BROOKLYN THEATRE
Brooklyn Baroque, La Traviata Widmung, Nachtmusic …. All sounds a bit classical? Welcome to the Brooklyn Theatre, a new theatre in Pretoria which is dedicated to the promotion of classical music and employment opportunities for South African classical musicians and singers.
The owners, Daniël Vos and Willem Vogel, are also directors of Salon Music, an independent impresario company, recording label, television production house and CD shop, which has succeeded in sustaining a constantly high standard of classical music entertainment for South African audiences since 1994.
The Brooklyn Theatre & Conference Venue, which opened in May this year, is located in the Greenlyn Village Centre in Menlo Park in premises previously occupied by The Performer Theatre. After extensive renovations, the interior of the building was transformed into the equivalent of a charming European Opera House.
The 400-seater theatre has raked auditorium style seating with 3 boxes and a 125 m² stage - clearly visible from all angles - which can accommodate a full symphony orchestra as well as the theatre’s new Model D Steinway Concert Grand piano. Although the theatre has a sound system, acoustic sound is predominantly used.
When it came to finalising the lighting for the theatre, Hardus Koekemoer, a lecturer at the Department of Entertainment Technology at TUT, consulted Electrosonic SA and soon had Robbi Nassi preparing an estimate for a lighting solution that included theatre light fittings, dimming, a control desk and lighting bars.
Electrosonic supplied and installed 48-way Strand dimming with patch panel controlling 8 x Selecon Acclaim Profiles, 12 x Selecon Acclaim Fresnels, 4 x Selecon Acclaim Cyc Floods and 32 x DTS Parcans, which all run off a Martin Maxxyz PC with a Maxxyz Playback Module - the first to be installed in South Africa.
“It was a very interesting installation for us as it was the first time that we installed a winching system for the Cycs and other theatre bars” said Robbi.
Ladders, bars and boarders were also manufactured and supplied by Electrosonic. The installation of the system, which took 2 weeks, concluded with Daniël Vos complimenting the Electrosonic team on their enthusiasm and professionalism.
As well as providing a conference venue, The Brooklyn Theatre also supports young artists and hosts a new exhibition of their work every month.
As a bonus to art and music concert lovers, Greenlyn Village Centre also offers a wide choice of excellent restaurants to visit before and/or after concerts. Theatre goers are also permitted to take liquid refreshments into the theatre during concerts.
The next performance is Nachtmusic in early August, followed by Verdi’s La Traviata which starts on the 27th August and runs until 3 September 2010.
For more information on the theatre and productions, visit www.brooklyntheatre.co.za.