It's half-term, and the fiinal preparations are well underway for the MGS theatre opening next month. As you can see below, most of the action at the moment is on and above the stage, particularly involving the installation of the stage curtain system. If you know the theatre, you may think from this image that little has changed. However, the thrust stage is now a permanent, but flexible structure, and the front panels can be removed to reveal a full-height orchestra pit, ideal for our modern tradition of musical theatre. Most radically, we now have a fly-tower above the stage which will allow scenery to be lifted in and out at speed, hopefully signalling the end of tedious scene changes.
'And what of the seats?' I hear the sufferers of old cry. Well, as promised in the fundraising literature, they are now all individually upholstered seats, erasing the memory of the wooden benches we used to have.
And you will notice that the rake of the seating is much steeper. As well as improving sightlines within the theatre, this has allowed us to build a new foyer at the back of the theatre, further enhancing the audience experience.
Just below the ceiling you can see one of the walkways installed to make the technical servicing of the theatre comprehensive and safe. From here, light and sound can be controlled by a pupil TechCrew to the full satisfaction of H&S regulators.
We have private shows taking place on November 4 and November 9, and we have tickets available for 'The Silver Screen' on November 27, when Old Mancunian Robert Powell will bring Liza Goddard and musicians to entertain us in the space where he first learned his craft. Tickets from the Development Office at school.
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