Technique Parkstad Theater Heerlen
Report of the excursion KIVI Region Limburg South to the Parkstad Limburg Theatre Heerlen.
Well before 15.00, the first participants were already waiting at the Artists' Entrance of the Parkstad Limburg Theatre in Heerlen. We were hospitably welcomed by both hostesses of the theatre. For all participants there was coffee or tea and a delicious piece of Limburg flan. At 15.15 the large group (37 participants) gathered and we left for our tour of the theatre.
Our hostess Babs Collaris enthusiastically recounted the transition from Heerlen's former theatre on Klompstraat to Heerlen's new theatre, opened in 1961. Heerlen is particularly proud that this beautiful building on Burgemeester van Grunsvenplein was designed by Heerlen architect Peutz. In Kerkrade, its sister theatre is currently undergoing extensive renovations, including adjustments to meet the latest health and safety requirements.
We started the tour in the current, cosy theatre café, with over 100 seats and a fourth stage. This stage is suitable for small productions but especially for music performances during the afterparty for visitors, who do not want to go home right away, after the show. The theatre café of the current theatre building was the small room of the original theatre from 1961. Ms Collaris aptly knows all kinds of facts about the complete internal renovation of the current theatre in the years 2005 to 2007. The essence of the original design and building by Peutz has been beautifully preserved, while the interior of the PLT Heerlen has been completely renewed. Thus, there are now 3 different halls in the theatre at the disposal of artists or productions. The smallest ING hall, the medium/flexible large Limburg hall and the large RABO hall on the first floor of the building, with two more balconies in this hall.
The small ING hall is especially suitable for small productions with up to 145 visitors. The Limburg hall is designed to be very flexible, with vertically adjustable flat floor space in different sections. This hall is suitable for performances of up to 400 seats or, after sliding the seats into a compact package 'in the wall', for up to 1,200 standing places. Because of its 'dry' acoustics, this hall is ideal for pop concerts. The extensive shelving bank with 32 rods for decors and the floor adjustable with an ingenious lift system make it possible to offer a customised solution for all kinds of artists: pop bands with their equipment, dance performances or, as 20 January 2017, an Amsterdam Baroque opera.
Each venue has the most universal possible basic lighting and sound installation, with spotlights of various light intensities and possible filters and speaker boxes in the walls of that venue. Together with the people of the 'crew', the technical people of the production in question, the basic installation of the hall is then combined with this production's own facilities. After construction and during rehearsal, the fine tuning is then determined and the script for the show is completely finalised and often programmed in the modern theatre computers.
In and around the RABO hall, we were briefed at great length by both Rocco Malherbe, Manager Technical Services, and Jurriaan Reink, the person with final responsibility for the lifting of the sets and both PLT Heerlen's indoor truck lifts. This RABO hall has more than 1,000 seats (1064) and is therefore also suitable for the big touring musical productions in the Netherlands and large productions such as, for example, 'War Horse', or recently 'the Nutcracker' on an ice floor or Operas with large orchestras or other similar large domestic or foreign productions. This venue has an orchestra pit, which is adjustable in size. However, the space for the orchestra pit naturally comes at the expense of seats at the front of the RABO hall. After extensive renovation, the RABO hall has excellent acoustics, thanks to a variety of techniques such as a variable sound chamber for the orchestras on stage, the special humidifiers, the acoustic panels in the side wall of the hall and the 160 loudspeaker boxes in the hall. Through these loudspeakers in the side wall, the theatre's acoustic performance can be further optimised electronically during rehearsals and, if necessary, even during the performance. There are hundreds of theatre spotlights in the three halls with outputs ranging from 1000 W to 5000 W. LED lighting for theatres is not yet sufficiently developed.
Discussed the often long preparation of a theatre production, starting from booking a new production for a new theatre year. First, based on the requirements of the theatre production, a first version is made for the hoisting plan of the required set pieces, the first lighting plan and the first sound plan. As the production gets closer to its execution, these plans are worked out in more and more detail. Questions from our interested visitors were answered patiently and in detail. It became clear to us that the lifting plan is actually the most important part of a theatre production. High safety requirements of the theatre equipment used were then addressed: you are hoisting above the heads of people with set pieces, which can weigh up to 500 kg per rack bar.
The literal highlight of the tour was a visit to the winches more than 20 metres above the stage floor in the RABO auditorium. Here 64 racks are available for the productions, which can be operated from the stage with a separate control panel. All lifting operations were carried out in accordance with Safety Integrity Level 3 safety standards (high reliability equipment and safeguards and always double safeguards) to minimise accidents. Among other things, the acoustic sound chamber of the RABO hall can be lifted into place with this hoisting installation and returned to its resting position after the performance. The installation is operated by 64 winch motors of 15 KW each.
In conclusion, we would like to warmly thank the PLT staff involved for their exceptionally enthusiastic way of speaking and showing us around: Ms Babs Collaris, Mr Rocco Malherbe, Mr Jurriaan Reink and, last but not least, Ms Carla Mak, who organised this exceptionally interesting afternoon for us!
With a voucher for an introductory performance in February 2017, the last visitors left the theatre feeling satisfied at 18.35.
Jan Weerts, Board member Activities KIVI Region Limburg South
Description
The Parkstad Limburg Theatre Heerlen has been a household name in Heerlen, the Parkstad and even the whole of South Limburg for many decades. On 20 January, you will have the chance to get acquainted with parts of this theatre that are normally not so visible. The theatre building itself was designed by architect Peutz and thoroughly renovated a few years ago. Therefore, this theatre also meets the higher standards required nowadays for larger productions such as musicals or bigger theatre shows. You will be surprised by the many possibilities that the three halls, the Rabo hall, the Limburg hall and the ING hall, can offer for various theatre productions.
Today, you can also learn about the technology behind these many theatre productions: how is a hall optimally tuned to the wishes of the theatre makers and the visitors in the hall? Two expert guides will show us around the halls and tell us about the theatre building's many technical facilities.
A special feature: the Heerlen theatre has two lifts that can be used to lift fully loaded trucks to the floor!
ATTENTION!
FROM 22 DECEMBER 2016 THERE IS AGAIN THE POSSIBILITY FOR 30 ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANTS!!!
PLEASE REPORT IF YOU RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION AT THE END OF DECEMBER, THAT THE EXCURSION WAS FULL. Report to jlm.weerts@hccnet.nl
Location
Parkstad Limburg Theatre Heerlen
Burg. van Grunsvenplein 145, 6411 AS Heerlen
Organiser
Region Limburg South
Name and contact details for information
Jan Weerts, Activities Limburg South