A bespoke ‘dimmer world’ dolly system, using three Avolites ART2000 dimmer racks,
is proving the perfect solution for the ongoing UK and international tour of the
National Theatre’s multi-award winning production of The Curious Incident of the Dog
in the Night Time.
Since first appearing to great acclaim in 2012, the play has picked up an enviable
clutch of awards including seven Olivier Awards for its West End run and five Tony
Awards and seven Drama Desk Awards for its Broadway production.
Providing the touring production with a reliable dimming, power distribution, hoist and
pyrotechnical control system is a unique ‘dimmer world’ system designed by the tour’s
production electrician, Chris Mence. British rental experts, Hawthorn, supplied the
three Avolites ART2000 dimmer racks that made-up part of Mence’s dimmer system
alongside their provision of the tour’s entire lighting element.
“The ‘dimmer world’ system enables us to roll in the entire lighting control and mains
distribution package in one hit,” says Mence. “It’s a plug-and-play solution with the
Avolites ART2000 racks providing the dimming control for the production’s lighting
elements.”
Mence has been involved in ‘Curious Incident’ since 2014 when the show was
relaunched into the Gielgud Theatre following initial runs at the National’s Dorfman
Theatre (formerly the Cottesloe Theatre) and the Apollo Theatre in the West End. The
established electrician continues to work on the tour as it embarks on its first
international leg following a successful UK run.
“The dimming requirements for the ‘Curious Incident’ tour changed as we moved over
to new LED fixtures for the lighting rig in January 2017,” says Mence. “The ART2000
units offer a Hot-Patch system. The system is easily changeable and made integration
much simpler.”
ART2000’s Hot-Patch system allows each channel of each multicore output connector
to be patched to any channel. It incorporates a battery-operated lamp test indicator,
making faults easy to find when the same circuit powers more than one fixture, even
when there is no mains power available. “The Hot-Patch system is a tool that we
simply couldn’t work without,” says Mence.
Other features of the ART2000 rack include full DMX patch and merge (2 DMX lines),
dimmer curve and limit selection options per channel, power OK indicators and Analog
Volt and Amp metering or optional Digital metering. The ART2000 also features a
single-pole connector or P17 CeeNorm mains input and loop out options, with RCB or
optional ELDC selectable earth leakage protection.
“The system is a good, solid touring dimming and distribution solution,” says Mence.
Localised versions of the ART2000 dimmer product are available to meet regional
requirements, with alternative Hot-Patch connectors and/or arrangements, as well as
with different multipole connector types and wiring to suit a wide variety of countries
and regulations.
Mark Burnett, the business development manager at Hawthorn, says; “We’re
honoured to be on board for both the International and UK tour of The Curious
Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The ART2000 racks are the industry standard
and a truly reliable and popular workhorse within our rental fleet. It’s a privilege to
have them out on the road with such a prestigious show.”
The Curious Incident tour completes its UK run on 16 September 2017 and is now
embarking on its international leg that will include The Netherlands, Canada, Australia
and Asia.
