Ceiling collapse at Apollo Theatre

[top-cat]

Contrary to other comments, trusses are not anchored into ornate plasterwork. Small holes will be made through the plaster and fixings will be made onto structural supports above that are rated or can be augmented to handle any extra weight imposed. This is where the laser plumbs come very handy for ensuring that a hole can be made just big enough to give a little clearance around the suspension wire

Unfortunately what can happen is that the moving chain / steel rope can catch on the plaster and cut into the plaster. This can happen by the truss or point just being moved an inch out of position. One thing which is common in many theatres is to augment the hole through the plaster with a length of PVC pipe, so that can't happen.

ATG (again backed by serious money) have thus far only done the minimum maintenance & improvements to their venues...

Out of interest what's your source on that one? Not consistent with my experience of the company that's all.

Edited December 23, 2013 by paulears

[ImagineerTom]

Out of interest what's your source on that one? Not consistent with my experience of the company that's all

I've worked in the Playhouse, Savoy, Piccadilly, Pinter & DOY in the last couple of years, all of which are far from being in "good" condition and there's 101 blog and twitter comments about the poor state of their seating/toilets/FOH facilities. Their larger west end venues (lyceum, Apollo etc) were refurbished immediately before ATG took over; likewise many of their regional houses were refurbished or rebuilt shortly before ATG took over; the spaces they've owned/operated for a longer period of time (Milton Keynes, Stoke etc) are again looking their age... They've recently pepped up the exterior of the Phoenix Theatre but internally it's still 30 years out of date and in need of a serious upgrade.

[top-cat]

Ah sorry Tom, may have wires crossed, I can only comment on the technical maintenance & improvement which I have been involved in which has been reasonably frequent and comprehensive.

[Roderick]

low frequency audio at levels unimaginable 100 years ago. Or the increased structural pressure caused by heavy sets, lighting and audio equipment.

How loud can an uanmplified orchestra hit, with kettle drums, or original thunder roll effects ?

 

Flying heavy sets goes back a lot more than 100 years.

 

Main problem is still theatre owners, then and now, have deep pockets and short arms...

Whilst not disputing the shortness of theatre owners arms, or as I recently heard one described 'wouldn't put his hand in his pocket to keep it warm', I still argue that today's productions put a lot more pressure on venues than they used to.

Even in my humble 35 years in the industry I have seen a change from backdrops and timber frames flats to much more steel. Kettle drum may produce the decibels, they don't have the contact with the building vibrating sub-woofers have. Over the years all these things add up and may weaken the structure.

[the kid]

Today a teaser of info appeared from the council http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26689705

[peza2010]

"improvements were being carried out, funded by a restoration levy added to ticket prices"

 

Confirms our short arms, long pockets theory.

[kerry davies]

Bit of a concern for similar aged buildings everywhere. Jute/Hessian/Burlap is "100% biodegradable".

 

The ticket levies are a subject of much political argument; see The Stage.

[Brian]

So the ticket levy not only pays for stopping ceilings falling down but also...

 

As well as repairs to the ceiling and balcony, the auditorium, front of house and backstage areas have all been refurbished.

 

I'd have thought those last three would have been under the heading of normal maintenance.

[the kid]

Update from ABTT http://www.abtt.org.uk/abtt-statement-following-the-update-issued-by-westminster-city-council-into-the-apollo-theatre-investigation/

[Bryson]

And it looks like it happened again, albeit on a much smaller scale:

 

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/06/ceiling-collapse-at-west-end-theatre-leaves-several-injured

 

At the Picadilly this time. Although from reports it sounds like a leak of some kind was the root cause.