Technical Specification
theSpace on the Mile - Space 1

Key information

Venue Number

Venue 39

Address

Radisson Blu Hotel (Holyrood Room)
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 2389

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. Go in to the main entrance of the hotel, and past the reception counter there's a small set of steps up to a mezzanine area which comprises theSpace on the Mile.

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

Set and props must be loaded in through the main front entrance of the hotel, with consideration given to hotel guests. There are a small number of steps, or a wheelchair lift. Discuss any specific load-in requirements with your Pre-Production Manager.

Venue Design

Performance Area

The stage area is approximately 5 x 3m 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.

Onstage height clearance is approximately 2.3m.

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

Stage Entrances

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

Auditorium

The venue is fully carpeted and fully enclosed with black drapes. Seating is on three sides; the auditorium seats 52 audience and one FOH manager.

Dressing Facilities

There is a room shared between the two adjacent theatres that serves as an office for our staff, a storage space and a dressing space. While it is accessible outside performance times, space is tight and little privacy is available. There are ladies' and gents' toilets adjacent which are shared with audiences, though these are not suitable for use as a make up area.

Storage

There is limited storage for large and bulky items of scenery, props etc., which is shared with the adjacent Space 2; this is split between the theatre, an adjacent room and a chair store. Let us know in advance about your set design plans so we can help accommodate your wishes.

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 busy storage areas.

Costumes should be taken away with you or stored in large cases/crates for protection. 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, positioned at Aud. Left. There is no comms or cue light system to backstage.

Lighting

The venue has a compact lighting rig which will be adequate for the majority of companies. Lights are hung from the drape bars around the edge of the venue. 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

All lights may be re-gelled and re-focussed to your requirements (bring your own gel to your design):

  • Front light: 6x 500w fresnels: 6 from the front of house bar
  • Back light: 2x 500w fresnels mounted to the rear of the stage.
  • Side light: 4x 500w fresnels mounted from the auditorium side drape bars.
  • 4x short nose parcans as a second stage wash.

Specials

See above.

Houselights

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

Dimming

  • 12 channels of dimming

Control

  • Zero 88 Jester 12/24 console

Sound

The sound system is designed primarily for playback of music and effects.

Sound reinforcement, except for certain live music acts, is not necessary in this venue.

Sources

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

Control

  • 8 channel analogue sound desk.

Loudspeakers

  • 2 x 10" 2-way active loudspeakers

Speakers are arranged in a stereo configuration and are mounted on stands to the sides of the stage.

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

Audio multicore between the stage and control position.

Sound Levels

Performances in the adjacent Space 2 must be considered with respect to sound spill. 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.

Hanging a projector would be difficult to impossible in this venue, so it would need to be used on stage or on a stand, with consideration given to placement, angle, throw and cable location; discuss with your pre-production manager.

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

Bringing additional equipment

There is very limited scope for adding your own lighting fixtures, and this is rarely found necessary. 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;
  • 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

Plan

 Download

Lighting Plan

 Download