The latest ABTT book – Theatre Buildings – A Design Guide was launched at the ITEAC conference, Central Hall, Westminster on Monday 14 June 2010. Written and illustrated by a highly experienced team of international theatre designers and practitioners, the technical design sections have been edited by Managing Director of Charcoalblue Theatre Consultants, Andy Hayles.
Hayles comments: “Editing the technical design sections of the new ABTT Book has been an absolute privilege – not only because I got to work alongside an esteemed editorial committee of colleagues but also with hand-picked contributors who I consider to be the leading UK authorities on the chapters to which they’ve contributed.”
This latest publication has also benefited from the input of Charcoalblue’s Creative Director Jon Stevens who wrote the Technical Infrastructure chapter and Senior Consultant Mark Priestley who contributed to the stage-engineering chapter, which addresses open stages.
Charcoalblue Non-Executive Director Peter Longman was responsible for writing the section on restoring and modernising existing buildings. Longman along with Richard Pilbrow stepped into the breach to speak at the book’s launch during ITEAC 2010, when Cameron Mackintosh had to pull out.
Theatre Buildings – A Design Guide is jam-packed with detailed information on the process of the design and planning of theatres. Originally written in 1972 by Roderick Ham it was revised in 1986, and has become the standard reference work for anyone involved in building, refurbishing, or creating a performance space.
The publication retains the practical approach of the original while extending the scope to incorporate the development of new technologies, new forms of presentation and changing expectations. It also deals with the economic and social pressures that demand every element of a venues activity is as sustainable and productive as possible.
Each aspect of the building is considered including: front of house, auditorium, backstage, and administrative offices. Hayles continues: “Theatre Buildings – a design guide describes the process of planning and designing a theatre. It offers specific guidance on sightlines, acoustics, stage engineering, lighting, sound and video, auditorium and stage formats. Some of the pearls of wisdom that ended up on the cutting room floor only go to enhance the value and quality of the content that made it into the book. I hope it continues to serve the industry as a source of reliable and inspiring information for at least as many years as Roderick Ham’s original work has. What’s more – I managed to keep a couple of ‘gags’ in so see if you can find them!”
This theatrical mine of information is supplemented by twenty-eight fascinating case studies, selected to provide as wide a spectrum of venue type as possible in terms of size, style and format. They include: award winning Charcoalblue project The RSC Courtyard Theatre, Stratford upon Avon; Den Norsk, Oslo; The Guthrie Theatre, Minneapolis; Gran Teatre del Liceu; Les Bouffes du Nord, Paris and the MTC Theatre in Melbourne.
Hayles concludes: “The book really is an ideal reference tool for anyone involved or working at any level on venue design, refurbishment or new builds. It’s also a valuable education tool for those considering a career in theatre design and consultancy; indeed anyone interested in what it really takes to design an appropriate, successful and sustainable performance venue.”
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