Six Straightpoint load cells are being used by the Rose Theatre Kingston in South West London during a three-week run of Zack Helm's Good Canary, directed by John Malkovich. The ensemble of load cells includes two that were ordered at the 11th hour due to scenic additions.
The latest Loadlink plus load cells were added to the rigging following the addition of side masking to three 4m-high LED screens that are tracked up and down stage during performances and integral to the production.
Wayne Parry, head of production at the Rose Theatre Kingston, said: "The side masking allowed for a clean, crisp finish and meant the production team could incorporate a doorway for the actors to enter and exit to the side of the screens. An additional benefit was that they solidified the screens and facilitated smooth movement."
However, the loading requirement that this placed on the Rose Theatre grid was substantial and the engineers' report highlighted theoretical loads close to the venue's capacity. The theatre has a spider grid that houses the lighting rig and any performance-specific low load rigging. Most of the rigging is transferred to still sections in the roof that have a point load of 250kg. The stage dimensions beneath are 10m deep, 16m wide and 10m high. During performances of Good Canary, 2,500kg of weight is in the air.
Company: Straightpoint
