Owned by DHP, the Motor Vessel (MV) Thekla gained notoriety in the 1980s as The Old Profanity Showboat, run by well-known eccentric and former Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band main man Vivian Stanshall.
The makeover includes a complete new lighting and sound rig, supplied by Stage Electrics. The hold is still the main performance area, which sees six Turbosound QLight TQ-445 full range enclosures, four TQ-425 bass units and two TSB-118 subs installed, controlled by two LMS-D24 digital controllers and driven by Turbosound-badged MC amplifiers.
On stage six Turbosound TXD-15M wedges are used for foldback, while the bar area in the main room also sports four QLight TQ-310 full range cabinets, which act as delays / fills, with a further LMS-D24 controller and MC2 amp.
The bar on the upper deck also features four QLight TQ-308s and two TSB-110s, controlled by a further LMS-D24. The FOH system comprises an Allen & Heath GL3800 console, with XTA, dbx, TC Electronics and Yamaha outboard.
With an audience capacity of around 350, Thekla Social (as the ship is now called) specialises in live music and club nights. "The venue needed a high quality system that would sound great for both live music and general club nights," says Stage Electrics Ed Gamble. "But it was also vital that it was a system a wide variety of incoming bands would be happy with.
(Jim Evans)
