Technical Specification

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

It has retractable raked seating in two blocks with a central aisle and a total of 176 seats. The whole stage can be viewed from all seats
Two wheelchairs 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 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 staircase has vehicle access to the base for small to medium-sized vans, but will not allow access for lorries or pantechnicon access
Large items should be brought in via the staircase as large double height, double width doors are fitted on the entrance to the theatre

The stage is a flat, seven metre by seven metre floor space made up of wooden blocks and with a slight lip around the edge
Please note that items cannot be fixed or screwed to this floor

1.5metres 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 three 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 one-third 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 Managment

Please note that at least one of our theatre technicians must be present at all time whilst technical equipment is used.

A calls system operated from the stage management 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 stage management 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 stage management position
Show relay is available to the dressing rooms, sides of stage, stage management position and the control room.

Sound equipment consists of a 16 channel Alan and Heath desk with 10 microphone lines; 5 to each side of the stage.
Four monitor/fold back channels with six speakers are available but these are limited in scope.
A CD player, tape machine and a mini disk player are available.
Six good quality and four medium quality microphones and stands are also available
Please note that the sound equipment is situated in the rear auditorium control room and is a public address reinforcement system only
For live music shows, additional equipment and operators are available for an additional charge. These will be situated at the rear of the auditorium and will require the removal of eight to 16 seats from the end stage seating plan

Lighting is provided by four 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 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; and Fixed cyc. floods
A standard rig consisting of nine areas on stage together with colour washes in red, yellow and blue is also available
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. To check what equipment and rigging will be available for your production, please contact the centre.
Lighting plans and details must be made available to theatre staff at least two weeks before the performance

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 in three areas (one to each phase of the stage area, the FOH, and the dips and booms)

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 as 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

One twin 13amp power point is available at the rear of the stage, with one available at front stage right on stage, one in front of the stage stage right. A further five twin sockets are also available to the rear of the stage, stage left. All are RCD protected
One 32 amp socket and supply is available at the rear of the stage and another 32 amp socket is available 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 untested items cannot be used

Due to air conditioning, smoke can be a problem unless used in moderation
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

Two 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 ten people
Toilet facilities are provided