Theatre Projects share our expertise at the 2010 International Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference

July 5, 2010

The Theatre Projects team was out in force for the 2010 International Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference, held in London from 13-15 June. Over 30 representatives from four of our offices attended the conference, which welcomed theatre specialists from 31 countries around the world. Our staff participated in no less than 12 conference sessions, many of them chairing or speaking in key conference sessions.

We were silver sponsors of the conference, which is the largest international event for theatre designers to share the latest ideas, technology, and trends that are taking place in the theatre industry. The event, which takes place every four years, examines every element of what makes a theatre successful — architecture, theatre planning and space design, performance technology, acoustics, and the management and operations of the venue. All these important factors are covered by our team of specialists, so we able to share our unparalleled expertise and hands-on understanding of theatre design by participating in a number of the conference sessions.

This year's event focused on how theatre designers can ensure performing arts buildings are fit for purpose for today's users as well as future users. Our team was asked to speak on a number of topics by the conference organizers, including specialist subjects such as auditorium seating and sightlines, the future of stage lighting control, and advanced stage automation.

Scott Crossfield, Principal Consultant in our CT office, chaired a session on design processes in the information age. This proved to be a popular and interesting topic for the conference delegates, prompting the Conference Director, Richard Brett, to comment that "a number of people have mentioned that this session introduced them to processes of which they were not yet aware." Scott observes, "It is clear to me that design is in a state of transition. Powerful new technologies such as building information modeling and web-based management tools are changing the nature of how we are designing theatres. Our experience on the most prestigious international projects has given Theatre Projects incredible insight and experience with these tools. It was a pleasure to share that information with our industry."

Oliver Leigers, a Senior Consultant in our German office, spoke at a session on the principles of stage engineering. He believes the opportunity to "listen to many interesting boards and discussions among other experts from planning and manufacturing backgrounds" is what makes the conference so special. He continues, "The exchange of ideas in the unique ITEAC conference environment has a quite an impact on my activities in the stage engineering field."

But the conference wasn't just about learning from the speakers. Ann Zhu, Senior Consultant, travelled to London from Shanghai for the conference. She found the conference an excellent opportunity to "see so many theatre experts in one room and to hear their stories. Theatre design and engineering is a small world and we should all stay connected - the conference was a great chance to see colleagues and friends from around the world."

We even were able to put our production management skills to use. Petrus Bertschinger, a Consultant in our London office helped to coordinate the conference sessions and managed the event's technical logistics, proving that we're not just leading designers but also practitioners in the field. Before joining Theatre Projects, Petrus gained more than 25 years of practical theatre experience from assistant stage manager to production manager, giving him an excellent understanding of how to run a major production smoothly!

The ITEAC conference also saw the launch of the Society of Theatre Consultants' awards for practical design excellence in theatres across the UK and selected European countries. This award celebrates buildings that excel in providing live performance spaces to inspire audiences and provide a successful environment for actors, designers, and directors to create effective performances. Our project, the Parabola Arts Centre at Cheltenham Ladies' College won third prize.

The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) launched their new book Theatre Buildings: A Design Guide at the conference. The publication was declared "a landmark book" by Richard Pilbrow, Founder of Theatre Projects, at the book launch. It's the successor to the ABTT's original theatre planning and design guide, published in 1972, which became the standard reference work for those involved in building, refurbishing, or creating a new performance space. Copies of the book can be bought here.

Photos of the conference by Laura Braun