Designed by Schuler Shook, Trinity College’s new Marnkutyi Parirna theatre is a dual-purpose performance space that can be converted from a theatre to a concert hall with adjustable acoustics in less than 15 minutes. The PA People were contracted to develop the design and supply and install the staging equipment for the space, including a bespoke acoustic shell system, a motorised orchestra platform and associated seating wagons, 18-line powered flying systems, lighting bars and battens, and a full set of theatrical drapery.
Serving as a space for live acoustics, orchestral performances and theatre productions, the Marnkutyi Parirna theatre is equipped with a deployable acoustic shell system with four large, hinged doors, which, when in position, form the sides and the rear of an acoustic shell. These doors are complimented by three overhead acoustic reflectors which are lowered into position on 1,500kg Theatrequip drum hoists and then rotated to provide the ceiling of the acoustic shell. The doors and flown panels have been constructed with an integral steel frame and laminated with multiple sheets of high-grade plywood and veneer to match the acoustic density specified by the consultants.
One of Melbourne-based Schuler Shook’s design requirements for the project was an orchestra pit equipped with a motorised platform. The PA People provided a platform that features six Serapid actuators and allows the operator to create a thrust stage level with the fixed raised stage, an auditorium level with roll-on and roll-off seating risers, an orchestra pit level below the auditorium floor to create an orchestra pit and a lower level to that facilitates the storage of the seating wagons.
In terms of the flying system, the stage area is equipped with 18 motorised fly lines to support the overhead acoustic reflectors, lighting bars, borders and scenery elements. The rigging system comprises three models selected from the TheatreQuip Reference Series of hoists and has been optimised for each flown element, with each hoist selected based on the speed, drift and load for that element.
For drapery, The PA People provided a set of wool masking drapes and a blue front of house motorised bi-parting drape. To work with the acoustic shell, the legs and borders are all tracked or flown out of their normal theatre mode locations to allow for the deployment of the acoustic shell.
