United Kingdom, Great Malvern
2018
670 students
Over Stage Engineering, Acoustics. Track Systems
Education
As part of the theatre refurbishment at Malvern College, J&C Joel supplied a range of stage engineering and drapery services to the main auditorium and studio.
Malvern College is an independent coeducational day and boarding school in Worcestershire, England. Originally opened in 1903 as a gymnasium, the theatre underwent a huge refurbishment in 2018, transforming it into an impressive theatrical venue.
Today, the theatre hosts a variety of events, including theatrical productions, dance performances, music concerts, fashion shows and lectures. This meant it was important that the services J&C Joel provided were flexible.
J&C Joel began the project by installing a 36m curved mild steel catwalk above the auditorium and the curved seating area. This allowed a safe and convenient walkway for the theatre crew to access lights suspended above the auditorium.
The team installed four steel ladder bars, manufactured from 48mm tube, above the stage and auditorium for the suspension of lighting and scenery. In addition, a split tension wire grid was supplied by J&C Joel comprising a total of 12 SkyDeck modular systems, each measuring 2.2m by 1.8m. Together these systems provide safe access above the auditorium.
Above the stage area, J&C Joel supplied and installed two ETC Prodigy hoists with ladder bars. These were primarily used for the raising and lowering of stage lighting and drapes.
One ladder bar supported a 10m walkalong Triple E UniTrack system, from which J&C Joel’s Wool Serge 565 (WS090) were hung. Each drape measured a width of 5m by a drop of 4.9m and was manufactured with 50% fullness. The drapes were finished with Golf Bag Hooks for attachment to the track and a Jack Chain base.
The walkalong Triple E UniTrack played a significant role in meeting the theatre’s multipurpose requirements. as it meant the drapes could be pulled along the track. The system allows the drapes to move smoothly along the track, enabling staff to transform the space quickly and effortlessly. Depending on the needs of each performance, the blackout drapes can either create a stage backdrop or disappear entirely from view.
J&C Joel further enhanced the venue’s flexibility by installing a portable stage system that can be configured into three separate layouts. These configurations support stage extensions, tiered seating arrangements, and in-the-round performances.
The studio, located within the theatre foyer, also serves multiple purposes, functioning as a foyer, teaching room and small drama studio. As a result, the drapery system for this area needed to remain equally adaptable.
Therefore, J&C Joel provided perimeter drapery consisting of five Wool Serge 565 (WS090) drapes measuring a width of 3m by a drop of 4m, manufactured with 50% fullness. The drapes were attached to Triple E UniTrack which surrounded the perimeter of the 64m2 studio space. This was ideal as it allowed the perimeter drapery to be manually pulled open and closed with ease, quickly transforming the room from isolated to open.
Wool Serge 565 (WS090) was the perfect fabric for this space because of its excellent acoustic, masking and blackout properties, which meant that when the curtains were pulled to isolate the space, the noise from outside of the enclosed space would be reduced and the natural light from outside the windows was blocked.
