Technical Specification
theSpace @ Surgeons' Hall - Grand Theatre

Key information

Venue Number

Venue 53

Address

The Royal College of Surgeons (Quincentenary Hall)
Nicolson Street
EDINBURGH
EH8 9DW

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.south@thespaceuk.com or +44 (0)131 510 2391

 

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 onto the Royal Mile and immediately right on to North Bridge.

Continue along North Bridge until it becomes Nicholson Street, The Royal College of Surgeons is on your left opposite the Festival Theatre.

Loading Access

It is recommended to try to park on Drummond Street, and carry items round the corner to the front entrance. The Grand Theatre is up a flight of stairs (or passenger lift) from the foyer area. Please ask your pre-production manager for advice regarding load-in of bulky items.

Venue Design

Performance Area

The thrust stage area is approximately 7.5 x 4m and is flat on the floor. It is covered with black PVC dance floor, 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.

Stage Entrances

There is backstage space behind the black drapes at the rear of the stage. There are three entrances in the drapes, in the USC, USL and USR locations. A green room, with access behind the drapes to the stage, is sited in an adjacent room. There is a small kitchen sink. Ceiling height is approximately 3.5m with onstage grid clearance approximately 3m.

Auditorium

The venue is fully carpeted and fully enclosed with black drapes. Seating is on three sides; the auditorium is raked and seats 141 audience, one FOH manager and two ushers.

Dressing Facilities

There is no dedicated dressing room at the venue; access to the performance space including the green room is permitted only during your slot so we advise arriving ready to start. There are toilets adjacent, and the green room is only accessible by express agreement with the previous performing company due to noise concerns.

Storage

There is a good quantity of storage space available for all types of scenery and props; 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. Also consider the time required to set up and take down your set, as time is usually the limiting factor. 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 on a raised deck at the stage left side. There is no comms or cue light system to backstage.

Lighting

The venue has a complete and flexible LED lighting rig, fully equipped for any Fringe production. 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 rig comprises:

  • Front light Warm: 10x Chauvet Ovation F 265 WW LED Fresnels in 5 sections across the stage (Lee Filters 009 Pale Amber Gold)
  • Front light Cold: 6x Chauvet Ovation F 265 WW LED Fresnels in 3 sections across the stage (Lee Filters 119 Steel Blue)
  • Back light: 3x Chauvet Ovation F 265 WW LED Fresnels mounted to the rear of the stage. (Open white, may be re-gelled)
  • Side light: 12x Chauvet Ovation F 95 WW LED Fresnels. (Open white, may be re-gelled)

Specials

Specials may be re-focussed to your design. Please note that due to time constraints we may need to limit the number of specials you use.

  • 12 x Robe ParFect 100 LED fixtures distributed across the grid
  • 9 x Prolight Eclipse 25/50 LED Profiles onstage
  • 4 x Chauvet Ovation 260 WW LED 15/30 Profiles on the FoH truss

Houselights

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

Dimming

  • 3 or 6 channels of dimming for conventional fixtures

Control

  • Chamsys QuickQ 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 ditigal sound desk

PA System

  • d&b Audiotechnik Q7 loudspeaker system with Q-sub & amplification

The loudspeaker system comprises 6 main cabinets. These are mounted in the truss rig to give a stereo image to each of the three seating blocks. Subs are installed behind the drapes at the rear of the stage.

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 on its own floor, however the theatres on the floor below (and neighbours at night if the windows are open for ventilation) must be considered with respect to sound levels. 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

Plan

 Download

Lighting Plan

 Download