A Stage Technologies rental AU:tour control system provided the overhead flying for Nicholas Hytner's triumphant version of Shakespeare's Timon of Athens at the Olivier Theatre in the National Theatre. The production, which opened on 17 July, finished its run on 1 November in front of a live audience in London and was live-streamed to cinemas around the world.
The Stage Technologies system included 15 BigTow winches, ranging from 12 BT200s and two BT390s which flew smaller scenic items to a single BT490 which moved a very large scenic wall. The control system included several AU:tour control racks and an Acrobat G 6 desk, running the eChameleon software.
Stage Technologies' director of rentals services Ted Moore said: "It is a great privilege for our rentals team to be asked to provide an automation system for the National Theatre, one of the most famous theatres in the world. While timescales were a challenge, with the help of the National Theatre's head of automation Steve Colley and his team, the turnaround was very quick."
