Last month alone Stage Technologies worked with the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the Royal Scottish Academy of Music & Drama and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, visiting their departments to give lectures and show them behind the scenes at the Royal Opera House and the Prince Edward Theatre.
Martin Hazlewood, lecturer at the Guildhall, comments: "Stage Technologies has been instrumental in providing this facility to enhance the student's knowledge and understanding of automation systems. Our program has been designed to expand and take the students forward into the complexities and understanding of systems currently in use both commercially and in theatre installations. The students are then able to specialise in years two and three learning how to operate and take on a more productive role. This can be constructively improved during the use of their secondment when they are able to work professionally within the industry."
Stage Technologies believe that it is vital to ensure that the theatre technicians of the future have as much knowledge as possible in the new field of automation as they enter the industry. Often these lectures provide the only training that a student receives and aims to provide information on the latest developments in theatre automation and its application, along with the relevant health and safety regulations. The students are also encouraged to explore the arguments for and against using technology to replace more traditional manual systems. The concepts are explained during non-biased discussions exploring the pros and cons of using power flying systems versus traditional counterweight systems, for example.
Following a lecture by Stage Technologies managing director, Mark Ager, at the RSAMD one student wrote: "Ever sit through a lecture totally engrossed in what's going on? So much so that when it finishes it's a bit of a shock but you've got a pounding headache? Well, I've only ever had that happen to me twice, once in London with the best lecture ever on Sound Acoustics and the other day with Mark Ager's beautiful Stage Technologies."
Stage Technologies' commitment to education stretches further than colleges and universities as the company believes that it is vitally important for the industry's key decision makers to be consistently informed of the developments in technology in order to make educated decisions. This year Stage Technologies is supporting the Theatre Engineering & Architecture Conference in London from 11 - 13 June as a Platinum Sponsor. John Hastie, marketing director, says on behalf of the company: "We recognize the important role that the Theatre Engineering and Architecture Conference plays in communication and education within our technical industry. By supporting and working closely with the Conference as a Platinum sponsor, Stage Technologies has the opportunity to speak face to face with planners, designers and consultants alongside other system providers like ourselves. We hope to communicate the importance of automation control systems in general and explore the potential benefits and challenges of using sophisticated engineering solutions in a variety of theatre applications."
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
