Association of British Theatre Technicians explained

Association of British Theatre Technicians
Formation:1961
Type:Professional association
Status:Charitable organisation
Purpose:To raise technical standards in the theatre
Headquarters:London,
United Kingdom
Owners:-->
Revenue:From the ABTT Theatre Show, conferences, training and membership subscriptions
Website:www.abtt.org.uk

The Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT) is a British charitable organisation representing technical staff working within theatre.

Overview

The ABTT was founded in 1961 by group of theatre producers, technicians and architects.[1] The association has played a key role in ensuring that regulations are suitably drafted and enforced, publishing a number of recommended Codes of Practice for the theatrical industry and theatrical technicians.[2] [3]

One of the ABTT's central aims is to "set out the physical standards for building and their equipment that are necessary to enable to good management of the premises and to provide the safety of the occupants in premises used for entertainment”.[4] The ABTT supports individuals, Theatres, and Organisations by providing technial theatre related training,[5] a technical helpline, and networking through industry events such as the ABTT Theatre Show.[6] The ABTT is a Charitable Organization under English law,[7] and operates throughout England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The ABTT also has a number of volunteer technical committees which liaise with government and other organisations.[8]

Membership

The ABTT employs a small staff team led by CEO Robin Townley. The ABTT is governed by Memorandum and Articles of Association and is registered as a charitable organisation with the Charity Commission for England and Wales. It has 11 trustees who are appointed due to their expertise in areas including theatre and stage management, architecture, technical theatre, planning law and the performing arts.

The ABTT's funding is derived from its memberships, donations given by supporters and proceeds from training. The principal source of income is from events including the ABTT Theatre Show which is held annually.[9] [10] [11]

Remit

The ABTT was established by in 1961 with a central focus of ensuring "the advancement of …the technical subjects connected with theatre and theatrical presentation, fostering knowledge and the appreciation of the art of technical theatre".[4] [12]

The ABTT offers guidance and advice through their Codes of Practice relating to planning, health and safety,[13] architecture regeneration and development, and design which concern theatres and places of entertainment. The ABTT's remit covers a large range of buildings which include both old and new theatres either used, disused or in other uses. Notably, it also includes buildings or structures that have been temporarily converted into theatrical spaces.[14] [15]

ABTT Theatre Show

ABTT Theatre Show
Status:Active
Genre:Entertainments Industry Technical Equipment
Venue:Alexandra Palace, London
Location:London
Country:United Kingdom
First:1977
Founder Name:Association of British Theatre Technicians
Organizer:ABTT
Attendance:2500+[16]
Website:www.abtttheatreshow.org.uk

The ABTT Theatre Show is an annual trade show hosted in London and organised by registered charity, the Association of British Theatre Technicians. The ABTT Theatre show draws exhibitors and visitors from all over the world interested in topics such as lighting, audio visual, scenography, rigging, set construction, technical theatre and related technologies.[17] [18] [19]

History

The ABTT Theatre show has been running since 1978, originally named The ABTT Trade show but rebranded in 2001.[20]

From 1980 the event was situated in the Shaftesbury Theatre; proceeding in 1981–82 to The Roundhouse and Riverside Studios during 1984–90.[21]

The ABTT then moved the Theatre Show to The Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch after deciding that an event space, rather than an exhibition hall would "provide everything we need to use… (with it being) a quirky venue… exhibitors have welcomed the choice."[22] and since then Alexandra Palace has held the event from 2015 to present.[23]

Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the 42nd ABTT Theatre Show scheduled for June 2020 was postponed,[24] being run instead in collaboration with PLASA in 2021 from 5–7 September at Olympia London.[25] In 2022 the ABTT Theatre Show was handed over to ABTT Association and Event Manager Elysia Moore,[26] who has overseen the growth of the event with more exhibitors and attendees than in previous years and the addition of hands on workshops and a Careers and Professional Development Hub to support new entrants to the Industry.[27]

Remit

The purpose of the ABTT Theatre Show is to bring together drama schools, Trade Associations and live entertainment under one roof to help explore the connection between these different Industries.[28]

The ABTT Theatre Show has been developed by the ABTT to be relevant across theatre, TV, film and commercial work. A broad range of technical disciplines are covered, bring relevant to venue operators, production staff, theatre consultants and students addressing issues of health and safety, codes of practice, live performance, academic development, and other relevant matters.[29]

Exhibitor Technology, Live performance and specialist advice is made available for a wide range of issues which relate to theatres and places of entertainment. These include theatre design, sound design, stage lighting, live performance, and issues relating to health and safety issues matters that relate to places of entertainment.[30]

ABTT Awards

Each year the ABTT Theatre show presents the ABTT Awards on the evening of the first day. These include "the ‘ABTT Technician of the Year Award’ which recognises the contributions of seasoned individuals in backstage roles who consistently demonstrate technical excellence; the ‘ABTT Award for Emerging Excellence’ which celebrates the achievements of newcomers in any backstage role or discipline; and the ‘ABTT Award for Environmental Sustainability’ which acknowledges a significant contribution by an individual to furthering environmental sustainability within the theatre industry."[31] New for 2024 is the ABTT Award for Costume and ABTT Award for WHAM Design which aim to honour the expertise and significant contributions of industry professionals, as well as the creative collaborations they foster within the production process.[32]

In 2014, these awards were presented for the first time in combination with the National Awards for Stage Management in a joint ceremony with the Stage Management Association, with the host for the awards being actress Lesley Manville.[33]

Resources

The ABTT has a number of resources that contribute towards the promotion of health and safety within theatres and their technical equipment:

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tim Foster . Roderick Ham obituary | Art and design . The Guardian . 2 March 2017. 2020-04-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190402083141/https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/mar/02/roderick-ham-obituary . 2019-04-02 . live .
  2. Web site: Archived copy . 2017-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191015041212/http://www.abtt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Code_of_Practice_11.pdf . 2019-10-15 . dead .
  3. Web site: ABTT Appoints Fellows to Acknowledge Outstanding Service to Theatre Planning . ETNow.com . 2012-07-23 . 2020-04-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181215123307/http://www.etnow.com/news/2012/7/abtt-appoints-fellows-to-acknowledge-outstanding-service-to-theatre-planning . 2018-12-15 . live .
  4. Web site: Archived copy . 2017-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170925230606/http://www.abtt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ABTT-Annual-Report-Audited-Accounts-SIGNED-JC-FINAL.pdf . 2017-09-25 . dead .
  5. Web site: The Association of British Theatre Technicians TheatreCraft . 2024-04-23 . en-GB.
  6. Web site: ABTT Theatre Show Theatre and Drama Workshops, Classes, Experience . 2024-04-23 . Get into Theatre . en-US.
  7. Web site: Charity overview . Apps.charitycommission.gov.uk . 2020-04-05.
  8. Web site: Electrical installations in theatres and performance venues . Electrical.theiet.org . 2020-04-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180105021354/http://electrical.theiet.org/wiring-matters/60/theatre-installations/index.cfm . 2018-01-05 . live .
  9. Web site: 21st Century Theatres – The ABTT Theatre Show: a place for management and technicians . Artsprofessional.co.uk . 19 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033307/https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/magazine/article/21st-century-theatres-abtt-theatre-show-place-management-and-technicians . 1 December 2017 . live .
  10. Web site: ABTT Theatre Show 2004. Etnow.com. 19 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201033644/http://www.etnow.com/news/2004/1/abtt-theatre-show-2004. 1 December 2017. live.
  11. Web site: July 2016 – ABTT Theatre Show 2016 Highly Commended Award for Tiger Lifting Chain Block System – Rope Assemblies . 23 June 2016 . Ropeassemblies.co.uk . 19 November 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201034139/https://www.ropeassemblies.co.uk/july-2016-abtt-theatre-show-2016-see-highly-commended-award-tiger-lifting-chain-block-system/ . 1 December 2017 . live .
  12. Web site: Risk & Technical: a new appointment . UK Theatre . 2016-09-01 . 2020-04-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181220225804/https://uktheatre.org/who-we-are-what-we-do/uk-theatre-blog/risk-technical-a-new-appointment/ . 2018-12-20 . live .
  13. Web site: Theatre . Hse.gov.uk . 2020-01-08 . 2020-04-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191015041213/http://www.hse.gov.uk/entertainment/theatre-tv/theatre.htm . 2019-10-15 . live .
  14. Web site: Archived copy . 2017-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170925230512/http://www.abtt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Non-Conventional-Theatre-Spaces-17-Aug-2017.pdf . 2017-09-25 . dead .
  15. Web site: Arts Council of Wales | Lottery Capital Programme: Major Capital Projects – Additional Guidance Notes . 2020-04-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180111052728/http://www.arts.wales/funding/help-notes/capital-major-additional-notes . 2018-01-11 . dead .
  16. Web site: Moving forwards...2016 Prospectus. Abtttheatreshow.co.uk. 19 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171201043110/http://www.abtttheatreshow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Exhibitor-Sales-Prospectus.pdf. 1 December 2017. dead.
  17. Web site: 21st Century Theatres - The ABTT Theatre Show: a place for management and technicians. Artsprofessional.co.uk. 19 November 2017.
  18. Web site: ABTT Theatre Show 2004. Etnow.com. 19 November 2017.
  19. Web site: July 2016 - ABTT Theatre Show 2016 Highly Commended Award for Tiger Lifting Chain Block System - Rope Assemblies. 23 June 2016. Ropeassemblies.co.uk. 19 November 2017.
  20. Web site: ABTT TRADE SHOW 87 . Bob Anderson. Theatrecrafts.com. 19 November 2017.
  21. Web site: The ABTI Trade Show 89, May 18–20. Theatrecrafts.com. 19 November 2017.
  22. Web site: ABTT Theatre Show finds new home after Royal Horticultural Halls loss - EN. 22 February 2012. Exhibitionnews.uk. 19 November 2017.
  23. Web site: ABTT : Annual Report, 31 December 2015. Abtt.org.uk. 19 November 2017.
  24. Web site: Hatton. Isobel. 14 April 2020. ABTT Theatre Show 2020 Postponed. live. ET Now. https://web.archive.org/web/20200418063325/http://www.etnow.com/news/2020/4/abtt-theatre-show-2020-postponed . 18 April 2020 .
  25. Web site: PLASA and ABTT shows collaborate and co-locate for 2021. live. Stand Out Magazine. 18 February 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210218143645/https://standoutmagazine.co.uk/plasa-and-abtt-shows-collaborate-and-co-locate-for-2021/ . 18 February 2021 .
  26. Web site: ABTT Association and Events Manager: Elysia Moore . 2024-04-23 . Association of British Theatre Technicians . en-GB.
  27. Web site: abtt-admin . 2023-06-26 . ABTT Theatre Show 2023 welcomes more attendees than ever for another successful event! . 2024-04-23 . Association of British Theatre Technicians . en-GB.
  28. Web site: Alexandra Palace, ABTT Theatre Show Overview.
  29. Web site: ABTT Theatre Show Content. 13 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171214015152/http://www.abtttheatreshow.co.uk/exhibition-content.html. 14 December 2017. dead.
  30. Web site: Archived copy . 13 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170925230606/http://www.abtt.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/ABTT-Annual-Report-Audited-Accounts-SIGNED-JC-FINAL.pdf . 25 September 2017 . dead .
  31. Web site: ABTT announces new award categories . 2024-04-23 . www.lsionline.com.
  32. Web site: abtt-admin . 2024-04-11 . ABTT announce two new Awards to be presented at upcoming ABTT Theatre Show! . 2024-04-23 . Association of British Theatre Technicians . en-GB.
  33. Web site: ABTT : Annual Report, 31 December 2014. Abtt.org.uk. 19 November 2017.
  34. Web site: Event safety - Useful links . Hse.gov.uk . 2019-11-26 . 2020-04-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190904003713/http://www.hse.gov.uk/event-safety/links.htm . 2019-09-04 . live .
  35. Web site: Sightline Spring 2017 . Etnow.com . 2020-04-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170618102629/http://www.etnow.com/sightline/sightline_online/Summer2017/#48 . 2017-06-18 . live .
  36. Web site: Sightline Spring 2014 . Etnow.com . 2020-04-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171214183303/http://www.etnow.com/sightline/sightline_online/Spring2014/index.html#/36/ . 2017-12-14 . live .
  37. Web site: / Jane Ronson . The Association of Performing Arts Collections – Archives Hub Blog . Blog.archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk . 2016-03-01 . 2020-04-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190108140947/http://blog.archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/2016/03/01/the-association-of-performing-arts-collections/ . 2019-01-08 . live .

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Association of British Theatre Technicians".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.