Building Improvments

The idea of this page is "to create a list of all the jobs big and small that people think should be done to improve the theatre. These can range from putting in some new lights, to putting the stage where it should be at balcony height. I want people to mention any thoughts they've had however crazy and unrealistic you think it might be, because collectively we have thought of many ways to improve things, but individually we can't remember what they all are. I hope some things can get fix quickly, but it will mainly be to create an ongoing plan for improving the building over the next few years." [stolen from the facebook group Bedlamites]

Cafe Walls

The soundproofing in the walls is non existent. It would be good (particularly during fringe) if we could run the cafe normally even when a show was in.

Possible solutions?

• I have heard tat MDF is very good at insulating sound, loose out on a few mm into either cafe or auditorium

• One theory is that the sound does not travel through the walls but under the floor. The floor of the cafe is on the same level as the floor of the auditorium, with sound travelling through the space under the floors/along the beams with the seating rake acting as a giant drum. One suggestion to remedy this problem is to simply build a small wall under the floor between the auditorium and the cafe. It has also been suggested that we should saw through one of the supporting beams so that sound will not travel right the way along it. This may, in fact, be a bad plan. But building some kind of wall (cement/brick/wood) or packing part of the underground bit between auditorium and cafe may help.

• Other ideas?

Workers

They keep blowing. we ought to find a better solution than Bertha.

Reasons for blowing?

• Tungsten filaments are berry particular about being horizontal, maybe they aren't quite level?

• They don't like being turned on and of as mush as they are in bedlam. Thermal shock kills them?

• The breaker/ circuit is crap? (i thought Xander had checked this)

Possible solutions?

• Go up and check to see if the filaments are being held horizontally or if they have been bashed to an odd angle

• Find some way to delay the start up of the workers
  • Make the system dim able (can you make a 2 switch dimming system?)
  • Put a 1:1 isolation transformer in the system to allow it to warm up slowly (you do get these, they are used in bathrooms for shaving sockets because 'it's safer' (i don't fully understand myself) there are lots used in audio electronics however i cant see them taking 2kW will keep looking

• Replace the wiring in the whole building!!!

---

Please add other suggestions/comment on the above