Case study 1 Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD):
The RSAMD was the very first education venue to purchase a Stage Technologies power flying system for use with training modules, which are integrated into their curriculum. With an Illusionist control desk on their fly-floor and an additional 28 computers in their PC lab running Chameleon software, the RSAMD now offer their students offline training on a virtual flying system in addition to a real system to operate in their theatre.
RSAMD and Stage Technologies have cooperated to develop an online learning environment for the students. This has enabled the students to create a user-generated manual for their installation and to informally converse with and learn from Stage Technologies engineers.
Steve MacLuskie, lecturer of stage technology, commented: ‘The PC lab is an excellent facility and allows students to play and experiment freely in a virtual environment without having to concern themselves with the safety implications of the actual system. Once comfortable with the virtual environment, it will make the transition to the real control desk and winches less intimidating. The training I can now design for our students will place RSAMD as the forerunner for automation education.’
Case study 2 Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA):
In 2008, Stage Technologies worked with the HKAPA to deliver one of our five-day automation education programmes to technical direction students in their final year. The course combined a number of theoretical lectures and practical site visits and presented the students with an overview of theatre engineering and automation systems.
The programme included:
- Discussions on how automation is used in entertainment venues, including the practical advantages, cost implications and safety issues
- Technical overview of stage equipment
- Visits to Hong Kong Cultural Centre and the Wynn Macau and Venetian Macao casino hotel complexes, to see automation equipment in situ and in action.
Ken Chan, senior lecturer of technical direction, said his students greatly benefitted from the course: ‘The students have gained a much better depth of knowledge in stage automation from this course. The lectures give them an understanding of the uses of automation and the options available, and the pros and cons of using it in the live performance industry. The students were also inspired by the visits to Macau, seeing real venue applications from back stage as well as from an audience perspective.’
Case study 3 Bristol Old Vic Theatre School:
In 2009, Stage Technologies installed equipment and provided programming advice and operator training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, boosting both its technical coaching repertoire and its automation capability for productions.
Jon Sherwood, head of theatre production, had this to say about Stage Technologies contribution to the school:
‘With technical theatre moving on rapidly, it’s essential for students to have an opportunity to cut their teeth on the same equipment that is used at venues like Curve, Sadler’s Wells and the Royal Opera House and in shows like The Sound of Music and Wicked. What has been of immense value to us in our relationship with Stage Technologies is that our students take part in work experience placements at their London offices and workshop and come back to us conversant with the automation systems and with practical knowledge that they can then apply in real situations.’
Case study 4 University of Wisconsin:
A group of students from the University of Wisconsin came to Las Vegas at the beginning of 2011 for our introduction to automation lecture and a basic eChameleon operating class. This was followed by a backstage tour of KÀ given by Cirque du Soleil to see the inside workings of a stage automation system before watching the equipment in action in the show that evening.
David S. Stewart, production manager and head of stage management at the University, complemented the quality of the class, saying that ‘the attention to detail and approachable nature gave my students a great look into the world of automation that they would otherwise not have been privy to. It is amazing that the University of Wisconsin – Madison and Stage Technologies have entered into a long and educational relationship.’