The entire Courtyard Theatre project is estimated to have cost in the region of £6m and following careful planning it is envisaged that a large amount of the equipment and materials will subsequently be reused in other RSC theatres and to support its works in London and on tours in the UK and around the world. This includes the theatre's automation control system, for which Stage Technologies have provided a 34-axis, portable, modular system that facilitates the equipment being configured as one or two systems of varying sizes and so offers the RSC greater flexibility. The system includes 34 BigTow winches, flightcased MaxisID control and four Illusionist control consoles.
At the Courtyard Theatre the system will be used to automate part of the RSC's ambitious year of The Complete Works in which they intend to perform every one of Shakespeare's works. Stage Technologies have recently supplied the first instalment of the new automation systems into the Novello Theatre in London. Alan Bartlett, head of construction and technical design for the RSC, says: "The first installation of our new portable automation system at the Novello was also the most painless and problem free deployment of winches and automation that the RSC has ever undertaken."
(Chris Henry)
