The theatre in Dalston, North East London, aims to become carbon neutral following an ambitious seven-year plan known as Arcola Energy. It has installed energy efficient stage lighting, biomass heating, solar panels, fuel cells and state of the art energy saving technologies throughout the building.
The Arcola Energy launch event took place during monsoon type rain and included a performance from Golden Globe winning actress Cathy Tyson, who coincidentally read from The Flood. During the performance Tyson was lit by a range of low-energy LED lights, solely powered by a 5kW PEM fuel cell.
For the launch performance, Stage Electrics supplied Thomas Pixel line LED battens along with short nose LED PAR 64s and two kits of Pulsar Chroma Hearts including the ChromaZone control and associated cabling.
Paul Roughton, Stage Electrics' business development manager commented: "We were very pleased to have supported the launch event and are looking forward to working with the Arcola supplying the latest technology enabling them to fulfill their vision."
White Light supplied a 4m truss, LED Colour Blocks, Thomas PixelLine 1044s and a Strand 550i console along with the required power distribution equipment. "Environmental issues are an industry wide concern," says Bryan Raven, managing director of White Light. "It is important that we address them as an industry before we reach the point where resolutions are thrust upon us by outside forces. We are therefore very pleased to be able to work with Arcola and Stage Electrics to demonstrate what can be done with existing technology, and perhaps create an impetus for the development of new, greener technologies and practices."
Arcola is aiming to use its experience to promote new energy technologies in other theatres and arts establishments as well as in the surrounding community.
(Jim Evans)
