Blue Box Technical Services

Event production professionals based in Manchester, covering the North West and North Wales. Specialists in lighting, sound, and media for live events, and technical consultancy for new-build and refurbishment projects at schools, churches, and entertainment venues.

Case Studies → Schools & Education


The Blue Box Theatre

Chorlton High School, Manchester

BBTS staff wrote the technical specification and tender documentation for The Blue Box Theatre, a 300-seat new-build theatre forming part of a larger new-build project — the entire school itself.

BBTS then oversaw the entire tendering process for the theatre's lighting, sound, AV, and seating systems, and produced detailed comparison reports of all tender returns together with recommendations.

Once companies had been chosen to supply and install the infrastructure and equipment, BBTS staff project-managed the associated installations from start to finish, including the inevitable snagging phase.

Training was also provided to both staff and students on the capabilities and use of the new equipment and infrastructure.

When the Blue Box opened in 2003, it was without a doubt the most technologically advanced school theatre of its kind anywhere in the North West — testament to BBTS staff's commitment to ensuring that the state-of-the-art new school building had quality, industry-standard performance systems to match, at a price the school and Local Education Authority could afford.

Equipment List:
Lighting:
ETC Express 48/96 console
ETC Emphasis 3D Server
ETC SmartPack Dimmers (60 circuits configured for 48 dimming + 12 non-dims)
x120 Sockets around Theatre Space (x102 on LX Grid / x18 Low-Level)
x11 DMX Outlets around Theatre Space (x7 on LX Grid / x4 Low-Level)
Lighting control from Control Room or from within Theatre Space

Lantern Stock:
x8 ETC Source 4 PAR's (750w)
x48 Strand Quartet F's (650w)
x12 Strand Prelude F's (650w)
x12 Selecon Axial 24-44degs (600w)
x6 Strand Prelude 28/40's (650w)
x4 Thomas PAR 64 Cans (1kw)
x6 Thomas PAR 64 Floor Cans (S model) (1kw)
x5 Strand Nocturn 1000's (1kw)
x10 Strand Coda 500's (500w)
x4 Martin MAC250 Entour's (MSD 250)
x8 Rainbow 6" Scrollers (For Source 4 PARS)
Sound:
Soundcraft K1 24:4:2 Channel mixing console
Soundcraft Spirit E12 12:2 Channel mixing console
x4 Mackie Vision PA151 Speakers (Flown)
x2 Mackie Vision PA180SW Speakers
x2 Crest CA6 Amplifier (Mid-Highs)
x1 Crest CA9 Amplifier (Subs)
x4 Peavey EuroSys 15PM 15 Inch Powered Monitor (150w)
Sound control from Control Room or from within Theatre Space

Outboard:
x2 Tascam CD-A500 CD/Tape Deck
x2 Sony MiniDisc Player MDS-SE10 Pro
x1 Tascam MD-350 MiniDisc Player
x2 Lexicon MPX550 FX Processor
x1 TC Electronic M300 FX Processor
x1 DigiTech Studio Quad v4 FX Processor
x4 Alesis 3630 Dual Compressor/Limiter/Gate
x1 Behringer UltraCurve PRO DSP8024 Dual 31-Band EQ/RTA
x1 Behringer UltraGraph PRO FBQ6200 Dual 31-Band EQ with Feedback Detection
Microphones:
x2 Shure SM58
x2 Shure SM57
x4 AKG C1000s
x4 AKG C418
x1 AKG D112
x4 AudioTechnica MB1000L
x4 Sennheiser Evolution ew100 UHF Tie-Clip Radio Mics
x3 AudioTechnica 200 Series Freeway VHF Tie-Clip Radio Mics
x5 Passive DI Boxes

Comms
Stonewood Intercom system with A & B loops and x8 single muff headsets & belt packs.
Can be used throughout the Theatre Space, Backstage, Control Room, and Dressing Rooms.
Show Relay, with paging facilities, in all dressing rooms

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