One of the most important producing theatres in the UK, the Young Vic was originally founded in 1970 by Sir Laurence Olivier for the younger members of his newly formed National Theatre Company. Built as a temporary space, it had an intended life span of a mere five years. However it wasn't until 2000 - when the building reached a dangerous state of disrepair - that 'the powers that be' sanctioned its rebuild. The theatre reopened six years later to press on 11 October - on time and on budget.
Designed with total flexibility of space utilization and configuration in mind, Charcoalblue consultants Gavin Owen, Jack Tilbury, Jon Stevens, Mark Priestley and Andy Hayles worked tirelessly and in close consultation with Architects Haworth Tompkins and the incumbent technical staff of the venue.
Phil Gladwell, technical manager for the Young Vic says: "The intention is always to provide designers and directors with the most comprehensively adaptable technical and staging solutions possible. Charcoalblue theatre consultants have been by our sides and supported us in every technical decision we have made, often coming up with innovative solutions to age-old problems. These include the venue's diverse range of potential configurations - the fact that performance can be staged from ground level right up to the technical galleries and anywhere in between and in any direction! As such we require the ability to set up control positions and run communications etc to almost any part of the building."
Designed in the round with any location offering itself as potential performance space, Charcoalblue had to ensure that all technical control positions were mobile and as flexible as possible. A re-configurable and movable automation, lighting, sound and stage management control solution was brokered and control connections positioned at regular intervals around the technical gallery and in the auditorium itself to facilitate this.
Patching - designed by the Young Vic's Phil Gladwell and Stevens of Charcoalblue and installed by Northern Light, geographically and physically relates to the auditorium layout. This ensures simplicity and expedience.
The stage management desk - designed by Phil Gladwell and Sarah Weltman of the Young Vic with Gavin Owen and built by Northern Light - folds down into a flightcase for easy transportation and can be installed in a number of locations on the technical gallery, the audience balcony and within the auditorium. Also flexible is the egg crate style rig, which features two entirely removable gantries. These can be spun through 90 degrees to afford maximum rigging flexibility depending on the chosen configuration of the space - whether end on, in the round, promenade or thrust.
Jack Tilbury, Projects director for Charcoalblue says: "The Young Vic is a theatre of invention and creativity. We hope that by working closely with production manager Paul Russell, Phil and Sarah as well as the highly motivated Young Vic team - all of whom were retained during the closure period - that we have tailored the technical provision to an exacting and exciting standard, despite the challenging budget."
Andy Hayles, managing director of Charcoalblue adds: "During the opening performances and inaugural speeches, artistic director David Lan, architect Steve Tompkins, and even Project Champion Jude Law all stated that the rebuild of the Young Vic was the achievement that they felt most proud of in their professional careers. It has been an honour and an amazing experience for us at Charcoalblue to collaborate with a technical team at the very peak of their powers. We wish Paul, Phil and the rest o
