London Oratory School tasked Spotlight Sound with a critical theatre infrastructure upgrade to modernise their performance space and bring it up to current safety and technical standards. The upgrade was driven by the school’s desire to move towards a fully LED lighting rig while ensuring compliance with industry best practices.
Planned Upgrades
Based on a previous site visit, several rigging elements were identified as needing improvement. Over the next two weeks, Spotlight Sound will:
- Replace three onstage lighting bars with aluminium truss bars for enhanced durability and flexibility.
- Re-run steel wire ropes and remove old ropes from the winches suspending the bars.
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Commission and perform LOLER testing on all new bars to ensure compliance and safety standards.
Installed Infrastructure
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New Independent Wiring Bars (IWBs): Installed throughout the school theatre, providing both 13amp and 15amp power. Each bar was also equipped with DMX connections for flexible lighting control.
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Stage-Side DMX & Power Distribution: DMX and 13amp power runs installed to either side of the stage, enhancing operational efficiency for lighting setups.
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Control Rack Installation: A new rack was installed, featuring a DMX buffer and Ethernet points to centralise control and improve networked lighting reliability.
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Dimmer Rework: Complete rewiring of two existing dimmers to ensure smooth, reliable operation.
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Front-of-House Balcony Bar: Fixings were reworked, and the balcony bar recommissioned to allow safe and versatile rigging of lighting equipment.
Challenges & Solutions
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Upgrading for LED Compatibility: The existing infrastructure required rewiring and new DMX points to support modern LED lighting rigs.
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Rigging Compliance: Older rigging elements did not meet current good practice. Spotlight Sound leveraged recent LOLER training to bring these elements up to industry-standard compliance.
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Minimising Disruption: All work was carefully scheduled to ensure minimal disruption to school activities.
Results & Impact
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The upgraded IWBs, DMX points, and power distribution will allow London Oratory School to seamlessly integrate an LED lighting rig in the future.
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Rigging improvements and LOLER testing ensure the theatre remains fully compliant with safety regulations, reducing risk for staff and performers.
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The theatre now features a more flexible and robust infrastructure, capable of supporting a wide variety of productions and events.
Why Spotlight Sound?
Spotlight Sound’s combination of technical expertise, attention to compliance, and proactive planning ensures that every venue upgrade is future-proofed, safe, and reliable. By addressing both immediate technical needs and long-term compliance, Spotlight Sound empowers venues like London Oratory School to deliver outstanding performances safely and efficiently.
