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The Canberra Theatre Centre (CTC) is enjoying acclaim and applause after installing a top-notch lighting system with the support and expertise of staging and lighting specialists, Sound Advice and Jands.

Commenting on the installation at the national capital’s premier performing arts centre, CTC Head of Lighting Andrew Tweedie stated “it was definitely time to upgrade.

“We had reached the point where touring companies were saying ‘it would be really nice if you had this or that but because you don’t, we’ll have to put two of your lights on for every one of ours’. It was obvious that staging a production with us was becoming more difficult for them.”

Tweedie explains that it was not just the performing arts providers who have expectations, with Canberrans, who have the opportunity of going to Sydney and Melbourne for the really big shows, having an expectation they can get the same quality in Canberra.

This added an extra degree of pressure to a process that already offered plenty of challenge. Owned by the ACT Government, in seeking a new lighting system CTC had to ensure its tendering procedures were transparent. Then there was the challenge of just how versatile the lighting system needed to be.

Tweedie added “we have everything from Lord of the Dance, to Carl Barron, to Swan Lake and Shakespeare, to Canned Heat.

“All of them have different needs. In a bigger city, they would probably be spread across different venues but we have to be all things to all people.

“We had been going through a process of renewing dimmers and consoles, lighting fixtures and data distribution, but it was all bits and pieces.

“In the end we had to say ‘we’re trying to be an arts centre in the capital of Australia (and) lift our game to provide a better service for our clients’.”

The CTC is made up of three venues: the 1,200-seat Canberra Theatre, which is a traditional proscenium arch theatre; the 600-seat Playhouse, and the 100-seat Courtyard Studio.

It was Tweedie’s job to look at the quality and safety issues with the equipment and installations of all three, work out what was needed and prepare specifications for the several tender documents to cover different parts of the upgrade.

“It was obvious that (lighting equipment from) ETC was what everyone was used to using.

“Lighting designs were coming through for different productions, asking for that style of luminaire and we didn’t have it.

“I was given a budget to redo the entire rig in the two main venues, and that also improved the third venue. That included consoles, data distribution and all the luminaires.”

Sound Advice and Jands worked together to deliver a comprehensive system as per the tender process and, according to Tweedie, once he compared prices, value for money and quality control, ETC’s equipment came out in front, with Sound Advice the best possible supplier.

A total of 248 fixtures made up the CTC upgrade including 10° ellipsoidal luminaires, 15-30° zoom ellipsoidal luminaires and 25-50° compact zoom ellipsoidal luminaires. Ancillary items such as iris, pattern holders and a number of enhanced definition spare lens tubes were also supplied.

The end result is a huge success and not just for the immediate future. Part of the challenge for the venue was knowing it would be unlikely to get another upgrade for at least 10 to 15 years, so CTC needed to invest in a system that would hold its own for that length of time. Tweedie believes Sound Advice delivered, stating “we’re not the Sydney Opera House. We need to be right at the front but not ahead. We have to give people what they want now, with an eye on what they might need in the future. If we make the wrong choice, we don’t have the ability to turn around and say ‘I want another $2 million to fix it because we went the wrong way with our previous choice.”

Tweedie says it’s been immensely satisfying to talk to lighting designers and touring electricians to tell them CTC now has an ETC rig.

He concludes “we’ve had a couple of shows through recently that had to double up on their lighting when they came here in the past.

“There were comments on lighting designs that our system was not quite cutting it - that they would have to tour a lot of extra equipment to get the effects they wanted.

“Now they don’t. They put their show file in the console and need to replot everything down a bit because the output on the lighting fixtures has been so good, and that’s been very pleasing to note! Better than they’ve had on tour elsewhere!

 “I’m very happy and we are very grateful to the ACT Government for the ongoing support and funding to guarantee the future of Australia’s oldest arts centre

“We’re now measuring up to industry standard, to world’s best practice. Sound Advice, working with Jands, came to the party with the right mix of price, product and service and – hey - we have a great result and our clients are as happy as we are!”

Jands is an Australian owned company founded in 1970. The company manufactures and distributes the world’s most recognised brands of Audio, Lighting and Staging products primarily for the entertainment and exhibition industry. With headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Sydney, a factory in Melbourne and offices in Brisbane and Perth, Jands employs over 120 people across Australia.

ETC is a global leader in the manufacture of lighting and rigging technology for entertainment and architectural applications. Since its beginning, ETC has earned an industry reputation for unmatched technical and customer service. In addition to its own renowned service department offering 24-hour phone support, ETC has almost 300 authorised service centres throughout the world, staffed by hundreds of certified technicians. ETC products are found in small and large venues worldwide, such as theatres, restaurants, schools, performing arts centres, television studios, houses of worship, casinos, museums, theme parks and opera houses. 

29th August 2014 - DARLINGHURST THEATRE COMPANY BENEFITS FROM SOUND ADVICE

12th June 2012 - FUNDING BOOST FOR CANBERRA THEATRE CENTRE UPGRADE

10th February 2012 - WORLD FIRST THEATRE CAPTIONING APPLICATION FOR SMARTPHONES

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