Theatreplan is proud to note that the Stage Wagon Drive System it developed and specified for Copenhagen Opera House has been installed at the Mariinsky II Theatre in St Petersburg by German stage engineering company, SBS Bühnentechnik.
The
new £450 million theatre, the brainchild of conductor and artistic director,
Valery Gergiev, and designed by Canadian architect, Jack Diamond, opened to
adoring crowds in May.
The unique
Wagon system, conceived by Richard Brett and Clive Odom, is a further
development of that installed the Royal Opera House in London, but uses drive
pinions in the floor which rise to engage in racks mounted in the underside of
the wagons. The wagons move within the floor in ‘canals’ formed by the lowering
of equaliser elevators in their path. A full set of equalisers is provided
throughout the stage support areas ensuring that all the working areas can be
at the same level and that no scenery or other equipment has to be lifted onto
the wagons during fit-ups.
Both
the Mariinsky Theatre and SBS are delighted with the wagon system, which runs
smoothly and noiselessly.
