The opening of the new Theatre at The Mill marks the beginning of an exciting chapter for Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland. Mossley Mill had a long history stemming from the mid 1700s to its eventual closure in 1995. In the past it had changed use from a bleaching mill to a cotton factory and then to a spinning factory, prospering through the production of linen thread. As the linen industry declined, the mill ceased production and the council bought the site for council offices in 1996.
Having converted two wings of the mill into a civic centre and council offices, the council set about building a theatre in the Civic Square behind the Mill, and invited Theatreplan to join the team to act as theatre consultants from its inception.
Designed as a community theatre, this new building provides Newtownabbey, for the first time, with a dedicated drama space tailored to the needs of local audiences. A full range of theatre productions can be accommodated in the building. Theatreplan designed the auditorium for a capacity of 400 on three levels with adaptability for musical performance and flat floor performances, exhibitions or receptions. As Theatreplan’s Peter Ruthven Hall explained, “We specified a retractable seating unit to link the stalls and first gallery, and added a 5-row seating unit which drops into a pit zone. The pit lift rises to the stalls and stage level to provide a large flat floor area and the stage area includes hinged proscenium panels that open out the stage to create a suitable area for an orchestra”. This feature was used in the opening performance with a programme featuring the Ulster Orchestra. The fly tower is fully equipped with 47 counterweight sets, each with a capacity of 500kg and a bar length 12.8m.
Instead of traditional lighting bridges above the auditorium, Theatreplan provided access to front of house lighting by a tensioned-wire grid covering the stalls area. Removable internally-wired lighting bars add to the versatility of the scheme as they can be deployed in a number of configurations to suit the lighting rig. The grid also provides access to suspension beams above, and one set of chain hoists is installed to suspend a loudspeaker truss, and further hoists can be rigged as required for specific shows.
The technical infrastructure, comprising lighting and sound, was designed by Theatreplan and installed as part of the building contract, with the Council purchasing the equipment directly as part of the fixtures and furnishings. The installed lighting equipment includes ETC Sensor racks with 180 dimmer circuits and 34 non-dims. In addition, 27 uncontrolled “hot” sockets are distributed throughout the installation. Control distribution is provided by 50 DMX tie lines and 48 Ethernet tie lines, all terminated in a patch in a dimmer room rack, which also houses distribution equipment.
The sound installation includes tie lines for different types of signal, including microphone, loudspeaker, video, data, cue lights and intercom. The main connection between sound sources, mixing desk and amplifiers is via an audio bus system devised by Theatreplan’s Mathew Smethurst-Evans who explained the design, “The system allows the mixing desk to be easily relocated between the control room, visiting sound position, and ground floor auditorium level. There is a paging and show relay system installed throughout the building. The stage manager’s desk, which can be located either side of the stage, includes the cue light master station along with facilities for paging, intercom, show relay, a clock and timer”.
For temporary power needs, a 200A power panel provides power on the stage for tours and concerts and an additional 125A supply in the scene dock is available for broadcast vans and outdoor events. The get in is via the scene dock, which has a tailboard height door to the loading bay.
In addition to developing the theatre’s main working areas and technical design, Theatreplan also guided the planning for the ancillary areas. Two dressing rooms at stage level are supplemented by chorus, instrumentalist or dancer dressing rooms higher up the building that double as function rooms. The Green Room is light and spacious and looks out over the old mill stream.
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