Technologies automation infrastructure, and as the show had already been fully plotted and tested at the Lyric, stage management time was maximised by the easy transferral of the plotted data into the Novello control system.
"This project has been a pleasure from the start," said Pat Molony, production manager for Spring Awakening in the UK. "Stage Technologies was chosen in the first instance as we had enjoyed a great working partnership on the Witches of Eastwick tour, so when we were getting the show together they were nominated to put in the temporary system at the Lyric. We knew they had the knowhow and experience to add to the existing equipment and we would end up with a versatile and compatible system.
"As it happened, when we moved to the Novello, it couldn't have worked out better, as they also use Stage Technologies kit. Equipment was installed in both venues without a hitch and has performed flawlessly; everyone's been helpful and easy to work with."
(Jim Evans)
