The Prince Edward Theatre in the heart of London’s West End has begun a major upgrade to their auditorium lighting. The venue first opened in 1930 and is one of the larger London venues with a capacity of 1,716 seats.
Delfont Mackintosh Theatres took advantage of a brief period between the closing of Mary Poppins and the opening of Ain’t Too Proud, contracting Push The Button to begin the upgrade process. The timing was ideal, as it allowed for scaffolding to be installed to access the lights in the ceiling without disrupting ongoing performances.
Phase One of the upgrade focused on replacing the lighting in the Grand Circle and updating the central feature of the ceiling, a large round lightbox known as the dart board. The existing downlights were replaced with Lucent Pinhole Accent downlights, which were controlled by ETC ArcSystem drivers. The installation process included fitting new containment and electrical supplies, alongside the drivers and wiring to the new downlights. The drivers were placed remotely to make maintenance easier and safer, avoiding dangerous work spaces. This change has resulted in a more energy-efficient auditorium, while maintaining its visual aesthetic.
Push The Button was responsible for enhancing the existing ETC Paradigm control system during the upgrade. This involved installing a 7″ touch screen stage left and a portable touch screen in the control room, with a 2-button panel located at the stage door. These new interfaces allow for greater control of both the existing and new lighting systems from all necessary locations.
The installation was completed during the short break, on time and without issues.