The project was handled for J&C Joel by contracts manager Tony Griffiths, who assisted in the technical design of the building and in the client's final choice of stage equipment.
The client chose a highly flexible arrangement of 14 3-phase, 250kg, single speed, 4-line electrically operated pilewind winch units, plus six 4-line hemp sets.
The Alley is a new 270 seat multi purpose venue funded by a £750,000 Lottery grant - the area's largest-ever award from the Arts Council for Northern Ireland. It is also the first dedicated arts facility designed for the enjoyment of all the district's 37,000 residents. A designated link from the adjoining library to the Alley's bright and naturally light foyer leads to the box office and cafeteria beyond, providing full access to a wealth of local services under one roof.
The building is not a traditional box type style and the client needed ultimate flexibility, so a novel scheme was agreed upon between J&C Joel and its clients. "We examined all aspects, and proposed a plan to cover the different uses of the space for choir, music, theatre, seminar and educational activities," explains Griffiths.
Standard black wool serge curtains were also supplied by J&C Joel. These are suspended from Triple E Tab tracks, and were specified by Griffiths as an effective stage divide. Supporting borders, legs and a white cyc give a standard stage feel to the building.
A cyclorama track, complete with black wool serge curtains can completely mask the stage, and create a rear 'cross-over', allowing performers to cross from one side of the stage to the other.
Also on the cyclorama track are six braked, swivel arms which allow for the maximum stage width to be utilised, whilst still providing masking for performances. When not required, the swivel arms and curtains can be neatly stored flat in the smallest space possible as the cyclorama track turns to the off stage walls at its extremes of travel.
Onstage, the key to flexibility is the Triple E motorised proscenium track. This opens and closes with a variable speed motor, and can be operated from either side of stage or via a small handset (for educational/seminar style set ups). The master runners can be disengaged from the motor and manually drawn off stage to a storage facility in the wings.
(Jim Evans)
