Studio 360 Pop Up Theatre

Studio 360 Pop Up Theatre

After the hugely successful Studio 360 pop up theatre we were approached by Howard Eaton Lighting to be involved in the exciting successor to the original. The principle would be the same again, a theatre in the round. Only this time a much larger version. We ended up creating a 22m dia domed structure capable of seating 260 people end-on, 378 people in the round or 400 people standing. Its 8.2m to the apex of the roof giving the internal space a feeling of openness. The structure incorporates a complete heavy duty floor system, removable tiered seating system, integrated bar area and 2′ high performing stage. Around the internal perimeter of the structure was a 360deg foyer area. The biggest challenge was the requirement for minimal work at height to build the domed roof. The radical approach was to incorporate hydraulic rams to raise twelve 4m long trusses equispaced around the base frame from near horizontal to vertical. A wheel and guide system at the end of each truss had the entire series of roof trusses sat above them. As the outer trusses were lifted so too was the roof. An engineering masterpiece. As the roof was lifted the outer covers, air conditioning unit and lighting pods were fitted, again minimising the need for work at height. The first use of the structure was a baptism of fire, being at the Wilderness Festival in the middle of an empty field. The whole project was a roaring success.