Builders Hansen Yuncken called on HME Services, Australia’s premier entertainment industry engineers for over 29 years, to deliver innovative stage engineering designs for the Thomas Dixon Centre’s new Talbot Theatre and Rehearsal Studios.
“It is our job to ensure that the theatre equipment works well and contributes to the functionality of the space,” commented Kiran Musharraf, HME Service’s Project Manager. “It also needs to be user-friendly and most importantly, safe.”
One of the most interesting aspects of the Talbot Theatre is the Tension Wire Grid that we installed beneath all of the hung theatrical equipment. This creates a permanent over stage floor strong enough to carry the weight of theatre technicians so they can have permanent access to moveable equipment such as lights, speakers and stage rigging.
“The Tension Wire Grid has to be strong enough to take two people standing within a one-metre square space with each carrying a 25Kg load,” said Jonathan Yeoman, HME Service’s Head of Sales. “By negating the need for moveable scaffolding or ladders – and also catwalks – the Tension Wire Grid makes any performance space much safer for everybody.”
The Tension Wire Grid is strong, safe, and virtually invisible whilst not interfering with the light beams – even the house lights are hidden from view!
HME Services set out to provide an extremely configurable space and so above the Tension Wire Grid is a custom-designed system that allows the lighting bars to be easily moved forwards and backwards giving complete flexibility to where the lights can be positioned. This is achieved by placing the ten lighting bars, two FOH and eight over the stage, on roller trollies. Cable management to the trolley beams in the grid ensures no entanglement.
Dance companies rely a lot on side lighting using lighting ladders and so we installed six lighting ladders that are also on roller trollies, again delivering the ultimate flexibility. Clearly, on a roll, we designed the masking legs to roll on track too!
HME Services designed, manufactured and installed four 500Kg capacity drum hoists to enable scenery to fly in and out at a variable speed. Each drum hoist has its own controller for simple operation by the crew.
The Talbot Theatre features a motorised house curtain that can be operated either from the side of the stage or from the control booth. There are also rear stage traverse curtains, rear stage crossover curtains and masking legs, along with a large white cyclorama.
HME Services ensured lighting and power distribution throughout the Talbot Theatre and Rehearsal Rooms including a Stage Lighting Dimmer System, DMX/Data Racks and DMX Splitters, Socapex and DMX/Data Outlet Boxes. Curtains and masking drapes were also supplied throughout.
HME Services are proud to assist the Queensland Ballet to reach its goal of becoming a leader on the world stage by redeveloping the Thomas Dixon Centre to be a state-of-the-art ballet centre.
