Technical Specification
theSpace @ Niddry St - Lower Theatre

Key information

Venue Number

Venue 9

Address

Radisson Blu Hotel (St Giles Suite)
80 High Street
EDINBURGH
EH1 1TH

Address - for flyer & poster delivery

No earlier than 0900 on Monday July 31st 2023 to:

theSpaceUK
Venue 43 Symposium Hall
King Khalid Building
The Royal College of Surgeons
Hill Square
EDINBURGH
EH8 9DR

Box Office

Tickets will primarily be sold through the Fringe Box Office: https://tickets.edfringe.com/ or by telephone (June - August): +44 (0)131 226 0000

On-site Contacts

During the Fringe the venue can be reached in the following ways:

  • Queries about shows and the venue in general can be directed to our Shed Team on boxoffice@thespaceuk.com or +44 (0)131 510 2384
  • The Venue Production Team can be contacted directly on production.central@thespaceuk.com or +44 (0)131 510 2390

Directions

If arriving by train, leave Edinburgh Waverley Station by the main exit on to Waverley Bridge and turn left. At the mini roundabout cross over onto Cockburn Street. At the top of Cockburn Street turn left on to the Royal Mile.

The Radisson Blu Hotel is on the right just after the junction with North Bridge/South Bridge. Turn down Niddry Street and the entrance to the venue is a glazed double door at the bottom of the cobbled courtyard.

The Radisson has a limited number of spaces in its underground car park. From the Royal Mile, turn down Niddry Street, left onto Cowgate and then left up Blackfriars Street. There is a daily charge.

Loading Access

It is usually possible to unload directly into the venue from the courtyard, or Niddry Street itself. It is cobbled but there are no steps. Discuss any specific load-in requirements with your Pre-Production Manager.

Venue Design

Performance Area

The stage area is approximately 8 x 4.5m and is 2cm thick. It is covered with black painted hardboard, so to preserve the finish please ensure your costume does not use shoes with stiletto heels.

Small spike marks are permitted - we advise initialling them or using coloured tape to distinguish them, and cut rather than tearing for longevity.

Onstage height clearance is approximately 2.5m.

Stage Entrances

Entrances are provided at upstage left, upstage right and upstage centre. Crossover is possible between the three entrances and Auditorium Left.

Auditorium

The venue is fully carpeted and fully enclosed with black drapes. Seating is on three sides; the auditorium is raked and seats 102 audience, one FOH manager and one Usher.

Dressing Facilities

There is no dedicated dressing room at the venue; access to the performance space is permitted only during your slot so we advise arriving ready to start. There are toilets immediately adjacent to the performance spac, though these are not suitable for use as a make up areae.

Storage

There is limited storage for large and bulky items of scenery, props etc.; this is located behind the drapes in the auditorium. If all companies show careful consideration to minimising and carefully storing set and props, then some considerably complex productions are achievable in this venue. Let us know in advance about your set design plans.

Please make your Pre-Production Manager aware of any fragile items you wish to use, and ensure they are carefully wrapped and packed in storage to avoid breakage by others in the confined, dark area.

Costumes should be taken away with you or stored in large cases/crates for protection. Anything required for show promotion or performances elsewhere must be taken away daily as no access is possible outside your slot. Refer to the FAQ for details of permitted and restricted set design materials.

Control Position

The lighting and sound control position is in the auditorium. There is no comms or cue light system to backstage.

Lighting

The venue has a complete and flexible conventional lighting rig. The rig is mounted on a truss structure that encloses the stage. Your technical rehearsal will go more smoothly if your lighting designer can contact us in advance with your requirements and/or how you are planning to use the rig.

General Cover

The fixed-focus general cover is and comprises:

  • Front light: 9x 500w fresnels: 6 from downstage truss, 3 from centre-stage truss. Gelled in Lee Filters 009 (Pale Amber Gold)
  • Back light: 2x 500w fresnels mounted to the rear of the stage - open white, can be re-gelled.
  • Side light: 4x 500w fresnels - open white, can be re-gelled.

Specials

Specials may be re-focussed to your design (gel not provided - bring your own to suit your design). Please note that due to power constraints we may need to limit the number of specials you use.

  • 8 x LED parcans as second stage washes for colour, etc.
  • 6 x 500w profile spots.

Houselights

  • 4 x 500w Coda Floods controlled from the lighting console (1 channel).

Dimming

  • 24 channels of dimming.
  • 9 channels used for fixed house rig, leaving 15 channels available for specials.

Control

  • ETC ColorSource 20 Console

Sound

The sound system is designed for everything from effects to small scale musical theatre.

Sources

  • 3.5mm mini-jack cable supplied to connect additional equipment such as an MP3 player or laptop computer.

Control

  • 24 channel digital sound desk

Loudspeakers

  • d&b Audiotechnik Q-series loudspeaker system with associated amplification

The loudspeaker system comprises 6 main cabinets. These are mounted in the truss rig to give a stereo image on each side of the stage. Subs are installed behind the blacks left and right.

There are two further loudspeakers mounted in the truss for on-stage fold back.

Available Equipment

These may be shared with adjacent theSpaceUK venues so please let us know if you wish to use any of the following:

  • 2 x Shure SM58 microphones with stands.
  • 1 x DI box for electric pianos etc.

Tie-Lines

24-channel multicore between the stage and control position.

Sound Levels

This venue is fairly well isolated, so considerable sound levels are achievable here without affecting others. However at all our venues staff reserve the right to limit sound levels for the sake of other venues or building users, or for reasons or public health.

Projection

Please see our FAQ on projection - we don't provide a projector or screen, and our staff are not trained in the operation of projectors. Projection effects are particularly hard to achieve in this venue due to height clearance, stage size and lack of hanging space for a projector. We do not recommend the use of projection in this venue so please let us know in advance if you wish to use it in your performance so we can work out the ideal arrangement.

Projectors can be used on stage, or hung from the truss and left in situ (if space is available and lights are not impeded; seek advice). A long cable will be required to reach the control position.

Screens may be floor standing (preferably) or hung from the truss supporting the upstage drapes.

Bringing additional equipment

This venue can support a range of additional equipment to enhance your show, subject to the limitations of time. As there are further constraints of space, connections and power any use of your own equipment must be discussed with your Pre-Production Manager in advance; please see our FAQ regarding electrical equipment.

Notifying Us

The shows that are most successful are those that maintain good communication with their Pre-Production Manager throughout their development.

Aside from generally keeping us in the loop with your plans, and responding to requests for information by given deadlines, you must contact us in good time if:

  • you wish to use the space differently;
  • you want to hang anything from the scaffolding or truss;
  • your show requires the use of a projector;
  • you are planning on bringing any of your own (or hired) equipment;
  • you wish to use any special effects;
  • you have any items of set that require access or storage considerations;
  • you would like advice on making the most of the venue or achieving a particular artistic effect; or
  • you are unsure about any aspect of your arrival, load-in, technical rehearsal or show day routine that is not answered in the FAQs.

Plans and downloads

Document Download link

Lighting Plan

 Download

Plan

 Download