Adlib delivers comprehensive AV, Lighting, and Rigging system for Wetherby Pembridge

The Brief

Wetherby Pembridge required a versatile performance space capable of matching its new facility. The brief called for a professional-grade theatre environment that could function as a 125-seat auditorium while maintaining the flexibility to clear the floor for alternative uses via a Hussey Seatway retractable seating system.

"The theatre is very much at the heart of school life so it needs to function as an auditorium, it also needs to lend itself to the teaching of academic drama, to co-curricular drama, to being a multi-use open space, it really needs to be extremely versatile but equipped to a really high standard." - Nick Page, Founding Headmaster, Wetherby Pembridge.

The installation needed to provide a future-proof foundation for the school's performing arts pillar, integrating professional-standard audio, lighting, video, and rigging systems. Critically, the solution included a custom-built proscenium with birch plywood cladding to define the stage area within the basement theatre.

Lighting

The lighting system was designed to offer dynamic, full-stage coverage featuring a versatile selection of ETC ColorSource fixtures, including Spot, Fresnel, and Cyc Wash units. Dynamic lighting is provided by Martin ERA 300 LED moving profiles and Martin MAC Aura XB moving washes. Prolight 150w COB Pars provide additional general coverage.

Control & Dimming

Control is provided by an ETC Ion XE console with a fader wing, communicating via an ETC 4 Port Mk 2 DMX gateway. Power distribution and dimming are handled by 96 channels of ETC ColorSource ThruPower system. For architectural and house lighting, GDS Sculptor 2K and Puppis 4K fixtures were installed, powered by a centralised GDS Drive Hub.

The multi-purpose nature of the space also informed the lighting design. As the school noted, the hall may need to accommodate 200 students sitting exams, requiring the lighting system to be capable of driving ambient levels up to 500 lux, the standard required for examination conditions. The ETC Paradigm architectural system handles this seamlessly alongside its theatrical functions and offers complete integration via the Q-SYS Core and associated Touchscreen.

Rigging & Stage Infrastructure

The space features a robust rigging and masking system to accommodate professional theatre standards.

Motorised Systems

The PA hangs and FOH trusses are suspended using 250kg and 500kg SWL double-braked motorised chain hoists, managed via a centralised motor control system. This allows for safe and efficient adjustments to the rig height for different performance types.

Trussing & Soft Goods

Overstage lighting is mounted on three motorised internally wired bars (IWBs) equipped with Power, Ethercon, and DMX connectivity. Adlib designed and manufactured a bespoke in-house Flip-Flop cable management system for these bars, so named because the cabling trail runs down from a terminal box at the top, folds back on itself, and spreads out across the full width of the bar, keeping cabling neat and manageable as the bars travel.

In addition, seven manual pilewind winches, also an Adlib in-house design, were installed for masking and soft goods. Operable with a standard drill, students simply disengage the brake and drive the winch up or down, making the system safe and accessible for use in an educational environment.

The stage area includes manual tab tracks for house tabs, borders, and back-wall masking. Adlib supplied a complete set of black wool serge curtains, a light grey cyclorama, a reversible black/grey dance floor, and a storage trolley.