This is only ⅔ of the patch for this show. It’s damn near maxing out the dimmers. These forests of 150+ 5kW patch cables each side make finding the right circuit tricky! There’s also 2 other layers of subpatch (multicore to looms patch in grid, and breakouts on the LX bars to fixtures). And this is only 1 of 2 major patch bays with 6 minor bays.
The upper and lower patch bays of the SOH Drama Theatre. They have 120 and 90 5kW dimmers, and 200 and 150 20A patch circuits respectively, as well as a handful of switched hot power outlets. There are another 100 or so direct dimmer outlets around the venue.
In 1973, these would have been just about the bees knees.
I actually underestimated the numbers in this patch. There are actually 360 patch circuits in the upper bay (12*15*2) and 135 dimmer channels. Here’s a better picture.
Also worth noting, as far as I could tell, none of what’s pictured has been replaced or changed since 1973 — 46 years of continuous use. This stuff is damn reliable.
Machinery and driving electrics for the ‘orchestra pit’ lift of the SOH Drama Theatre. Three sections across the stage can be driven independently. It can move from below house level to stage level, a span of over 2.5m vertically. The first two audience rows are on top of this lift, and its main reason for moving these days is to drive a height access tool over for access to the fixed ‘orchestra’ LX bar overhead, or to act as a stage thrust.
The upper and lower patch bays of the SOH Drama Theatre. They have 120 and 90 5kW dimmers, and 200 and 150 20A patch circuits respectively, as well as a handful of switched hot power outlets. There are another 100 or so direct dimmer outlets around the venue.
In 1973, these would have been just about the bees knees.
Working in the SOH Drama Theatre today on a Sydney Festival Show with acrobatics & human flying (that’s what the big silver truss is for).
Featured above is the big ol’ motor that runs the sidestage lift. When I asked what its rating was, the only answer I got was “lots”.
