Theatre Design & Technology - May 1973 - 41

Figure 7.

Various audience-actor configurations. 1. 1155 seats. 2. 1320 seats. 3. 620 seats. 4. 885 seats.

and the folding chairs permanently attached to them, do
not differ from the chairs of the stationary part. The
movable side walls are stored in special compartments in
the back wall and are practically excluded from the
composition of the hall. On the auditorium side the walls
are faced with costly wood panels which contain loudspeakers of the auditorium stereophonic sound system.
On the inner side they are covered with fireproof isolation.
As no rigid time limit for transformation was required
and also for simplification and economy in their construction, the wall panels and seating platforms are moved
by hand. The two-year use of the building completely
affirms the reasonableness of such a decision. Two to four
technicians carry out the transformation of these elements
in 15-20 minutes. The third transforming element, the pit,
is a slab attached by hinges at the rear edge. The raising of
the pit to stage level is obtained by several jacks wh ich are
placed at its front edge.
The main elements of the lower stage mechanism (Fig.
8) are a drum-type turntable and self propelled wagons.
The circular drum turntable (14.3 meters in diameter and
about 9.5 meters high) is rigged with elevator platforms with double decks. The vertical travel of each
platform is ±-2.7 m. from the level of the plane-table.
The form and dimensions of the two platforms corres-

THEATRE DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY

pond to the dimensions of the self-propelled wagons and,
in their lowered position, provide storage for them when
folding amphitheatre seating occupies the pocket areas.
A unique characteristic of the platform's construction
is the supporting columns between the two decks. They
are hollow and the screw rods of the lifting mechanism
are located in them. This allowed us to eliminate traps
between the platforms in the lower deck. The gear drive
of the platform Iifts is two speed, and operates on alternating current. The turn gear drive of the turntable has a
smooth regu lation of speed.
The stage is equipped with four self-propelled wagons
measuring 5.6 x 4.2 x 0.4 m. They were designed to these
dimensions as a special feature in the planning of the
scenographic complex. When they are used, the wagons are
moved along a curvilinear trajectory. Each wagon has three
driving wheels powered by A.C. electric motors and are
furnished with a hand control which exerts influence on
the two end rows of wheels, while the driving wheels are
secured rigidly along the axis of symmetry of the wagons.
By tuning, it is possible to obtain their motion along
various circular trajectories. The wagons can be joined
together in a single moveable platform with a length of
more than 20 meters. The speed of motion of the wagons
is about 0.5 m/sec. Electric current is supplied by means
of a flexible cable. Combining the basic elements of the

MAY, 1973

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - May 1973