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Rigging: The lighting riggers are given a lighting plan which shows which lights should be placed in which place and which colour gel, if any, they should have. It also shows a number next to each lantern symbol, this number tells what channel number that light is, which helps the programmer to know what number to enter in the desk when they want to bring up a light. When rigging the lights, the rigger must look at the plan an ensure that all of the right types of lantern are in the right place on the right bar. Depending on the set, the lighting bars may or may not be able to be lowered to make rigging the lanterns easier. When they can, the controller is used to move the bar down to a height where the rigger can place the lanterns on the bar and move the bar back up. When the bar cannot be moved, the rigger will have to go up a ladder or tallescope to reach the bar and they will have to safely get the lantern up to them. This is done using a rigging rope; you need to tie a bowline knot in one end of the rope and fasten it around the yoke of the lantern. The rope must go over the bar and someone on the ground will pull the other end of the rope, to raise the light up to the top of the ladder where the rigger is. When you rig a light, you have to place the G clamp over the bar and tighten the wing nut to secure it on the bar. There is also a safety cable which needs to be clipped around the bar to make it more secure and safe onto the bar. When rigging a light you must make sure that it is facing the right way and that the light is pointing downward. You must plug the light into the sockets on the bar and use LX tape to tape up the cable and keep it tidy and out of the way.

Me operating for the dance show.

Cherry tree orchard review

Cherry tree orchard was a play set in the Victorian era. I knew this because of the costumes they were wearing. The play was about a family who lived near an orchard and the mother had grew up with it and loved it dearly. A salesman wanted to knock down the orchard to build cottages and make lots of money but the mother wouldn't let him do it. Eventually he got his own way and the orchard was demolished in order to build the cottages which meant the family had to move away. At the end of the play, the old man of the family is still in the house as he has been left behind. He collapses on the floor and the house starts to fall down on top of him. The set was very subtle and the lighting remained the same throughout the play. I think this was quite effective as it showed a more accurate representation of a house in the Victorian era as they would not have had very bright or colourful lighting then. The main centerpiece of the set was a large spiral hanging above the stage. This had many household objects hanging from it and at the end of the play when the old man collapses, some of the objects start to fall off which I think is to represent the house falling down on top of the old man. I think this was effective as it was sudden and made the audience jump and it also showed the house being demolished so we could imply that the old man was killed by either his collapsing or the house coming down on top of him. There was a lot of sound throughout the play but it was also very subtle as it did not play a main part in the scenes as it was mostly background music and noise. However in one scene they did a dance so the music was obvious then. They had lots of props throughout the play such as drinks and glasses and trays. They had a setee, a stall and a box which the actors would use to sit on during the scenes and these would be moved around in some scenes. The characters had two costumes each which they changed between for different scenes but all of the costumes were Victorian style dresses and suits which showed who each character was and the period the play was set. The maid and butler had different outfits to show that they were not members of the family but workers in the house. I think the play had a successful stage management team as it ran very smoothly and the doors opened at the right times and everyone came in at the right times and none of the cues were missed from the audience point of view.

Evaluation

Teamwork throughout project: I feel that my team worked quite well together. At the start of the project we didn’t really know each other and we all had different ideas and we worked together to create one idea that we all agreed on. However, some days we were all doing different things in different places so it took us a while to get things done which meant that towards the end of the project we had to rush a bit as our installation progressed quite slowly but in the end we were all happy and proud of the final outcome of our room. When we actually did the performance I had the role of acting as the patient in the cell banging on the wall and screaming to scare the audience. Bradley and Laura were doctors welcoming the audience into our room, stone house. However, we realized that I would not be able to do it all day for two days as it was hurting my throat to scream so much so we decided to rotate it around so we all had a turn at being the patient and being the doctor so it was fair for all of us. In the performance we worked really well as a team in ensuring that it went smoothly and to plan which it did. We had a few moments of disagreement or slow progress but overall we worked well to get the installation finished and had a successful performance of it.

Performance: I think that our performance went well as we wanted to make the audience feel sympathy for the patients and be scared as well. We did this well as we led the audience into one cell and told them a story of a patient which left them thinking about the patient and felt sympathy for them whilst reading the words on the wall. Whilst they were intrigued in the story, the person in the cell next door screamed and hit the wall which made almost all of our audience jump or scream. We also made the audience jump or scream when they left the cell and we offered them the option of looking through the hatch at the patient next door and they lifted the hatch and the patient jumped out at them and screamed at them which made them jump too. Some groups were not scared by our performance of our installation but most were and we knew that not everyone would have the same reaction as everyone is different.

Our room fit in with the rest of the rooms and the theme as there was another room which was a padded cell which could have been a cell in Stone House asylum which our room was based around and supposed to be. However most of the other rooms were more scary but ours was more realistic and made the audience think about what was happening, encouraging them to think about the story.

As an individual, I made the doors to the cells look old and rusty by adding iron powder which was something I did successfully and was a strength of mine. I also did most of the painting of the walls which was another strength. However, I was not good at drilling things in place such as the doors, so Bradley, with the help of Alex did the drilling and cutting things out as I wasn’t as good at construction. Another weakness of mine was lighting as I was not very good at putting the lights together and fitting them in place.

#u2c3 #u2c5

We added a bed that we made using two metal stands and a sheet of wood on top covered with a sheet to make it look like a bed. Also we added a chair and toilet in the other cell. We added all of the finishing touches such as painting stories on the walls and using pieces of wood, filled in the gaps between the doors and walls and covered the window with a white sheet. We also added lighting, we used two birdie lights in each cell room, one white and one blue to create a clinical atmosphere with blue to add a sympathetic mood for the audience to feel sympathy for the patients. We also recorded sound of different words for depression, isolation and loneliness to play on repeat for the performance.

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We partitioned the room to create two cells. In one piece of wood we had to cut out a shape to fit the light as it was in the way. We then painted red writing on the walls to look like blood. We also drilled the doors into the walls but we realised that we needed to spray paint them silver to look like metal so we had to take them back off again. We sprayed them and then we used black paint to lightly brush around the edges make it look old and dirty we also used iron powder which will rust to make the door look rusty.

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We did another coat of paint and did the top of the wall with the stepladder to reach it. We took the doors off of the wardrobe and painted inside it. We used these doors to make cell doors as they were an ideal size and looked good to be cell doors. We cut holes in them and made flaps which we put hinges on and attached to the door so people can look through the holes and see what is happening inside the cells. We now need to use the pieces of wood we have to assemble the walls to create cells.

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We started to paint the walls white to give a clinical look as hospitals usually have white walls. This was only one coat, we needed a stepladder to do the tops and we also needed to do another coat as it was patchy and needed to be more even.

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This is our installation room before we started doing anything to it. We are painting the walls white and using sheets of wood to create cells inside the room for our asylum.

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Installation research

For our installation, we are going to create an asylum. We researched Stone House, a hospital that opened for 250 patients in 1866. The asylum continued to expand and by 1888, after an extension, it accommodated 549 patients. Private Patients were admitted from 1st January 1892 at a cost of £1 per week. By 1900, the asylum had been upgraded and had electricity installed. The hospital closed down for good in 2007.

We also looked at Darenth Park self sufficient asylum which opened in 1927. This hospital also had a farm onsite which included many cows, pigs and sheep. The hospital had its own cemetery in which they would have buried multiple bodies (maximum of 10) in one grave and very few were given headstones. One rare example of a headstone read “well done good and faithful servant” which was quite an honour to have said about you on your headstone at this hospital. It closed in 1988 and was demolished in 1995.

We also found out about various methods of torture that were used on the asylum patients. Such as restraint, solitary confinement, bloodletting, gyrating chair and ice bath. To get the research about these asylums we looked on two websites: http://www.ghost-of.org/stonehouse-asylum.php http://dartfordhospitalhistories.org.uk

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Dreams

I made note of some dreams I had that I could remember as inspiration for the installation. In one dream I had, I can remember running away from something and falling as when I felt like I was falling. This is a recurring dream for myself and many others as many people have said they have had a dream of falling and really feeling like you are feeling. I had forgotten most of my dreams by the time I had woken up but another recurring dream I often have is being stuck in a tight space or maze and not being able to escape, feeling very claustrophobic.

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Installation planning

For our installation, my group had many ideas of we could do. We thought of the idea of a maze and claustrophobia to make the audience feel uncomfortable whilst scaring them with things throughout the maze. We also thought of creating an asylum themed installation with patients showing different things that happened in old asylum hospitals. Also, we thought we could create a room to make people feel dizzy by using spinning lights and moving floors. We also liked the idea of using phobias in the room.

We ruled out the idea of dizziness as we weren’t sure how it would work and we weren’t so fond of the idea. We then thought of trying to combine the ideas of claustrophobia and an asylum into one room as we liked both these ideas. We wanted to create a maze with an asylum theme with different patients screaming and being tortured as you go through the maze. We soon realised after looking at and measuring the rooms, that they were just too small to fit all of our ideas into one. We decided not to go for the maze theme as we thought it would be too complicated to build a maze in such a small space and that it wouldn’t be safe for people to go through as it was too tight and difficult to get out of in case of a fire.

We thought very hard about what we were going to do in our room as most of our ideas did not seem possible to make. Eventually we decided to make our room into a hospital showing patients being tortured/punished for their illnesses. We changed our minds about how we were going to present it many times; we thought of having the room as one cell; showing multiple patients in one room but we finally decided on dividing the room into two cells and putting two different patients in them. We will have doors on the cells with hatches for people to look through into the cells to see what is happening to the patients. We are going to find stories of real patients from either Stone House mental hospital or Darenth self-sufficient asylum which were asylum hospitals many years ago in Dartford and we are going write the stories on the doors and show the stories inside the cells.

Our original aim was to scare the audience and make them feel uncomfortable but we now want to make them feel sympathy for the patients they will see. We will find stories from mental hospitals that were in Dartford which is local which we hope will make the audience feel sympathy for the patients as they were real people in a hospital so locally.

#u2c2 #u2c3

Workshop induction

In the workshop induction, we learnt how to use the machines and tools in the workshop safely and where everything is. We had a go at some of the machines to see how they worked and how they felt to use. I had a go with the handheld jigsaw which is used to cut curved lines and shapes, which the circ saw or bed saw cannot as they only cut straight lines.

As well as looking at wood cutting machines, we also tried out some metal machines and had a go at welding some pieces of metal together. When we did this we all had to put masks on to protect our eyes from the bright light of the hot metal. We learnt that the workshop is split into two halves, one half for wood work and the other for metal so that the sparks from the metal don’t cause the wood shavings to set alight.

At the start of the induction I didn’t know the safety rules for the machines or what the names for each machine are and what they are used for, but by the end I knew how to safely use things and even had a go at one of the machines I learnt the name of.

Stage management workshop

In the SM workshop we learnt the names for the different parts of the theatre. We were given cards with the names on and we had to put them where we thought they were. I knew where most things were but I didn’t know what a soft leg was but I learnt that it is the curtains that separate the wings. I also got mixed up with stage left and stage right as I thought it was the audience’s left and right but it is actually the actors who are on the stage.

I also learnt the job of the stage management team. They are in charge of ensuring that all props are in place and ready for the actors when they need them and also they may have to help the actors or dancers with getting on costumes and making sure that everything backstage goes smoothly. They are also in charge of calling the show, to make sure things happen where and when they should. We learnt that the ASM (assistant stage manager) is a fairly low job role however, is extremely important for ensuring the show goes to plan and is a very respected role by the actors once they learn how important it is.

At the start of the workshop I didn’t really know what the roles of the SM, DSM and ASM were or how important they were but by the end I realised the importance of the department and what exactly it is in charge of.

Sound workshop

In our sound workshop we learnt how to use some basic controls and what different things were called and are used for. We also learnt the definitions for some sound related terms:

Microphone - Take the source signal and send it to the mixing desk via a cable. This is the first piece of equipment in the signal path.

Mixing desk - Takes multiple signals from a range of sources and gives sound engineer the power to boost signals. You can blend all the signals together so they sound balanced and allow the audience to hear everything.

Amps - Where the signal is boosted and sent to the speakers.

Speakers - Output point of the public address (PA) system where the sound comes from.

Subs - Another output point for the PA but for low frequencies or sub bass.

Monitors - On stage speakers pointed towards musicians so they can hear what they are playing.

DI box - Stands for direct injection. Converts signals from line level to mic level also converts the impedance.

GAIN - Adjusts the input level of a signal.

AUX - Allows you to send a copy of the signal to a FX unit, compressor, limiter. Also used for monitoring.

EQ - stands for equalization. Can cut or boost certain frequencies on a signal.

We also learnt the names and purposes for some audio connectors: The jack, which is used for musical instruments. There are two different types of jack, stereo and mono. The RCA phono and the headphone jack/3.5mm jack. Also the XLR, both male and female. These are used for microphones and the sound comes through the pins (male) and out the holes (female). Finally, the spekon which is used for amps.

Also, the power connectors: figure of 8 used for musical equipment, the IEC and the clover leaf for computer monitors.

In this workshop we were allowed to have a turn at using the sound channel strip in the studio and tested out different frequencies, volumes and other elements of the sound playing.

At the beginning of the session I knew nothing about sound but by the end I knew the basic terms and connectors and their uses and also how to use some controls on the channel strip.

Lifting workshop

We had a workshop on how to safely lift objects and consequences of not lifting correctly. Incorrect manual handling can result in injuries. For example, strains, cuts, breaks and in some cases, even death. The most common injury as a result of lifting incorrectly is to the back. Back injuries can have more consequences than just pain, they can put you out of work, which can affect your income and more. We learnt an acronym to help us remember what to do before lifting, T.I.L.E:

Task - what the task involves, route to get object from A to B, obstacles etc; Individual - whether or not I am able to lift the load and carry it the whole way; Load - whether I can lift it alone or whether I would need help or if I would need an aid such as a trolley to lighten the load; Environment - where I am taking the object and the route to get there and what the weather/terrain/space is so I can avoid injury.

We learnt the correct way to lift an object. First you would move the object with your foot to see how easy it is to move to see if you think you can lift or not. Then, you move your feet to about shoulder-width apart and bend the knees, keeping the back straight and your eyes looking straight on so you do not bend the back at all. Then grab the item with one hand either side and lift as you straighten the legs to stand back up, keeping your eyes looking ahead.

Before lifting an object you must evaluate it to work out the best way of getting the object to where you want it. If you do not think you are able to lift the object alone, you should find another way to move the object. For example, you could use an aid to lighten the load, such as a trolley. Or you could lift as a group, but this would require planning and coordination to ensure you lift at the same time and also if one person lifting is taller than the other you should work out how high each person will lift the object to make sure it is even and will not fall. Also, to make sure everyone knows which way you are taking the object. You should not bend your back when lifting as the weight that is put on your back by doing this is 10 times the weight of what you’re lifting.

We found out that 80% of back injuries are caused my incorrect manual handling and 63% of these are reported.

This session was very helpful as before it, I would have lifted things with my back as I did not know the amount of strain it puts on my back and how it can cause injury but now I know the correct way to lift and why not to lift any other way. I will use this information to ensure I do not cause myself any injuries by lifting incorrectly.

Ladders and stepladders (heights)

We did a workshop on how to safely use ladders and stepladders. We learnt that a third of all reported incidents of falling from a height involve ladders and stepladders, including an average of 14 deaths and 1200 major injuries to workers each year.

We learnt to: know when to use a ladder; decided how to go about selecting the right sort of ladder for the particular job; understand how to use it; know how to look after it; and take sensible safety precautions. We also learnt that you should carry out a risk assessment to justify whether it is safe enough to use.

You should only use a ladder in one position for a maximum of 30 minutes and should only be used for light work, ideally no more than 10 kg. Also, you must maintain three points of contact (hands and feet) with the ladder and where a handhold cannot be maintained, other measures will be needed to prevent a fall.

On a ladder you should not: overload it, keep it within the load stated on the ladder: overreach, you should keep your body inside the stiles and both feet on the same rung. You should also avoid side loading such as side-on drilling by keeping the ladder facing the work. Also, you should use something like a tool belt to avoid holding things when climbing.

in this workshop, we each had a go at climbing up the ladder as far as we felt comfortable, following the rules we were told and read on the pack we were given. I got to the top, maintaining my three points of contact. We also had a go at climbing a cherry-picker type of ladder on wheels for moving around into tight spaces. We had to keep one person holding onto the A frame ladder and two on the ladder on wheels to ensure they are stable and do not move.

I learnt a lot in this session as at the start I didn’t know anything about ladder safety but by the end I knew how to safely climb a ladder and what to do and not to do whilst doing so, including the three points of contact.

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