Stage
Plan
Click on this link to download an Adobe Acrobat file.
(To access a
scale
plan in .dwf format, first
visit www.autodesk.co.uk where you can
download a free viewer which will allow you to zoom in, scroll around and print
the drawing and then download the plan.)
Stage
Lighting Click on this link to download an Adobe Acrobat file of the
standard lighting rig.
1.
The theatre is equipped with 48 10A, hard wired, dimmer controlled circuits distributed
via 15A RCD protected socket outlets.
2.
Lighting bars are located above and to the side of the auditorium, in fixed positions
and over the stage, including one PWB, which may be repositioned to a limited
extent if required. A cyclorama 3 circuit batten is installed upstage and a further
4 circuit batten positioned mid-stage.
3.
The theatre provides a range of profile and fresnel spotlights together with two
2 circuit ground rows and a number of floods. Other lighting effects available
include LV track mounted mini-spots, UV fittings, strobe, mirror ball and music
responsive disco lanterns. Eight remotely controlled 5 position colour wheels
are fitted to P23 spotlights located on an auditorium bar. Two 2kw follow spots
are installed in the gallery.
4.
Spare lamps for all equipment are provided. Lighting gels in a wide range of colours
are stocked and these are freely available for use. Please number all newly cut
gels and ensure all are replaced correctly.
Approved
Lighting Technicians
Sound
Operation
1.
Introduction.
The
sound installation in the theatre is based around the sound mixer and a number
of amplifiers and is run from the sound box at the front right hand side (facing
the stage) of the gallery. The system has been designed to cater for differing
requirements of users of the theatre, providing basic background music and public
address announcements, show music/effects (fx) and full show reinforcement.
2.
Sound Operators Duties.
The
Sound Operator is responsible for the operation of the entire theatre sound system,
including the main P.A./reinforcement and effects installation, the Canford Tecpro
net communication system and the backstage relay system (locally under the control
of the Stage Manager).
In
addition to this the Sound Operator is required to run the pre show, interval
and ending announcements (on CD, see below for more
detail) to help front of house get the audience seated by curtain up and to ease
congestion in the car park after the show finishes.
Important
note: -
In
the event of a fire or other emergency requiring evacuation of the theatre the
Sound Operator will be required to make an announcement over the P.A. to inform
the entire theatre (front of house & backstage) how and where to evacuate
to. There is a special red CD marked up "Emergency Evac. Announcement"
which will continue to repeat the announcement at 2 minute intervals for approximately
30 mins. This should be used whenever directed by the Stage Manager/Front of House
Manager.
Liaison
with Front of House staff and the Stage Manager will assist in the evacuation,
The Sound Operator should also ensure that the balcony is empty before making
his/her way to the assembly point.
Important
Note: -
There
is an overall sound level limit set by Tandridge District Council within the auditorium,
to be measured at the centre of the hall, of 110 Decibels ("A" scale).
This level must not be exceeded AT ANY TIME during rehearsals or public performances.
The continuance of the theatre's licence depends on this and it is the responsibility
of the Sound Operator to ensure that this level is not exceeded. A sound level
meter is available for checking sound levels, by arrangement with the Sound Director
or any member of the Theatre Management. The Management reserves the right to
demand that the levels be turned down at any time and if levels are exceeded despite
warning, to pull the plug! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
The system is controlled by the 24-channel mixer and can be broken down into separate
sub systems, as described below -
3
System Descriptions.
a)
Public Address / Background Music.
The
background music system is based around a Talisman 1001 amplifier serving 100
Volt line loudspeakers placed in the auditorium and foyer areas. The new bar is
serviced by its own amplifier and speaker system, fed via an aux send from the
main sound desk. Switches allow the auditorium and foyer to be addressed independently
or together. There is a microphone in the sound box, routed through the mixer
(see below) into the Talisman and new bar amp. Background music can also be routed
through this mixer into the P.A. system. Announcements made over this microphone
can also be heard in the dressing rooms (if desired). There is a second microphone
in the bar store in the foyer for Front of House Manager's use, which will address
the foyer and auditorium areas only and is not linked to the dressing room system.
The background system is not designed to provide high levels of sound and should
not be used to provide stage FX or music.
b)
Show FX / Music.
This
system consists of a double cassette deck, Mini Disc player and a CD player. These
are routed through the mixer and feed two pairs of loudspeakers on sub-mix outputs
1-4, one pair in the auditorium, either side of the stage proscenium and one pair
on stands at the rear of the stage which can be positioned to suit spot fx as
desired.
The
Mixer controls the various sources via faders, which are labelled accordingly.
There
is a twin cassette deck, a CD player and a Mini Disc player connected to the mixer.
The mixer output faders send the signal to the amp/speaker systems and are assigned
as follows; - FOH, L& R Ramsas; Output 1 & 2, Upstage L & R "Disco
speakers"; Output 3 & 4. Outputs l & r (main) are connected to the
two rear auditorium Ramsa loudspeakers and are normally used to provide sound
reinforcement only. Effects can be routed to these outputs if desired. Outputs
3 & 4 can also be used to route to the record inputs of the Mini Disc. To
record from the CD direct to Mini Disc select digital coax input on the MD and
select synchro rec., then press play on the CD (having first selected the required
track). This bypasses the mixer. To record via the mixer (to incorporate fades
etc.) select analogue input on the MD, select synchro rec. and play the track
with the mixer CD channel open.
Each
input channel is equipped with eq. (tone) controls for treble, mid and bass frequencies,
two aux. sends and pan controls. Below the pan are four channel select buttons
to assign inputs to the output channels. Pan L sends the signal to 1 & 3 pan
R to 2 & 4. Aux. send 5 is routed to the Talisman P.A. amp (described above).
Aux. 6 is routed to the dressing room tannoy ring. Above the channel faders is
a solo button, which sends the signal to the monitor buss for pre fade cueing,
via headphones or (for rehearsal purposes only), via the small monitor loudspeakers.
The level of signal in the headphones can be adjusted via the control on the far
right of the output faders.
The house Mic. is routed via aux. send 6 Into the aux. 1 input of the Talisman
amp, the channel assign buttons are normally off (up), i.e. the Mic. Signal is
not sent via the group outputs. Music can be routed to the Talisman by opening
the respective channel aux. 6 send (remember to close it again when not required).
Further Mic. Inputs are available via Ch. 10 -15, and the stage patch boxes. This
can be routed in the normal way and may be used for "offstage Mic."
requirements. Announcements and music can be sent to the back stage relay via
aux. 5.
The
amplifiers powering the stage and front of house loudspeakers are situated in
the amplifier rack under the sound desk. These switch on with the master switch
on the wall and their output levels are pre-set and should not be adjusted.
Users'
information on the cassette, Mini Disc and CD machines is attached below.
Note:-
Details regarding
P.R.S. returns are given in the hirer's pack given out by the Theatre Management.
There
is also a set of SFX CD's available for use. These are stored in the equipment
box and should be returned there after use. On no account are these CD's to be
taken out of the theatre.
The CD Titles are: -
1.
Essential sound fx; Various fx, water, exterior & interior atmospheres, horses,
farmyard, sports, space, zoo, air travel, trains, motor traffic, boats, disaster,
weather, footsteps, bells, music for silent movies (BBC CD792).
2.
Essential death & horror vol. 1; Execution, torture, monsters, animals, doors,
graves, musical, footsteps, death, accidents, misadventure. (BBC CD822).
3.
Essential comedy fx vol. 1; Human, fights, footsteps, crashes, laughter, applause,
animals, bizarre, birds, impacts, space age. (BBC CD843).
4.
Essential sounds of the city; Interior & exterior atmospheres, pay phones,
public places, demolition, electronic noises & alarms, heavy industry. (BBC
CD860).
5.
Essential animal sound effects; domestic & wild animals (BBC CD869).
6.
Essential home video effects; atmosphere & music from around the world
(BBC CD853).
7.
Essential transport sound effects vol. 1; Land (BBC CD865).
8.
Essential transport sound effects vol. 2; Air & Water (BBC CD866).
9.
Essential sounds of the countryside; villages & gardens, woodlands & lakes,
moorland & hillsides, farms & pasture, church bells, cricket, fox hunting,
point to point, pub, village store, stables, blacksmith, farm animals, tractors
(BBC CD861).
10.
Essential sound effects of England; London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey
bells,
Covent Garden, London zoo, London taxi, pub interior, garden at dawn, garden midsummer's
day, churchyard at midnight, steam trains in country station. (BBC CD867).
11. Essential weather effects; snow, wind, rain, thunder, hail, tornado (BBC
CD868).
A
full index listing of all FX is included in each CD case.
c)
Reinforcement System.
This
system is used to relay actor's voices into the auditorium, to reinforce the sound
level heard by the audience. It is not usually necessary to use reinforcement
for straight plays, unless for specific effect, e.g., ghostly echoes etc., although
the decision on whether or not to do so is at the discretion of the Producer /
Sound Operator in each case. The system is primarily for use in musical presentations
to enable the voices of performers to be heard over the orchestra. There are 5
shotgun microphones available, placed across the front of the stage on stands.
These
are patched into the stage boxes, on the proscenium columns either side of the
stage. These microphones should only be placed once all construction etc. on the
stage is completed to avoid dust and mechanical damage, as they aredelicate electronic
instruments. There are also two / three vocal microphones, Shure type which can
be hand held or used on stands as required.
Finally,
there are 8 radio microphones (tie clip type) which can be hired for use plus
one freely availbale in the theatre, by arrangement with the Barn Theatre Management.
Mics. are assigned as follows: - Ch. 1-5, float Mics. Ch. 6-14 radio Mics. The
usual configuration is noted on the strip at the foot of the mixer. Radio Mics
come into the mixer via their receivers which have to be switched on (also do
not forget to turn on the individual transmitter packs!). The mixer is equipped
with eq., aux. sends and pan control, etc. a digital reverb unit is connected
via aux. send 4 / return 4 (post fade).
Tape
outputs are available for recording direct from the desk (check copyright of material
/ performance before recording!).
The
output signal is routed via amplifiers in the rack in the sound box. When in use
the fans should be switched on to prevent overheating damage.
To
use the equipment, first check that the "Auditorium Ring" circuit breaker
in the Stage Manager's box are on, then switch on the master switch and socket
outlets sited on the rear wall of the sound box. The various pieces of equipment
will then come on. They are normally not switched off independently but if any
individual piece of equipment does not work, check that it is on first. Then,
in the sound box switch on the four 13A sockets on the rear wall below the shelves.
Most of the equipment will normally come on as you power up; front panel power
switches can control any items not switched on.
Cue
discs etc. and test the system before the audience arrive, problems can usually
be sorted out before curtain up, it is very much more difficult to rectify faults
afterwards!
Before
the show liaise with the Front of House Manager over the house
calls.
There are CDs provided to make the pre show and interval announcements.
The pre show announcements run for 15 minutes ending at curtain up. The interval
announcements run for 20 minutes. The FOH manager has control of an interval bell,
make sure that your calls coincide with this, or that the bell is rung on your
calls. There is a track on the CD to run at the end of the show, marked "Car
Park" which asks drivers to check they are not blocking in people behind
them in the car park. (Not all patrons leave immediately and those waiting for
cast members often forget they may be causing congestion in the car park).
After the
show, to avoid congestion in the car park, liaise with front of house and be prepared
to announce registration numbers as required.
After
your production please return all microphones to their cases, leads and stands
to the control room, CD's to their cases and into the racks provided. Please leave
the sound box and control room tidy and ready for the next user.
4.
TECPRO Intercom Headphone Net System.
The
Theatre has a Canford Tecpro technical net system installed, for communication
between technicians during a performance. There are 7 positions permanently wired
in, these are: -
Stage
Manager; Stage Right; Sound Operator; Lighting Operator; Follow-spot Operators
(2 on balcony front); Producer, situated on the column halfway down the auditorium
on stage left.
Sound
& lighting stations are HS121 fixed headset stations; all others are 3 pin
XLR sockets for connecting BP111 belt pack headset outstations. These are connected
via standard 3 pin XLR leads and if required extra outstations can be added (up
to a total of 16 outstations) by daisy chaining units together. If you wish to
add further outstations please speak to the theatre's Sound Director beforehand.
The system is powered by a PS711 power supply sited in the lighting box, this
has 3 separate channels available if required. The installed system is all run
as a single channel.
In
normal use during shows a "Net Discipline" should be observed. All operators
should remain listening to the net, with their outstation Mic. Switch off, chatter
should be kept to a minimum, to avoid other operators missing important instructions
or spill into the audience from headsets not worn (especially follow spot headsets
which should be UN-plugged if not needed). If an operator has to leave the net,
first inform the Stage Manager who might otherwise think you have gone deaf! Also
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR MIC before removing your headset to avoid deafening others
still on the net!
The
headsets are fitted with mercury muting switches in the Mic. Stalk which enables
the headset to auto-mute when not worn in the normal position. If you remove your
headset, please place it with the Mic facing upwards, otherwise the mute facility
does not work.
The
following warning notice is re printed from the Canford literature: -
Disposal
Reference for Headsets Fitted with Mercury Switches
When headsets are
repaired or thrown away, the mercury switches must be brought to an authorised
disposal company or to us as manufacturers to be forwarded to the proper channels.
The mercury switches must not be thrown away and destroyed with normal household
rubbish.
Defective
headsets / belt pack s/ leads etc. should be reported to the Stage Manager and
/ or Duty Manager.
If
you have any problems or equipment does not operate correctly, please speak to
the Duty Manager or call Mike Sutton via the office.
If you require more information please contact the Lighting
or Sound Director/ Trustee
Approved
Sound Technicians
Backcloths
| Cloth No. | Size | Side
1 | Side 2 |
| 2 | 12'6"
x 22' | Snow covered house (Xmas) | New York
1890 (Street scene) |
| 3 | 15' x
20' | Baker St (15' wide) | Village green
(Panto, full width) |
| 6 | 12' x
20' | Pine forest/rocky path (Brigadoon) | Folkestone
seafront (amateurish) |
| 30 | 12'
x 22' | Desert/palm trees (Panto) | Suburban
park |
| 31 | 12' x 22' | Peter
Pan bedroom (Panto | Spooky cave interior (Panto) |
| 32 | 12' x 22' | Carribean
beach, palm trees (Panto) | |
| 33 | 12'
x 22' | London docks (Oliver, Incomplete) | Yonkers
N.Y. 1890 (Gypsy) |
| 34 | 12' x
22' | Posh restaurant interior | Mississippi
River with boat |
| 35 | 12' x 22' | Oklahoma,
woodlands | Dress shop interior |
| 36 | 12'
x 22' | US rail depot 1930 (Gypsy) | Bali
Hai (South Pacific) |
| 37 | 12'
x 22' | Distant castle on mountain (Panto, spooky) | Portsmouth
harbour 1830 |
| 38 | | Classic
Greek garden | |
| 39 | | Old
Peking (Panto) | |
| 40 | | Chinese
garden with bridge (Panto) | |
| 41 | | London
scene (Janie Harris) | |
| 42 | | Houses
of Parliament (Iolanthe) | |
| 43 | | Magic
pool (Iolanthe) | |
| 44 | | French
street scene (unfinished) | |
| 45 | | London's
East End | Grand interior staircase |
| 46 | | Sleeping
Beauty frontcloth | |
| 47 | | Black
& white classical country scene (Pimpernel) | |
| 48 | | Grey
mottled cloth (Pimpernel) | Garage interior (Sweet Charity) |
| 49 | | Central
Park. N.Y. (Sweet Charity) | |
| 50 | | Cornish
cove & St. Michael's Mount (Pirates of Penzance) | |