ABTT 2013 Theatre Show

A series of informal free seminars taking place on both days, on a wide range of subjects of interest to everyone involved with theatre productions. Booking not needed, just pop in and join your colleagues in some stimulating and informative debates.

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Seminars supported by ShowTex EasyDrape

WEDNESDAY 12th JUNE 2013

11.00 - 11.45   Seminar room  B  BS7909 & BS7671 - Temporary Electrical Systems
James Eade will give a short presentation followed by a Q&A session on the application and need for electrical standards such as the IET Wiring Regulations and BS 7909. Eade has worked in most areas of live events including theatre, touring and corporate events and combines that experience with first-hand knowledge of the standards process, being an active member of the committees that write both BS 7671 and BS 7909. He has also written the first book on the subject, due to be published by the IET in the summer. This seminar will interest anyone involved with the design, planning, rigging or maintenance of temporary electrical installations for special events and touring live entertainment performances.

11.15 - 12.00   Seminar room   A   Set & Props: Re-use and recycling
Scenery Salvage will demonstrate how they have successfully set up a system to cost effectively re-use and re-cycle, on average, 95% of all unwanted items they receive. This is then backed up by an environmental waste audit that Scenery Salvage produce, at no extra cost, to help companies calculate their carbon foot print. This seminar is for set designers, production managers, stage managers, theatre managers and anyone who involved with the management of scenery.

12.00 - 12.45  Seminar room   B   Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment 2013

John Young (ATG), David Staples (Theatre Projects) and a representative of the ABTT will launch the new 2013 edition of Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment. Updated for the first time in five years this edition now includes issues previously contained in the Model National Standard Conditions for Places of Entertainment. Edited by David Adams and published by the Association of British Theatre Technicians, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the District Surveyors Association and the Institute of Licensing, the book sets out the physical standards for buildings, their equipment and the good management of the premises so as to provide for the safety of the performers, staff and the public in premises used for entertainment. It is intended for the use of both responsible authorities and licensees alike as a guide to good practice for anyone concerned with the building, maintenance and operation of places of entertainment.

12.15 - 12.45  Seminar room   A   Keeping Yourself Covered

A representative of JELF Insurance will offer Personal Insurance advice for technicians. This seminar is for freelance technicians and designers.


13.00 - 13.45  Seminar room   B   Updates to the Licensing Act for Smaller Venues

A discussion led by a representative of the ABTT poses the question “How does this really affect you and the industry in general?” Discussion about the likelihood that any venue that does not serve alcohol or seats less than 500 people will no longer need an Entertainments License from this September.

13.30 - 14.15  Seminar room   A   Being Compliant - Risk Assessments

An ABTT representative asks, “Are you putting your risk assessments into practice or into a drawer?” This seminar will be of value to anyone involved in the management or operation of live entertainment venues and performances.

14.00 - 14.45  Seminar room   B   Sound System Planning - your virtual designOran Burns demonstrates how to design a typical sound system suitable for theatre through simulation of point source and line array loudspeakers for sound system designers, operators, engineers and technicians.

14.30 - 15.00  Seminar room   A   Apprenticeships - A Case Study
Bryan Raven explains how the White Light Group has embraced modern apprenticeships and offers the inside story of their experiences. This seminar is for anyone interested in setting up or directing others towards apprenticeship schemes, and for those wanting to join the industry through an apprenticeship.

15.00 - 15.45  Seminar room   B   Thriving Theatres - debateMhora Samuel, Director of The Theatres Trust, will lead a debate on the day following the Theatres Trust's Conference 13. This special ABTT Theatre Show plenary session will debate the key issues that were discussed and reflect on the Trust's conference themes - how theatres can become more financially self sufficient, secure their ownership, and maximise the use of their capital assets for community and audience engagement. This seminar will be of interest to delegates to the Theatres Trust conference, and all those involved with the financing, development and management of entertainment venues.

15.15 - 16.00  Seminar room   A   International Stage ManagementAntonia Collins from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama will be talking about ‘A Stage Manager Abroad’ giving hints and tips for the young stage manager working overseas. Come to a lively discussion about working as a stage manager internationally. The session will include practical case studies as well as useful tips to help make your project run smoothly. Antonia Collins has been working as a stage manager for over 20 years and has an eclectic array of experience including stage managing in the Far East, the Middle East and Europe. This seminar will be of interest to all stage managers, stage management students, and for others in the creative team looking to work outside the UK.

16.00 - 16.45  Seminar room   B   Are You Competent ?  Can you prove it ? The ABTT Shows You How

What is competence, how does it relate to training and assessment and how can you be sure that you can prove you are competent? The ABTT considers the possession of appropriate skill, knowledge and experience to be the requirements for competence and is working to inform working technicians of how to navigate the world of training and assessment so that they gain valid qualifications. It is also participating wherever possible in the process of establishing nationally recognised validation for competence throughout the technical theatre sector. This seminar will provide an update on the latest developments and explain how you can benefit from seeking assessment of your vocational competence.

16.15 - 17.00  Seminar room   A   British Sign Language - Creating Access through Signs and VisionAlison Pottinger will be covering issues affecting deaf theatre technicians. The seminar will be presented in BSL and English and will be interpreted. It will be of specific interest to  theatre technicians and those working with technicians who have hearing issues.

Seminars supported by ShowTex EasyDrape

THURSDAY 13th JUNE 2013

11.00 - 11.45  Seminar room   A   Production Training - where is the step into work ?
Will Hahn Head of Programme, CC Skills, asks, “Are our further education courses too wide, and give students a false impression of their capabilities? Are Apprenticeships the solution to the next generation of technicians? If you can afford a HE course, are you best doing a specialised course?”
This seminar aims to bring the key voices to play in a session around what ingredients need to be in training, and could our current courses need a shake up? Providers, students and professionals will open the floor to future students and employers around what the next generation of courses should look like to better equip students and the sector for evolving skills bases. The seminar is aimed at anyone with a stake in training, recruiting or supporting initial training for theatre and live events. The National Skills Academy for Creative & Cultural are a network of industry and education partners looking to make the right skills and talent accessible, accessing the best tools and training to support growth of our sector.

 11.15 - 11.45  Seminar room   B   ABTT: "How Can We Help You ?"

As Robin Townley, the Association of British Theatre Technicians’ Associate Executive Officer, completes his first year in the post, this seminar has been scheduled for the benefit of the organisation’s members – and potential members – to hear more on what the ABTT can do for you, as well as its current plans and ambitions. The Q&A format also allows for members to be able to raise any issues relevant to them and offer suggestions that the organisation might act upon, for the good of all.

11.45 - 12.30  Seminar room   A   Review of New Technical Standards

Petrus Bertschinger, Mark White and Rob Weaver will guide you through the revised 2013 edition of Technical Standards and Model Conditions for entertainment venues. Published by the Association of British Theatre Technicians, the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, the District Surveyors Association and the Institute of Licensing, the book sets out the physical standards for buildings, their equipment and the good management of the premises so as to provide for the safety of the performers, staff and the public in premises used for entertainment. This seminar is a guide to the format and layout of the new guide and a walk-through of where to find what.

11.45 - 12.15  Seminar room   B   Technical Access Passport
Chris Paul from trackingThis and Tom Mannings for the ABTT give an overview of the latest Technical Access Passport (TAP) features and launch of the new trainer module. This seminar will be of value to anyone involved in the management or operation of live entertainment venues / performances and trainers supplying to the industry.

12.15 - 13.00  Seminar room   B   Working At Height - 'Whose life is it anyway?’  

Chris Higgs and guest panel members including David Anderson and Frank Partington or Bob Deakin from AAP discuss who decides the level of acceptable risk when working at height? Who is responsible for whom? What happens when it all goes wrong? This topical debate covering updates to working at height regulations will be of particular interest to all technicians working in the theatre and who have to rig or operate equipment at height.

12.30 - 13.00  Seminar room   A   What Is Skillscene ?
"Skillscene: When are you going to get a proper job?" Bryan Raven explains Skillscene, the forum for theatrical & backstage training; how they are working to promote more training & accreditation for the industry without re-inventing the wheel. This seminar is for those in education and entertainment management sectors.

13.00 - 13.45  Seminar room   B   BS7909 & BS7671 Exposed
James Eade and Mark Coles. Mark Coles is responsible for the IET's standards and compliance department, sitting on many of the UK committees and representing UK interests at a European and International level. Following short presentations by both Eade and Coles on the application of BS 7671 and BS 7909 they will host a Q&A session in which delegates are invited to ask any questions relating to temporary or permanent electrical systems. It is a rare and unique opportunity to question those who wrote the standards and gain definitive answers on all things electrical, ranging from the application of Standards in practice, practical issues surrounding temporary systems or hardware, testing or certification for example. Not to be missed... This seminar will be for anyone involved with the design, planning, rigging or maintenance of temporary electrical installations for special events and touring live entertainment performances.

14.00 - 14.45  Seminar room   B   Lighting with LED & Tungsten
Adam Bennette will be talking about mixing old and new lighting design techniques. An industry technical expert reveals the possibilities and the consequences. This seminar will be interesting for everyone involved with, or interested in lighting design.

14.15 - 15.00  Seminar room  A  The Right Kit and The Real Kit
David Edelstein, Simon Harper, Andy Hayles, Chris Higgs and Sarah Rushton Read will be discussing ‘fighting forgery and specifying for success’: specifying equipment, avoiding forgeries, the role of the consultant and the health and safety implications. Discussion covering the process of specifying equipment for a client, the role of the consultant in ensuring that copied equipment and designs are not supplied, the health and safety aspects of using second quality equipment and the way that the industry is being made aware that copies are in general circulation. This session will be of interest to consultants, specifiers, project managers, health & safety specialists, venue managers, technical managers and system integrators.

15.00 - 16.00  Seminar room   B   A master and his art: lighting designer Mick Hughes
Mick Hughes is a Fellow of the ALD and has a lighting design career that stretches back 50 years. In this session he will talk about his career, productions, working collaborations and approach to lighting design and how it has changed over the years. This is an unmissable opportunity for anyone interested in lighting design.

15.15 - 16.00  Seminar room   A   Entertaining Sustainability
Tim Atkinson, Technical Director of :entertaining sustainability distills the fundamental units of sustainability into theatre-friendly terms. ‘The parcanhour, and other units of theatrical sustainability….’ Whether you’re Front of House, Backstage or neither, this informal seminar should familiarise you with which bits matter, how to measure them, and what that looks like in real life. This seminar will be interesting for anyone involved with the design, planning, management or operation of live entertainment venues.

16.00 - 16.45  Seminar room   B   Modern practices for collaboration between designers and technical/production
Mat Lawrence has been managing the process of realising designers’ visions for 18 years with the last 4 years spent working as Props Master for Opera Australia in Sydney. Mat started his career in the UK and since leaving Opera Australia in 2012 has co-founded a company working internationally with producing theatres and designers to better understand how the global theatre industry is currently working and to develop tools designed specifically to improve the process of collaboration, communication and access to information for the creative and production teams. In this informal session he will talk about the difficulties and pleasures of working internationally for both main stage and touring productions, the failures and successes of communication practices when working with designers and production teams on different continents and the good and bad practices theatres around the world are using to manage production teams and their communication with designers. This session will be interesting for anyone involved with design, planning, management or creation of live entertainment.