Road: Lighthouse Theatre Visit

As Gareth had not seen the space that the play will be set in and we needed to clear up some things with their Technical Manager, we took a visit to the Lighthouse in Poole. John took myself along with the Designer - Laura, her assistant - Emily, the costume designer - Kate and of course the Director - Gareth.

We had a meeting with Jake, their Technical Manager to talk through various aspects of the Set and compromises with the space.

The design for the floor is yet to be confirmed, but we have ascertained that it will be painted directly onto the floor they have there, which at the moment in just black MDF until the wings, where it is a light grey with tape marks. (Upon inspection Gareth quite likes this as it adds to the stripped back feeling of the production). We would have to re-black the floor on the Saturday after the get-out, but a team of people with rollers should get the job done in no time.


It is part of the design to have no borders, tabs or blacks in this show - so all the gubbins in the wings is visible.


I need to amend my technical drawings of the road pieces because at the moment they wont fit though the truck doors, so having them halved would be ideal. Also, I need to talk to Richard about constrution because at the moment they are very heavy. So they need to be rigid yet lightweight as they aren't load bearing. I need to place the apertures in the drawing too, as because the pieces need to be cut on a CNC machine it would be easier to do that rather than routing them by hand. The road segments will be suspended by fly wires (supplied by the Lighthouse) but supported by the 6m scaff bars which will in turn be braced to a fly bar.


We have scrapped one of the scaff towers (the 3m x 3m) so that has reduced the amount of steel by half!

I need to create the ground plan with a front and side elevation. Laura has already done the basic ground plan, I just need to make it more detailed and accurate.


At this moment in time it would be easier to be able to get in touch with Richard so I can talk to him about all this!

This is John's confirmation email from the day's events;

Discussed at Lighthouse today with their Technical manager Jake Sutton

Road will be flown in sections– using venue flying wires and hardware.

2. We supply standard hanging points and hardware on our scenery..

3. Venue will supply pin spots for shining through the light points in the road. (Have 12)

4. Legs will be 6 metre scaff poles that we will supply and clamp to their fly- bars.

5. We can secure to their floor. And brace fly bars to fly-floor so they don’t move about.

6. We will paint the venue floor and lower part of back wall on Sunday 4 March from 2pm – 6pm – Please use water based paint.

7. We will return to previous condition (black emulsion) during the get-out on Saturday 10 March – 11pm-11.59pm.

8. We will use the space behind the wall bars on auditorium right as an acting area – and cut the second scaff tower.

9. Foyer is ok to perform in and venue will supply a working hand-held mic.

10. Production week is Mon 5 March – Sat 10 March.