Charcoalblue is a dynamic theatre consultancy practice offering specialist advice on spaces intended for the presentation of drama, opera, dance, music, film and art. Charcoalblue uses a holistic and partnering approach in all of its work, and gives special emphasis to collaboration and user consultation. Our work is rooted in a dual commitment to theatricality and innovation, with a strong desire to focus on exciting user-led projects. We believe that every part of an arts building should be informed by the lessons of the past, but must also, by taking advantage of new techniques and materials, be capable of meeting the demands of the future: a future that critically includes minimising the environmental impact of both the construction and operating of our buildings. Charcoalblue understands that all projects, from strategic feasibility level through to construction, present a unique set of challenges that we will constantly strive to meet with imaginative solutions. We ensure that our advice and guidance is precisely matched to the needs of each project.

Clay Paky is a world level reference brand in the stage and event lighting industry, with a reputation for quality and innovation, manufacturing automated moving head and moving mirror luminaires, ledwalls, colour changers (also for outdoors), followspots, projectors for display and architectural lighting, tools and accessories. Clay Paky fixtures are used in Theatre, Television, Live Events, Clubs, Bars, Fashion Shows, Trade Fairs, Cruise Ships, Theme Parks, Shops & Commercial Centres, Conventions, Industrial Presentations, Show Rooms and outdoor architectural lighting installations. An international network of independent distributors makes Clay Paky products available worldwide for sales, rental , providing on-site technical service.

A global leader in entertainment and architectural lighting, ETC is dedicated to technical innovation, manufacturing some of the most energy efficient theatre lighting equipment in the world. Our lights only use power when they have to. With some 10% of our staff employed in research and development, ETC products include the award-winning Source Four® luminaires and the Eos™ control desk, as well as Congo™, Congo jr, Ion® and SmartFade™ ML control desks; Sensor® and SineWave dimming; Unison® architectural lighting control and Smart Solutions™ compact lighting gear. ETC is now manufacturing Selador™ LED luminaires with x7 technology that gives a range of subtle colours unavailable from most other LED products. With its headquarters in Middleton, Wisconsin, ETC has other offices in the United States, in Europe and in Hong Kong. As well as the 24/7 support ensured by our in-house technical experts, ETC dealers around the world also provide high standards of technical expertise.

Light is at the centre of everything Philips Entertainment Lighting (PEL) does. Our lighting solutions ensure lighting designers and technicians can transform the most ordinary environments into something extraordinary. PEG flexible lighting solutions provide lighting tools that engage, entertain, and inspire in every space from internationally renowned theatres and opera houses, art galleries and museum to schools and colleges, regional arts centres, retail and leisure environments.

Comprising the top innovators of the entertainment lighting market, PEL embraces industry respected brands Selecon, Strand and Vari*lite. While each brand offers its own unique portfolio of lighting products, when combined they provide an intuitive, professional, ‘total lighting solution’ that respond to a diversity of application challenges, effectively, efficiently and responsibly.

The ABTT and the ABTT Theatre Show are pleased to be supporters of Designing School Theatres. The ABTT’s main purpose is to raise technical standards in theatre. We collect and disseminate information concerning design, theatre planning, stage machinery, lighting and sound equipment, acoustic, scenery construction, stage management and all aspects of presentation. We are committed to help improve the energy consumption of all performance spaces and venues. The ABTT provides a forum for discussion among theatre users through the publication of its magazine, Sightline and through regular meetings. Today membership of the ABTT is around 1,920 and rising. We have special interest groups including Health & Safety, Training, Theatre Planning, and Historical Research. We have an active Industry Supporters Group and we arrange specialist visits to theatres across the UK.

As our name suggests, our core business is built around stages. Originally, it was all modular staging systems. Yet, as we celebrate 15 years in the industry, our range has extended far beyond that. We now offer not only fixed and bespoke staging but also mechanised and motorised installations, drapes, track, truss and even front of stage barriers. The performing arts world is still our staple area of operation, with clients including Wexford Opera, the BBC, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Brighton Dome. Yet the current high level of ambition in education means we are working more than ever before with schools, colleges and universities. Whether they are looking to gain a bit of flexibility for their performances, convert a classroom into a studio or build a complete new theatre, Maltbury Staging can help. We offer consultancy services as well as designing, supplying, installing and maintaining the kit.

Green Hippo Ltd specialises in design and manufacture of hardware and software for realtime manipulation of video in the live event industry. Formed in 2000, the company co-founders had roots in the corporate and installation fields. The addition of key staff throughout the early years led to a strong team boasting theatre and rock and roll as understood disciplines. By basing the creation of a product on real-world experience and then applying programming and manufacturing skills, Green Hippo products exhibit a genuine understanding of the challenges encountered with video on live events. This approach has garnered strong respect from key industry players from projection designers to stage LDs. Bridging the divide between video and lighting Green Hippo is at the forefront of convergence, encouraging creativity in both camps. A conscious choice to specialise purely in media servers has meant that the products have remained focussed and have evolved rapidly

Jezet Seating has been active for more than 35 years as a supplier of retractable seating systems and seats for theatres, auditoria and sports halls. The many years of experience have helped our company grow into a world-class player, and we are Europe’s market leader in retractable seating systems. From our corporate site in Overpelt (Belgium), we handle the development process, from preliminary studies to the end product, completely in house. The installation and after-sales service are also handled by our own installation teams. Our clients include the most prestigious theatre, conference and sports halls around the globe. Whether it’s a concert hall seating 10,000 or a small stage in a school’s multipurpose hall, Jezet makes a point of always handling the project down to the tiniest details.

Foster Wilson Architects have been designing award-winning buildings for the performing arts for 30 years and have grown steadily to become a practice with a reputation for sensitive and cost effective design. We have experience in both new-build theatres and the redevelopment and refurbishment of existing buildings, including several listed historic theatres. Above all we seek to create effective and exciting spaces which enhance the performance. Our work for schools and colleges is wide ranging, in both the state and independent sectors. Other clients include local community groups, independent theatres and the major commercial theatre owners and operators. Our work is characterised by careful development of the brief to meet the client’s needs and budget, design solutions which are innovative and responsive to their context, and effective delivery of projects to time and budget. We enjoy the process of making good buildings and want our clients to enjoy it too.

Harlequin is the established leader in floorings for the performing arts, with an extensive and well-known range of stage and studio floorings plus sprung floor systems for portable and permanent use. For nearly 30 years Harlequin has supplied customers from small amateur theatres to The Royal Opera House with a comprehensive range from portable, roll-out floors to cushioned and heavy-duty floors, including special effects such as ultra high gloss finishes. A wide range of accessories includes roll storage bags, straps and carts, tapes and cleaning and maintenance products and, for dance studios, a professional collection of wall-mounted and freestanding ballet barres.

A challenge that MEB Design enjoys facing is to create performing spaces within an existing halls that are as close to what you would expect to find in a purpose built small theatre. While there may be difficulties it is also the case that there are often features in an existing hall that add character to a design.

As a practice we have designed about a dozen small theatres, usually in schools, of which about a third have been in existing halls. These are usually designed to seat about 250 – 300 people and to have technical facilities that can be accessible to students so that they can learn and practice all that is involved in the technical aspects of theatre.

We try to create space where end-on, in-the-round and traverse stage formations can be achieved easily as this is usually what is wanted by our clients.

As one of the UK’s leading entertainment technology providers, Northern Light provides specialist electrical installation of sound, lighting and stage technologies.

Since 1971, Northern Light has completed in excess of 4,500 technical installations in theatres, concert halls, educational establishments and numerous other venues. A typical installation includes full production lighting, sound and communications – incorporating cabling infrastructure, dimming and control, provision of sound racks and panels, induction loops, ring intercom and emergency lighting. With completed projects in venues such as Curve in Leicester, London’s Roundho+ use, The Minack Theatre in Penzance, Theatres on the Bay, Singapore and the Edinburgh International Conference Centre, Northern Light has experience of working within a rich diversity of architecture and auditoria.

ShowTex flame retardant stage curtains and custom tracks have been in theatres around the world since 1983. With a dedicated sales team in the UK and offices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Dubai, Hong Kong, and South Africa, ShowTex invents, manufactures, sells, and installs the most innovative flame retardant curtain fabrics, tracks, and motion control systems for achieving the creative vision of theatre professionals.

As an exclusive supplier of Oeko-Tex 100 standard ecological drapes, giant glassless mirrors and other in-house developed products like TrusSleeve IFR truss cover, EasyDrape modular pipe and drape system, and the HiSpeed Roll Up fast motion hardware, ShowTex continuously brings new products to the market that offer real solutions for theater technical professionals. From DMX controlled track motors and custom printed dance floors to giant seamless projection screens and stretch scrims, the product range is a unique collection of industry standards and custom creations.

We dream of the world as a stage where anything is possible with fabrics.

From a single portable stage to a fully functional theatre, Stage Systems provide the products and services to accommodate any performance.

Portable staging is the popular option for many primary and secondary schools, which have the need to utilise the same space for a variety of activities, from dining hall, gym, exam and assembly room. The same space can be utilised for the school production, simply by adding a stage. The portable designs are easily formed into a single or multi-level stage, producing a strong platform for performance and then can be quickly taken down and compactly stored away.

For more enhanced facilities, Stage Systems also offer a Total Drama Solutions service. With completed projects in BSF developments, Secondary and Independent Schools, Community projects and Theatrical venues, Stage Systems creates ideas and designs, then installs and manages the whole project. Total Drama Solutions combines staging with all the extra components to transform a room into a theatre, including seating, performance curtains, perimeter curtains, lights, sound equipment and AV.

Theatre Projects creates extraordinary performance spaces around the world.

With more than 1,200 projects in over 70 countries, our work ranges from studio theatres to performing arts centres. With that kind of experience, we’re ready to help you with any project you can imagine. We realise every theatre is different, so let’s work together to create the right one for you. We’re a talented team of specialists with invaluable backgrounds working directly in the theatre world. We know how to live and work in theatre buildings – because we have. Our theatre designers and planners offer unrivalled capability and a huge range of practical experience to our clients. But most importantly, we love what we do, and it shows. We start each of our projects, whether large or small, by listening carefully to our client’s needs and dreams. Then we combine our creativity, experience, and understanding of the bigger picture to help you bring the arts alive for your audience, artists, and community

When its time to upgrade or install the latest lighting technology, White Light’s sales and installation teams can help, as exclusive UK distributor for nine major international lighting manufacturers and supplier of countless hundreds more, including the latest low-energy LED lighting technology. Based in Wimbledon, south-London, and with extensive experience in West End productions, the company is working with the Mayor’s Greening theatre campaign as well as publishing a guide on environmentally responsible theatre lighting and the company is also working towards BS 8555 accreditation. Full details and a portfolio of recent projects can be found on our website.

Wigwam Acoustics have over 25 years of experience in the audio industry and can provide sales, installation, service and hire solutions for a wide range of needs. The Wigwam installations team excels in managing projects and is prepared to handle all technical aspects of an installation including lighting, video and logistics. Recent projects include Liverpool Anglican Cathedral, Cathedral house for Huddersfield Christian Fellowship church and a recording studio and live room at The Grand in Clitheroe, Lancashire. As audio professionals, Wigwam can provide advice and consultancy for any type of venue and always ensure the work is carried out to the very highest standard. Wigwam’s “Attention to detail ethic” has enabled us to become one of Europe’s leading sound companies.

Looking for great performance? Look no further.

Zero 88 has been a market leading entertainment lighting control brand for nearly 40 years.

With focus on the unique and specialist needs of the entertainment industry, the Zero 88 product range by Cooper Controls provides dimming, console and software solutions for the ultimate in performance lighting control. Zero 88 control products can be found whenever dynamic lighting is required, including theatrical, live performance, education, presentation and architainment applications.

From initial purchase and through the lifetime of our products we continually deliver outstanding products, service and value, making us the entertainment lighting control supplier of choice for thousands of venues worldwide.

Whether you require a simple six channel control desk or a sophisticated digital system, we can provide you with a complete entertainment solution, whatever your performance needs. For more information visit www.zero88.com or call us today on +44 (0)1633 838088  

The Pleasance is a charity. It was founded in 1985 as a platform on which to present, support and develop the very best talent at the world’s largest international Arts Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Pleasance is renowned for building a variety of temporary venues, and all but one of our spaces at the Edinburgh Festival each year are temporary in nature.

Our aim is to create the most diverse and original mixed programme of theatre and comedy and the Pleasance actively welcomes all artistic proposals, to be considered on creative merit alone. Whether established talent or total newcomer, we believe it is important that people are given the space and freedom to take risks, in order to succeed. It is out of this spirit of risk that true innovation and imaginative discoveries are borne.

Great ideas should stand free, but even the greatest ideas cannot flourish without access to the most basic of practical resources. We want to share in that risk and provide the best platform within the Festival and fringe upon which to present work, by creating one of the most exciting development platforms for theatre, comedy and music in the centre of London.

The Pleasance Theatre is embarking on an exciting major development project. Click here for further information or to see how you can support this.