The state-of-the-art building offers a diverse programme of quality performances. It is the newest addition to Newtownabbey Borough Council's HQ, and is located in the Civic Square area at the back of the renovated Mossley Mill, a former 19th century flax mill.
Locally based PSI tendered and won the contract to equip the theatre against stiff competition. They worked to the specification of consultants Theatre Plan and closely with the venue's technical manager, Mick Draine. PSI also supplied technician Alan Clarke for the full fit up period and the first few weeks of operation, to ensure that all things technical went smoothly.
PSI's Brian Reilly says, "We were delighted to win this contract. Theatre is a growing market in Ireland and an area in which we have plenty of experience. It's great to see the investment going into high profile projects like this."
Flexibility is at the heart of the lighting and sound design, and so moving lights - in the form of 16 Robe ColorSpot and ColorWash 700E ATs - eight of each - are a key element. These were supplied along with a large amount of ETC Source Four Profiles with assorted lenses, and PAR and fresnel fixtures.
PSI supplied two lighting consoles for the theatre - an ETC Ion, which runs the rig in the main auditorium, and an Avolites Pearl Tiger which, when utilised, is a mobile desk to run lighting for events taking part in other locations nearby and in the complex. The installation also included ETC Lustr units and two Robert Juliat Lucy follow spots.
For audio, an Opus system was chosen by Theatre Plan after having proved very successful at the National Theatre in London. This was supplied with a Yamaha LS9 digital console, which is "Ideal for the application and the budget" says Mick Draine, who made the decision that the theatre should go fully digital, removing the need for outboards and other ancillaries.
A Yamaha 01D was also included in the audio package. This is used for portable applications around the building and in the conference facility in the next-door council building.
A large selection of Sennheiser radio mics includes 14 lapels and four hand-helds and the IEM system is also Sennheiser.
The sound system is completed with an Aviom monitor system which runs via Cat 5/RJ45 cabling and allows a normal generic mix to be sent to a central distribution unit plugged in to the back of the console, and sent out to a series of mini-mixes for each musician, so they can dial in their own individual mix from their 16:2 personal mixer, which returns to the IEM rack.
Mick Draine has worked with PSI before when he was a freelance, and at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast and comments, "As I expected, PSI's work and the service was fantastic. They paid great attention to detail at all stages of the project and ensured that the installation went without a glitch."
(Jim Evans)
