Y Ffwrnes is the first purpose-built, state-of-the-art theatre to be built in West Wales for more than 25 years and boasts bespoke sound and lighting solutions from GDS. Y Ffwrnes is the first purpose-built, state-of-the-art theatre to be built in West Wales for more than 25 years. Partly funded by the Welsh Government and including the refurbishment of a listed chapel alongside a 504-seat auditorium and 100-seat Stiwdio Stepni, Y Ffwrnes will be run by Carmarthenshire County Council to provide a cultural and creative centre, offering space for community and professional events.
The theatre is set to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for environmental sustainability and is a key player in the regeneration of Llanelli. Y Ffwrnes is expected to attract some 70,000 visitors annually and provide new full- and part-time employment for 35 people.
GDS UK dealer Northern Light was commissioned to install a complete sound and lighting package for Y Ffwrnes. Every theatre has its own special demands and requirements, at the heart of which lies the need for efficient and flexible stage management. To this end the consultants specified that the contractors installed the GDS Stage Manager’s Console and CueSystem cue lights. The need to meet the exacting standards of environmental sustainability in modern theatre development led the consultants to further specify the use of the GDS BluesSystem working-lights for all backstage areas. GDS supplied a bespoke wood-enclosed Stage Manager’s console with all the specific facilities required by the theatre, including a 16 channel CueSystem. Other features included white and blue panel lighting, 4 preset digital lighting control, 2 channel intercom control, 3 zones of paging, digital timer and digital clock and LED stalk lights. “The main theatre auditorium and stage uses 48 GDS Blues and Whites integrated into the 5-scene working light scheme, part under dimmer operation and part switched,” said Chris Baldwin, theatre designer for Y Ffwrnes. “These provide an excellent in-show access lighting solution, particularly to areas dimmed to minimum levels and in the public view.” In designing the Stage Manager’s console, GDS recognised that the differences between venues would naturally create different demands. Eschewing a ‘one size fits all approach’ in favour of a more tailored system, the SM console offers a range of options within 10 distinct category areas that the stage manager can choose to ideally fit his or her requirements.
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