Revamped Seabrooke opens with a laugh
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Seabrooke’s Theatre is a 100-seater auditorium used by the schools Dramatic Arts Department as well as by amateur and professional companies and groups. Thanks to a generous contribution by DHS old boy and theatre lover, Chris Seabrooke, a much-needed renovation and equipment upgrade was made possible and commenced at the start of the Covid-19 South African lockdown. The theatre has been repainted, seats reupholstered, a green room/dressing room is currently being built, and on the technical side, a lighting and audio system has been supplied and installed by DWR Distribution’s Michael Taylor-Broderick and Nick Barnes.
The new lighting equipment includes 13 Robe ParFect 150s, six Robe LEDBeam 150s, four ETC Source Four 25 to 50 degree Profiles, a Le Maitre MVS Hazer with control via a grandMA dot2 onPC.
A Quest Sound system comprises of two HPI25 Front loaded 600w rms low profile and high power speakers, two HPI 12S Compact Passive Sub-Bass Speakers, two Quest 2004 Stereo Power Amplifiers, a Allen & Heath 16 channel digital console, two Audix OM2 Vocal Microphones, one Audix AP42 OM2A Wireless Microphone. In addition, Michael and Nick have rehung some of the lighting bars and added a patch panel to allow for easy patching between the existing 12 dimmers circuits and the hot power needed for the LED fixtures.
Greg King from KickstArt Theatre Company, winner of a Naledi Award for the Set Design for Paul Slabolepszy’s Suddenly The Storm, played three different characters in Sylvia besides his role of set designer and co-director. “The Seabrooke’s Theatre has been a very popular venue for independent producers such as ourselves and we are thrilled to see the much-needed upgrade,” said Greg. “DHS prides itself on its Art and Culture Departments with both drama and music offered as subjects at the school. DHS has produced several actors who work regularly with KickstArt, including Neil Coppen, Lyle Buxton and Blessing Xaba.”
Seabrooke’s Theatre has been opened with stringent Covid-19 safety protocols in place. The audience is kept to 50 patrons, and a seating plan has been devised for each performance.
