Headlining the programme is the 2011 Gottelier Masterclass presented by last year's winner of the Gottelier Award and one of the best known designers in the industry, Fred Foster. The theme of his talk will be a huge draw since his title is A Call To Arms - We Must Protect the Quality of Light.
Says Foster, "Faced with the headlong rush towards 'energy efficient' lighting, we as an industry must join together to defend the quality of light. While we have a duty to make and use more efficient sources of light, we must also work to ensure that these sources provide the beautiful full spectrum of light." The Gottelier Masterclass will be presented on Monday 12 September.
Continuing the lighting theme, the Association of Lighting Designers (ALD) will celebrate its own 50th birthday with an open discussion of what the next 50 years might hold, and will pose the question: Is the role of stage lighting designer a passing fad and are we all destined to become video designers?
The merging of lighting and video will be re-explored in four sessions hosted by Technologies For Worship (TFM) and again, by The Stage Management Association (SMA). The TFM sessions examine the use of video projection, how to prepare for a world of HD and 3D, how best to use computer slide presentations to enhance the worship service experience, and jumping into i-mag for the first time. The first SMA session explores the use of projection and digital media in theatre, with a second session dedicated to training for the touring code of conduct. For an audio perspective, the Institute of Sound and Communication Engineers present Video for Audio Engineers, which promises to explain how to interface new digital formats and incorporate legacy products into systems.
Top sound engineer and front of house for Seasick Steve, Corinne Bailey Rae, La Roux and Amy Winehouse, Dave Swallow will present his illuminating two-part talk on The art of mixing a show, exploring creative mixing in the live environment, and an understanding of the fundamentals of live sound. With plenty of top tips and tricks, be sure to book early for this one!
The Royal Shakespeare Theatre and Stage Electrics will explore the innovative rebuilding of the RST in Stratford upon Avon. Transforming theatres is an opportunity to join in a review of the design and installation of the production technical facilities and includes a video tour of the theatres.
Transforming theatres is a theme also being tackled by the Theatres Trust seminar Space Invaders: Converting Spaces - Creating Theatres which will discuss the specific challenges of converting existing buildings into theatres. It includes the findings from The Theatres Trust's annual conference in June 2011, which looked at ways in which civic buildings, warehouses, offices and town halls undergo conversion into theatres.
The thorny issue of the digital dividend and the great wireless mic swap out will be the focus of a presentation on behalf of BEIRG. Alan March, a business development specialist at Sennheiser and an active member of the British Entertainment Industry Radio Group (BEIRG), will be giving a brief explanation of current spectrum policy thinking at Ofcom, talking about the digital switch over/digital dividend and the Channel 69 to Channel 38 transition. He will also discuss what type of wireless telegraphy licences to use for specific wireless microphone applications and explain why it is critical for the future and how to obtain them.
A special interest seminar by USITT (United States Institute for Theatre Technology) will discuss some of the common myths, misconceptions, and truths of the theatre world in the United States. From union rules and r
