Stage Technologies worked with set building company Scena to create this scenic piece which is raised and lowered from the grid and also rotates along horizontal axis, all of which is controlled by an Acrobat control console.
As well as beautiful mountain backdrops, the story of the problematic Maria unfolds amidst the stone walls of an abbey and the beautiful Von Trapp family mansion house. Large automated trucks bring the house on stage in four sections. The synchronisation and millimetre positioning of these trucks is vital to bring each piece together in full view of the audience. Onboard drive systems enable each truck to rotate, turning the sections and transforming the interior into the exterior in fast fluid moves.
BigTow winches are used to fly wall backdrops onstage to create the abbey and a bedroom where the children take refuge from a thunderstorm. Cloths, gauze and banners are pulled into position and life size birch trees fly and track into view. A travelator is also used to whisk furniture and performers on and off stage quickly and safely.
The automation control was programmed by Alex Hitchcock, who has automated many large West End productions with Stage Technologies including Oliver!, The Witches of Eastwick and Mary Poppins.
(Chris Henry)
