The Centaur is a multi-purpose indoor venue, and ranks as one of the most modern and flexible entertainment centres in the South West of England. The response to initial marketing of the arena has been quite remarkable, and the bookings diary is already looking extremely busy for the next 24 months.
This purpose-built auditorium can accommodate 2,200 people seated and 4,000 standing. The state-of-the-art LiteDeck staging system from LiteStructures forms the basis for a variety of function layouts, ranging from sporting events and concerts, to conferences and exhibitions.
Peter Allison, technical manager for The Centaur, who specified the staging, said: "We wanted a modular staging system that was bullet-proof - quick and easy to use, lightweight and simple to store. The LiteStructures staging system fitted the bill perfectly. LiteDeck can be moved and assembled by a two-man operating team, whereas other systems need four or six people. Over the life of the system, this brings enormous cost and man-power savings."
LiteStructures provided a modular system designed specifically to build a 60ft x 40ft full production stage at either 2ft or 4ft high, comprising over 100 8ft x 4ft LiteDeck units plus modular hand rails, steps and custom ramps. Being modular, the LiteDeck units can also be used in various formations for exhibition and conference use and stack away neatly when not in use.
Should The Centaur require additional staging equipment for particular events, they have the option of hiring from their local rental company, which stocks LiteStructures, or going direct to any of LiteStructures' own hire depots in London, Nottingham and Wakefield.
With a 20m headroom, HGV access, well-appointed dressing rooms, high-spec PA, lighting and grid systems, the Centaur offers cutting-edge facilities that are hard to beat, certainly in the South West. As an alternative to the employment of in-house technical staff, The Centaur has selected a number of approved contractors, with PLASA member Cheltenham Stage Services (CSS) awarded the role for the provision of sound, lighting and rigging services. The company is now busy restructuring its operations to handle the inevitable extra workload.CSS has been working closely with the Cheltenham Racecourse technical department, offering advice and support in the run-up to system specifications. An ETC Source Four touring lighting system, supplied by A.C. Lighting, was chosen to enable the maximum flexibility for the venue, and Tomcat UK was chosen to supply the 20.5" mother and production grids, and a state-of-the-art computerized control and Loadcell system, which will be able to determine any overloading on the mothergrid system.
In the sound department, Marquee Audio, assisted by the rigging services of CSS, is providing a generic Meyer Sound M1D line array system, with an Allen & Heath ML3000 at front-of-house and system control from BSS Soundweb.
The development of this exciting new venue has the potential to put this part of the country firmly onto the map for serious productions of all kinds. Members of the local entertainment industry welcome it as a long overdue partnership with their own capabilities, and join in their congratulations for the vision shown by the Racecourse management.
