Triple E's managing director David Edelstein, who formed the company in 1984 to supply the entertainment industry with mechanical products to aid the assembly and construction of stage scenery, unveiled SDRIVE, a track mounted motor for moving stage curtains, on Monday 24 September.
And in a generous offer, Triple E presented the King's Theatre, which is relying on the kindness of volunteers and businesses to help restore it to famed architect Frank Matcham's original vision, with the motor. The theatre is now the first in the UK to have the system installed.
"SDRIVE is the result of demand from the industry and our distributors for a budget motor aimed at smaller venues," says Edelstein. "It's easy to specify and easy to install, and is designed to motorise both straight and curved systems and will be available off the shelf for immediate delivery."
"As stage manager, I'm delighted that we now have this motorised track from Triple E," said the King's Theatre's Mike Williams. "It's going to help us make all of our productions that much better - the smoothness of the action is absolutely brilliant. The previous manual one we had is 50 years old and was really coming to the end of its days. With the theatre's future really now established, Triple E will be a part of it for many years to come."
Pat Saunders, technical manager at King's Theatre, agrees, "The SDRIVE is so much better than what we had before. I can't believe how lightweight the track is, and how much quieter it is - before we had the clunk, clunk, crash of the curtains moving, now, the movement is virtually silent. It's also going to make my work a lot easier."
"We have a good working relationship with The King's Theatre, initially meeting the team there through the annual First Night Riders charity motorcycle tour, which Triple E organises, raising money for The Theatrical Guild," says Edelstein. "The venue seemed like the perfect place to launch and demo SDRIVE - and we're proud have donated the system to this great theatre, resulting in The King's Theatre being the first performance space to use the new system."
(Jim Evans)
