Technical specifications

The Theatre

The theatre is a studio arrangement with a curtained end stage on the same level as the flat auditorium.

Raked Seating

• It has retractable raked seating in two blocks with a central isle and a total of 176 seats. The whole stage can be viewed from all seats.
• 2 wheel chairs can be accommodated in this format.
• Staging can also be in the round with seating on the stage and along the sides in loose chairs.
• Cabaret style is also available with seating for 100 at tables and chairs
• The area can also be used for exhibitions and fairs.

The Bonington Bar

The fully stocked Bonington Bar is adjacent to the theatre and is used during performances. Access is restricted however to persons over 18 yrs. This space is also available for separate hire.

Hire rates

For hiring rates of the Theatre and Bar or further details contact the Manager on 0115 9670114 or email arnold@gedling.gov.uk

If any technical equipment is to be used in the theatre, at least one of the theatres technicians must be in attendance at all times. This is charged extra to the standard booking fees for more details contact Bob Massey on 0115 9673969 phone or email info@bonington-theatre.co.uk

Access

• The bonington theatre is situated on the first floor of the Arnold Leisure Centre.
• Access to the theatre is via the front entrance and a passenger size lift or via a wide single span metal stair case on the outside of the building.
• This stair case has vehicle access to the base for medium or small van’s but will not allow lorry or pantechnican access.
• Large items should be brought in via the stair case as large double height, double width doors are fitted on the entrance to the theatre.
• Parking is in a large car park at the front of the building. It is restricted to 3hrs up until 6pm after which there are no restrictions. For afternoon shows or early get ins a pass can be provided but 2 weeks advance notice is required.

Stage

• The stage is a flat floor, 7m by 7m, made of wood blocks. It has a slight lip around the edge.
• Items can not be fixed or screwed to this floor.

End stage format

• 1.5m of the stage depth is in the form of an apron in front of the main house tabs.
• There is very little wing space, only about 1m per side.
• There is a roll up cyclorama cloth at the rear of the stage fitted to raising and lowering gear on 4 hemp lines. This cloth is approx. 1m from the black rear wall and thus allows the only cross over access.
• There are three other hemp line sets; one at the rear of the stage in front of the rear blocks; one centre stage and one at 1/3 stage depth.
• The stage is a black box. It is traversed by 3 black and one set of grey curtains, one in front of the cyc, one black at 2/3 stage depth and a grey and black set, both at 1/3 stage depth.
• The stage is fitted with two border curtains, which can be tracked in when required.
• These curtains are rope controlled from stage right. The front curtains are winch controlled from front stage left.
• Cast access to the stage is via a spiral staircase from the dressing rooms or via a pass door from the first floor foyer.

Stage Management

S M position

• A calls system operated from the SM position in the wings, stage left or the control room, is provided to call the bar, foyer and dressing rooms.
• A two-way system is used between the control room and the SM position.
• A cue light system is available to various points around the theatre.
• A ring intercom system operates between the rear stage position, control room (lights and sound); follow spot position, both sides of stage and SM position.
• Show relay is available to dressing rooms, sides of stage, SM position and control room.

Sound

• Sound equipment consists of a 16 channel Alan and Heath desk with 10 microphone lines; 5 to each side of the stage.
• 4 monitor/fold back channels with 6 speakers are available but these are limited in scope.
• A CD player,  tape machine and a mini disk player are available.
• 6 x good quality and 4 x medium quality microphones and stands are also available.
• It should be noted that the sound equipment is situated in the rear auditorium control room and is a PA sound reinforcement system only.
• For live music shows additional equipment and operators can be provided at extra cost. These will be situated at the rear of the auditorium and will require the removal of 8 to 16 seats from the seating plan.

Lighting

• Lighting is in the form of 4 fixed bars over the stage and a fixed grid and booms in the auditorium.
• The cyclorama has fixed floods in red, yellow, blue and green.
• There are also fixed additional battens washing the stage in red, yellow, blue and green.
• The outlets on the bars are 5amp except the booms and dips, which are 15amp. Some adapters 5 to 15 are available.
• The installation consists of
  130 lanterns mainly 1Kw Fresnels with 23 x 1Kw profiles (only 13 of these are zoom)
  14 x 650Kw Fresnels
  2 x 650 profiles (fixed beam)
  4 x 650w par cans
  6 x 500w floods
  3 x 1Kw floods
  Fixed cyc. floods.

• A standard rig consisting of 9 areas on stage together with colour washes in red yellow and blue is maintained.
• Due to the nature of the programme and the number of performances in the theatre not all the lanterns will be available, as some will be rigged for other shows. Please check with the theatre what equipment and rigging time will be available for your production.
• Lighting plans and details must be made available to theatre staff at least two weeks before the performance.

Lighting Controls

• A Zero 88 Eclipse desk of 72 channels with 3 x extended memory modules, 1 x standard memory module, and 1 x chase module. This gives up to 450 memories based over 32 sub masters.
• 72 dimmers of 2Kw each are divided over 3 phases.
• All circuits except the cyc are patched but only with in 3 areas one to each phase
  These are the stage area, the FOH, and the dips and booms.

Safety

• A rigging control is available on the stage.
• Access to the lighting is only available via a scaffold tower.
• Hard hats will be worn at all times while rigging.
• All portable lighting equipment must be mounted on the stage itself, the area in front of the apron is a fire exit.
• There are also no positions for portable equipment in the auditorium when the raked seating is in use.

Power

• 1 twin 13amp power point  is available at the rear of the stage, 1 at front stage right on stage, 1  in front of the stage, stage right and 1 stage left and a further 5 twin sockets at the rear of the stage, stage left .(9 in all ) All are RCD protected.
• 1 x 32 amp socket and supply is available at the rear of the stage and 1 x 32 amp socket in the control room.
• Portable electrical equipment
• All portable electrical equipment brought into the theatre must be PAT tested and carry a current sticker. Any items not tested cannot be used.

Effects

• Smoke can be a problem unless used in moderation due to the air conditioning. No smoke alarm is fitted over the stage.
• Pyrotechnics are difficult to site due to the layout of the theatre and are not usually allowed.
• Strobes can be used but only for short busts.
• The use of gun shot, strobes and smoke equipment must be notified to the theatre at least two weeks before the performance.

Dressing rooms

• 2 dressing rooms are available on the ground floor accessed via a spiral staircase from the stage.
• The two rooms are fitted with mirrors, sinks and power points and will accommodate up to 10 people in total.
• Toilet facilities are provided.
• Special arrangements can be made for additional chorus space with limited facilities for a further 25 people. This space must be booked at the same time as the theatre.

Piano

A Steinway grand piano is available at an extra charge, this charge will include tuning.

Additional information

For further details or to discuss your technical requirements contact Bob Massey on 0115 9673969 or email arnold@gedling.gov.uk.

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