The number of visitor registrations is greater than previous years; exhibitors have been on waiting lists to get the chance of occupying the last few remaining stands; the seminar programme has almost tripled in scale and required two separate spaces accommodating almost 150 people with sessions every hour from start to close on both days of the show. And the organisers have been overwhelmed by the exhibitors' news of product launches and the introduction of new products and services across the board.
Show director Roger Fox said, "We set out to make this a landmark 'theatre' exhibition for 2013, and we have been delighted with the support for the idea from the widest span of theatrical suppliers. Some are attending for the first time, like Stagebitz from Australia that offers on-line props, scenery and inventory management, Bumat from Germany who make innovative stage revolves, Showforce, a company which provides technical crews, and Technical Theatre BSL, which supports deaf technicians."
Almost one in five of the 115 exhibitors attending are promising to present theatre-specific products for the first time at ABTT 2013, ranging from lighting, sound and rigging equipment to publications, scenic materials and production resources.
The Show is a contact point for training, and in addition to representatives of the main industry associations (ABTT, ALD, ASD, BECTU, PLASA, SMA, Theatres Trust, Theatrical Guild) the specialist colleges and trainers are represented including: Backstage Academy, Mountview, Rose Bruford, and the RWCMD. Visitors who are either teaching theatre or starting out on a career in theatre will enjoy seminars that range from careers advice to the experiences of theatre practitioners.
The two-day seminar programme has something for everyone. Sound designers will be interested in Essential skills for musical theatre and Sound system planning sessions. There are several seminars organised by the ABTT to explain the latest updates to relevant industry regulations. Set designers, production and stage managers will be attracted to seminars on storing and recycling sets, working at height, international stage management and British Sign Language for deaf technicians. For the lighting enthusiasts there are seminars by veteran lighting designer Mick Hughes, and advice from Adam Bennette on lighting with LED and tungsten.
(Jim Evans)
