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Post by danb on Mar 28, 2024 18:53:27 GMT
Do theatres just use mains power to run their shows off or do they have independent power units?
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301 posts
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Post by properjob on Mar 28, 2024 19:10:58 GMT
Do theatres just use mains power to run their shows off or do they have independent power units? I don't quite understand what you mean by independent power units but they don't have generators they are run off mains power but lots ot it. Not the sort of supply you would run a house of but rather that of a large business. It will have changed with LEDs but lighting rigs take a lot of power. Pre LEDs each light would be 1000 or 2000 Watts each. If a show is touring its own dimmers they will be plugged into multiple 63 or 125 amp 3 phase supplies but these supplies will be a permanent fixture of the theatre. When private schools built theatres the Bursars would notice the change in the electricity bills. Power for theatres is tricky as sound equipment is really fussy about having really clean power however lighting dimmers do horrible things to power supplies and make them very not clean. |
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Post by greenandbrownandblue on Mar 28, 2024 20:18:25 GMT
I've noticed a few venues have large temporary structures built on the road behind the theatre when certain shows are in - for example recently outside the Apollo for Time Traveller's Wife, and outside the Old Vic for Just For One Day. Does anyone know what these are? I assumed it could be generators or something to do with power - especially as I know both shows had quite big sound systems.
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109 posts
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Post by SuperTrooper on Mar 30, 2024 8:24:08 GMT
I've noticed a few venues have large temporary structures built on the road behind the theatre when certain shows are in - for example recently outside the Apollo for Time Traveller's Wife, and outside the Old Vic for Just For One Day. Does anyone know what these are? I assumed it could be generators or something to do with power - especially as I know both shows had quite big sound systems. Time Travellers did have a generator initially, it was realised it wasn't needed so removed soon after opening night. Some Theatres have their own Electrical Sub-station (it'll power a small area around the building). Not all rigs are fully LED yet, it's getting there though so the need for generators is waning. SoHo used to suffer power cuts on a regular basis (years ago) so some shows used a generator because it means no cancelled shows, which means no need for refunds! |
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2,763 posts
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Post by ceebee on Mar 31, 2024 8:15:12 GMT
I've noticed a few venues have large temporary structures built on the road behind the theatre when certain shows are in - for example recently outside the Apollo for Time Traveller's Wife, and outside the Old Vic for Just For One Day. Does anyone know what these are? I assumed it could be generators or something to do with power - especially as I know both shows had quite big sound systems. Good question. I'd certainly assume with over 300 lights, 100 speakers and 372 led screen panels that the Old Vic might have needed some extra oomph. As Doc Brown might say, "that's lots of watts"! |
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Post by andys on Mar 31, 2024 17:04:09 GMT
I believe that years ago (mid 1990s when I first worked in the business) some west end venues in close proximity had to reach local agreements to not have shows drawing huge power starting at the same time for fear the supply would be overloaded. Miss Saigon at Drury Lane and Buddy at the Strand was one example.
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