Riverdance re-opens The Gaiety Theatre, Dublin

26th June 2007

Behind the headline is the story of a refurbishment programme, which pragmatists saw as audacious and the more adventurous considered being achievable. Theatre Consultants Carr & Angier, led by Keith McLaren, supervised the project and Unusual Rigging was proud to be a part of this important building development.

The scope of work undertaken by Unusual was as follows: 59 double purchase counterweight sets, the fire curtain with winch, chain hoist spreader beams above the grid, counterweight overhaul system, orchestra pit infill rostra, handrails and kickboards for galleries, FOH winch, commissioning and load testing. The timescale was seven weeks for the core installation work with two weeks for finishing, testing and commissioning. Crucially, the site is effectively land-locked, so all materials had to be craned in through the roof (or lack of it), including 47 tons of counterweights.

Unusual Rigging has a wealth of experience in the theatre industry and understands the need for reliability in such work programmes. How we go about the challenge is worth an explanation.

Delivery can only be achieved with good quality teamwork. This not only applies to the staff at Unusual but also to the theatre, the theatre consultants and all contractors working together for the common good. Looking at the broader picture of all work undertaken by Unusual, the high ratio of support staff to delivery teams is a key factor.

Over recent years, Unusual has developed a way of working which combines the concept of ‘just in time’ supply and the instruction manual mentality of IKEA. It is further qualified by the recognition of a need for long lasting and good quality product, which is relevant to the needs of the venue. The purpose is to cover all known quantities, whilst leaving sufficient capacity to address unknown quantities and unanticipated problems. It also offers the potential to address an extending brief with relative ease. This core efficiency illustrates the point that in our niche marketplace, the way in which deliverability is addressed by the full team of 60 staff at Unusual is of paramount importance. Ultimately, this level of commitment offers best value to any project.

In Dublin, Simon Tiernan, Unusual’s senior project engineer, took the lead. Working on-site, he was always best placed to specify what and how much work could be delivered within a specific timeframe based on the premise of no significant interruptions. His enthusiasm and skill were a key element in the overall mix.

Teamwork at Unusual is carefully thought through. Simon Tiernan runs the installation team on-site, whilst Chris Johnson, Unusual’s head of the engineering design team, ensures that fabricators and engineers alike are fed with all the calculations and drawings at the right time. 632 drawings for this project underline the level of detail and the fact that Unusual declines to leave known factors to chance.

Timing being the key factor, Mike Philpott, who was project manager for The Gaiety Theatre installation for Unusual, controlled fabrication processes and logistics, ensuring that the on-site team was kept busy. The team members have a strong background of working together and are an efficient and positive asset to main constructors and consultants.