Technical Information for Visiting Companies

Last updated September 2012

Postal address:

The Bristol Hippodrome

St Augustines Parade
Bristol
BS1 4UZ

Stage door postcode (NOT for deliveries):

BS1 5DH

Technical Contacts:
Stage Door:

0117 927 3077

Technical Manager:

Peter Tovey
[email protected]
0117 302 3239

Stage Manager:

Paul Birch
[email protected]
0117 302 3239

Chief Electrician:

Pete Loft
[email protected]
0117 302 3249

The theatre plans are available in CAD format on the Modelbox website at
www.modelboxplans.com
Password to access ATG area of the site is peacock
Password to access Bristol Hippodrome area within this is operaglasses

Technical Pack Contents

Code of Conduct
PPE
Working at Height
Special Effects
Pre-rig
Parking
Get-in and out
Set Construction
Safety Curtain
Masking
Staging
Run-down Treads
Orchestra Pit

Page
3
3
3
3
4
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6

Flying
Load Ratings
Rigging
Electrical Equipment
Lighting
House Lights
Followspots
Working Light
Sound
Show Relay
Intercom & Cue-lights
Prompt Desk

Page
7
7
7
8
8
9
9
9
9
10
10
11

Appendices

Stage Plan
Stage Dimensions
Seating plan
Fly plot & bar distances
Weight chart
Counterweight SWL
FoH rigging points
Stage Power Supplies
Lantern Stock
Standard FoH Lighting Rig
RoH Dimmers & LX Services Outlet Panels
FoH Dimmers & LX Services Outlet Panels
Dimmers & LX Outlet Notes
DMX & Ethernet Patch

Page
12
13
14
15
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

Other information available on request from the Technical Manager

Ground stage plan printed A0 version

Hippodrome building plans (4 levels) for auditorium and FoH areas
Stage floor load ratings diagram
Grid and roof beams plans and load ratings
Pros arch booms plan and load ratings
Orchestra pit dimensioned schematic
Excel version of Hippodrome standard fly plot

Code of Conduct
The Hippodrome operates under the BECTU/TMA Code of Conduct for get-ins, fit-ups and
get-outs. The Stage Manager will ask your representative to go through the code of conduct
forms and our visiting company paperwork prior to the fit-up commencing, and again at the
end of the get-out. Working hours must be limited to a maximum of 16 hours in any 24, with
11 hour breaks planned between working days. We ask that you plan your schedules to
reflect this, and will work with you to adapt schedules and calls if necessary to allow
compliance with the code for our staff and yours.
PPE
Steel toe capped boots must be worn by all personnel on stage during get-ins and get-outs.
At the discretion of the Stage or Technical Manager this requirement may be extended to
fit-ups and show running. High visibility vests must be worn when working on public roads
after dusk. Hard hats or bump caps must be worn on stage during get-ins, fit-ups and getouts while any overhead work or flying is taking place. Visiting companies are expected to
provide their own PPE.
Working at Height
The Hippodrome has a selection of ladders available for use, and medium and large
Tallescope models. Please note that only the larger model may be moved with anyone
occupying the basket. They must be used with outriggers where possible, and with 2 people
at the base at all times (3 people on a raked show stage, with no movement allowed). All
access equipment must be used in line with the venue risk assessments and safe working
practises (see Safety pack). Any of your crew who are working at height must have suitable
training. Unnecessary working at height must be avoided. Fall arrest equipment must be
used as a back-up for any work positioning or rope access tasks, and there must be rescue
plans and equipment in place for any activity using fall arrest whether as the sole or back-up
method of fall prevention. We will stop you from carrying out work at height activities which
do not comply with the above.
When the trapdoors in the grid floor are open, crew around the trapdoors MUST wear a
harness and work restraint lanyard, adjusted to prevent falls through the traps.
Special effects
Please advise before your arrival if you intend to use any special effects, including but not
limited to: dry ice, strobe lighting, lasers, pyrotechnics, replica and blank-firing weapons.
You must have risk assessments for the use of any of these, which we may ask for copies of.
If you cannot produce a risk assessment for their use then we will not be able to allow their
3

inclusion in your production. We have generic risk assessments for some of these effects
which MAY be suitable for adaption to your production. Any pyrotechnic material including
blank cartridges for weapons must be handed to our chief electrician on arrival, who will
organise their storage in a lockable cupboard. Weapons must be kept locked away and only
handled by your armourer.
If you use smoke or haze effects as part of your show please inform stage door on your
arrival and before every use, so that they can organise the isolation of relevant smoke alarm
sensors.
Please note that smoking on stage is only permitted as part of a performance and not
rehearsals (with the exception of a dress rehearsal). This is a legal requirement and not a
house rule. Please inform us if your production involves the smoking of real cigarettes on
stage.
Pre-rig
Due to our very busy programme and Sunday concerts, it is not always possible to pre-rig.
Should a pre-rig of lighting and / or masking be desired, then please contact the Stage
Manager or Chief Electrician as early as possible. Please note that additional charges apply
for pre-rigs and this will be recharged on the settlement.
Parking
The Bristol Hippodrome has no free parking available. On-street parking must be used for all
loading and unloading. The Hippodrome will organise the suspension of parking bays with
Bristol City Council on your behalf, according to requirements on your rider or as
communicated to the Stage Manager. It is possible dependant on bay suspensions to load /
unload 2 trucks simultaneously. The cost of suspending parking bays will be recharged on
your settlement. Please note bays can only be suspended from 8am and not on Sundays,
when free parking applies.
For larger productions involving multiple truck movements, please contact the Stage or
Technical Manager to discuss whether it would be desirable to close the roads around the
theatre loading dock. This can be organised by the theatre given at least 4 weeks notice,
with the cost recharged to the production. For shows with get-ins over multiple days, it is
often more cost-efficient to close roads than to suspend parking bays for every day, in
addition to promoting a safer working environment.
Please inform your drivers that under no circumstances may they park any vehicle larger
than 3.5 tonnes in the on-street bays opposite our dock doors on Denmark St. We cannot
reserve these bays, and Bristol City Council will impose fines on vehicle owners who park in
4

these bays. Should vehicles be parked in the bays we have reserved for your production,
please contact stage door, or if it is not open then please call Bristol City Council Parking
Service Team on 0117 903 8070.
Postcode to direct GPS devices to our stage door and dock access on Denmark St is BS1 5DH.
Please note that this is NOT the theatres postcode for postal deliveries, which is BS1 4UZ, at
the theatres front entrance on St Augustines Parade.
Get-in and out
Please see General Information pack for details of crew recharges, minimum calls, house
agreements etc, or for more information contact the Technical Manager. For safety reasons
it is not possible for you to carry on working on stage during staff meal breaks, although it is
usually possible to stagger breaks so this does not affect you.
Set construction
Your set should be constructed to an acceptable standard, as determined by our Stage
Manager. We will refuse the use of any set which we deem to be in any way unsafe. All
scenic elements must be of fire retardant construction, which we may test before allowing
their use. Scenery should be transported in manageable units and must have their weight
marked. Please note minimum dimensions of our get-in doors and roller shutter. Dollys are
available to aid in moving heavy items.
Safety Curtain
The safety curtain must be lowered and raised at or before the interval in the presence of
the public. This is a requirement of our premises license, and a waiver cannot be obtained.
No scenery or apparatus of whatsoever kind may impede or obstruct the descent of the
safety curtain. Cables may pass under the safety curtain, which has a soft bottom, but care
must be taken to ensure there are no connectors in cables below the plane of descent of the
iron.
Masking
The Hippodrome owns a selection of mainly black serge masking, which may be used free of
charge by visiting productions. There is a minimum available of 1 full black, 5 stage width
borders and 5 pairs of legs in varying widths i.e. enough to create a black box to your
desired width and depth on stage. Should you anticipate requiring more than this then
please discuss before arrival with our Stage Manager, who will advise whether we can fulfil
your requirements in house.

Staging
The Hippodrome can supply up to 9 wooden black gate-leg band risers, which are 6 x 3 x
18 high. If you require other decking or staging equipment this can be sub-hired in for you.
We have a selection of tables and chairs available for use on stage. There are also 12
illuminated RAT music stands, plus one double width conductors stand, which may be
used for a small hire charge.
Run-down treads
Treads from the stage to auditorium can be installed stage left and right, and/or centre
stage. Handrails are available for all treads. Please let the Stage Manager know if you
require the use of the run-downs. If your production involves bringing audience members
onto stage, handrails must be used. An audience participation form (see General
Information pack) will need to be completed in conjunction with the Stage or Technical
Manager and the Front of House Manager.
Orchestra pit
Our orchestra pit measures 353 wide by 166 deep by 77 minimum headroom under the
stage. The floor level at the front is 1550mm below row A, and 2687mm below the stage
level. Please contact the Stage Manager for more detailed plans if required. The pit is
usually raised with metrodeck sections to the auditorium row A level when not in use. If you
are using the pit and require the level to be dropped before your arrival please arrange this
with the Stage Manager, as a pre-rig charge may apply dependant on the pit position in the
previous week. Note that it is often quicker to rig FoH sound / truss with the pit decking in
place and then remove the decking than it is to start with the decking removed. If you would
like us to supply a pit net, please contact the Stage Manager to discuss exact requirements
as we have a selection of net sections in varying sizes which may be suitable for your needs.
If you have a very large orchestra (e.g. opera / ballet), and require removal of up to 6 rows
of auditorium seating, this must be arranged at the time of your show being booked in, and
confirmed with the Stage Manager as soon as possible. There are decking sections available
to level off alternate rows of the auditorium after seats have been removed. Removal and
reinstatement of auditorium seating, pit rail and decking requires an overnight call of 6 crew
each time, for a minimum of 4 hours (dependant on how many rows of seating you need
removed). This will be recharged on your show settlement. Note that of course when
placing an orchestra on our auditorium stalls floor, the rake is such that the conductor is at
the highest tier of the orchestra, closest to the audience.

Flying
Please see following information on bar distances and safe working loads etc. Please send
through a flying plot including bar weights before your arrival we can supply our template
as an Excel document should you wish. Note that during a fit-up or get-out, the instructions
of the Stage Manager and Flyman regarding the loading and unloading of bars must be
followed at all times. Bars 1, 2 and 3 carry the red tabs header, the house tabs and the black
hard header respectively. These form part of the fixed house rig if you need them to be
removed this will form part of your fit-up and get-out and allowance must be made for the
necessary time and crew. They will not be moved without prior discussion and agreement
by the Stage Manager. The house rig also includes a number of IWBs and black box masking.
These will not normally be removed before your arrival as it is faster and more cost effective
for them to be moved as required during your fit-up.
Load ratings
For detailed load ratings, or if you have specific loading queries, please contact the Technical
Manager as soon as possible in advance of your visit. The following is for guidance only, and
the Hippodrome reserves the right to consult its structural engineer at your cost if we are at
all unsure about any aspect of your production loading requirements.
Stage floor:

Static SWL 750kg/m2.

Grid:

The Hippodrome grid is divided into 5 bays by the main lattice roof trusses,
running parallel to the proscenium see attached fly plot. All load limits are
per bay, and are for the sum of loads flown on the counterweight system and
loads directly rigged to the roof steelwork.

Maximum point load (50mm square): 450kg

Failsafe SWL per bay for loads rigged anywhere:

Achievable SWL per bay for evenly distributed loads:
Max point load on roof beams:

3.6 tonnes
6 tonnes
1 tonne

Counterweight bars: See attached counterweight fly plot and SWL documents.
FOH points:

SWL 0.5 tonne per point (up to 1 tonne on individual points is achievable
dependant on overall load, please call to discuss).

Rigging
Please send rigging plans to our Technical Manager prior to your arrival. You must let us
know as soon as possible if you wish to rig any points greater than 1 tonne over stage, or
exceed the maximum grid loading per bay as shown above, as we will need to consult our
7

structural engineer on your behalf to obtain approval. Without prior approval from our
engineer, loads exceeding those given above may not be rigged. You should supply a rigger
for any overstage rigging you wish to put in. Beam clamps must be used for much of the
overstage rigging as the top flanges of many beams are inaccessible. Static overstage rigging
must either be safetied off or include redundant suspension points (regardless of if the
motors are double-braked). Dynamic rigging must be the subject of a specific risk
assessment, to be agreed with the Hippodrome.
All FoH rigging points have a SWL of at least 0.5 tonne please see attached schematic for
locations. We are happy to rig simple FoH trusses, line arrays etc on your behalf, but please
note that we do not own any rigging equipment or truss. Any rigging FoH must either be
safetied off or include redundant suspension points (regardless of if the motors are doublebraked).
All lifting equipment used in the venue is subject to LOLER. It must be fit for purpose and
used in approved configurations. SWL must be clearly displayed. Current test certificates
should be available for inspection by venue staff at their request.
If you have any questions or are in any doubt about your rigging requirements, please
consult the Technical Manager.
Electrical Equipment
All electrical equipment that is brought into this venue MUST meet with current applicable
safety Standards and have undergone portable appliance testing. This applies to both
personal and professional equipment. The Chief Electrician may ask to see evidence of
current PAT validity if he feels there is any doubt about any of your equipment, and will
refuse the use of any equipment that does not conform. Alternatively we may be able to
carry out testing on your behalf, which would be recharged on the settlement at 5 per
item.
Lighting
Please see following lantern stock list and dimmer allocations. The Hippodrome has DMX
and ethernet tielines around the stage and FoH, which come back to a patch in the substage
dimmer room. DMX control of our dimmers may be patched to the location of your choice.
Lighting control can either be from the control room at the back of the grand circle, or can
share the sound mixer position at the rear of the stalls.
The Hippodrome has a Strand 520 in-house, and can supply an operator for this if required
for your show. We do not have an in-house programmer, but will happily set up simple
show states on sub-masters for Sunday concerts etc. We can provide basic 3 or 4 colour
8

general wash for your show if required. Please note that we do not have any intelligent
lighting equipment, smoke or haze machines, strobe lights etc available.
The venue standard rig as attached has some flexibility please contact the Chief Electrician
with a lighting plan to discuss your requirements. We expect companies to supply their own
colour; however there is a limited stock of common colours available to facilitate basic
colour washes.
There is a small stock of in-house multicore (socapex) and 15A TRS cable available, along
with spiders, adaptors etc. Please check with the Chief Electrician if you wish to use any inhouse cabling except for use with the in-house rig, to ensure that there is enough available
to meet your requirements. There is also a limited stock of lantern accessories such as irises,
gobos and gobo holders and the like again please contact the Chief Electrician should you
have any specific requirements with which we may be able to help.
House lights
House lights are controlled either from DSR, or the LX control room at the back of the grand
circle. Control is by a slider or 5 preset level buttons. There is no DMX control. If required,
our duty electrician will operate the houselights on your behalf.
Follow spots
There are 2 2kW Lycian followspots with 6 colour magazines available in-house. Please let
our Chief Electrician know if you plan to use these and how many operators you require us
to provide. The spot box is located at the rear centre of the upper circle, and has room and
power supplies for up to 4 spots. Please note that where possible we prefer to use our spots
where possible as there are 86 steps from street level to the spot box up which to carry any
touring equipment!
Working lights
Stage left and right wings are each illuminated by a row of dimmable GDS LED blue working
lights. Sockets are available at stage level and on fly floors for the addition of extra show
working lights. 1x 500W Coda floodlight upstage and 2x 19 Source 4 profiles on the fly floor
are available as extra working light.
Sound
The Hippodrome has NO in-house sound equipment. If you are not touring a rig and require
the use of one, we do have relationships with local companies who know the building and
can put a system in. The cost of doing this will be recharged on your settlement.
9

There is a fixed, level, mixer position at the rear of the stalls. This takes the place of 2 rows
of 7 seats (rows Za and Zb house left of the centre aisle), giving an area 3700mm wide by
1600 deep. If you require, the 7 seats of row Z in front may also be taken off sale and
removed, increasing the depth to 2400mm. If you do not ask for this increased size mixer
position at least 4 weeks prior to your show opening, it may not be available. Please let us
know as soon as possible if you are not using the mixer position at all and want these seats
on sale, or if you need more seat holds for extra mixing equipment, speakers etc.
Multicore run to FoH is approx 55m from stage right, or 60m from stage left. We have hooks
around the sides and rear of the auditorium to hold the multicore at high level. There is a 20
way XLR patch from DSR to the rear stalls mixing position. There are rigging positions for
delay speakers at stalls and grand circle level. Other rigging positions including side boxes,
upper circle delays, slips and some surround speakers are available, after prior consultation
with our Chief Electrician.
The Hippodrome does not have any site licensing for radio microphone frequencies. It is the
responsibility of visiting productions to organise their own licensing for their equipment.
The Hippodrome does have a site license for its in-house VHF Motorola radios, used during
performances by FoH staff. This covers frequencies in the 166.7625MHz and 171.5625MHz
bands.
Show relay
Audio show relay is available to crew rooms, stage door, band rooms and dressing rooms,
along with backstage calls. We ask that if possible you provide a feed from your sound
system, either DSR or at the mixer position, to supplement the microphone feed for
backstage show relay and induction loop / infra-red hearing system in the auditorium.
There is NO in-house video show relay system. Cameras, monitors etc may be sub-hired on
your behalf, at your request.
Intercom and cue lights
A single channel TecPro intercom system is installed, with master station DSR. Tie-lines are
provided to rear stalls, rear circle control room, followspot box, fly floor and DSL. Beltpacks
and headsets for all these positions are available. Extra beltpacks, headsets and temporary
cabling may be available for your use please consult with the Chief Electrician
There is NO in-house cue light system. A master station and cue lights may be sub-hired on
your behalf, at your request.

10

Prompt desk
There is a small desk and chair in the stage right wing (i.e. bastard prompt). Backstage and
FoH calls microphone and control are located here, with house light control, safety curtain
controls, intercom master station and working light switches. The calls controls and
microphone can be re-patched to prompt side if required.

11

Bristol Hippodrome Stage Dimensions

Updated March 2011

Please note that the setting line used and marked on stage is on the upstage edge of the iron safety curtain.
Minimum stage width
Width between fly floors
Minimum bar length (4 pick-ups)
Inner grid pulley pick-ups (either side of centre)
Outer grid pulley pick-ups (either side of centre)
Proscenium maximum width
Proscenium usual width with tormenters (adjustable)

22.66m
17.75m
15.85m
2.13m
6.4m
14.55m
12.19m

744
583
52
7
21
479
40

Proscenium maximum height

Stage floor to underside of grid
Stage floor to underside of fly floors SL & SR
Stage floor to SR fly floor pin rail
Stage floor to underside of DSR service gantry
Row A of stalls to stage floor

9.14m
17.86m
8.53m
10.29m
5.18m
1.25m

30
587
28
339
17
41

Setting line to front edge of stage

Setting line to back wall of stage
Setting line to last C/W set
Setting line to circle front rail
Setting line to back wall of auditorium stalls
Setting line to window of limes box at rear of upper circle

1.06m
16.87m
14.82m
15.3m
29.87m
31.39m

36
554
487
502
98
103

Auditorium width between 1st boxes

Auditorium maximum width wall to wall
Auditorium height above proscenium from row A
Maximum auditorium height below dome
Minimum length of multicore to reach rear stalls position

14.99m
23.77m
13.79m
>24.4m
55m

492
78
453
>80
180

Dock to street doors height

Dock to stage roller shutter height
Dock length between doors and shutter
Minimum dock width through doors / shutter

5.7m
4.95m
6.86m
2.5m

188
163
226
82

Trapdoor in stage floor to access substage / orchestra pit

1115 x 1980mm44 x 78

Pit floor below row A

Pit floor below stage floor
Pit depth in front of stage edge
Pit width in front of stage edge
Minimum total pit depth
Pit width beneath stage
Minimum height of pit below underside of stage

1.55m
2.8m
1.75m
12.32m
5.03m
10.74m
2.31m

51
92
59
405
166
353
77

Ladies
Toilet

Kiosk

Upper Circle

Ladies
Toilet

K 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52

J 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54

H 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 H

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53

G 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 G

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52

F 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 F

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51

E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 E

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

D 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 D

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 C

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50

B 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 B

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

A 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 A

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61

16 15 14 13
8

67 68 69 70 71 72

73 74 75 76 77 78

Gents
Toilet

Kiosk

63 64 65 66

To Kiosk
and Ladies
Toilet

Gents
Toilet

Grand

Ladies
Toilet

Circle

L 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

K 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

J 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

H 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35

36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49

G 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

F 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

E 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47

D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

Box
O
1-2

35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

C 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46

B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 A

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

Box
N
1-4

Box
M
1-3

Stairs down
to Bar

Kiosk
To Bar and
Ladies Toilet

Stalls
1

Zb

Za

9 10 11 12 13 14

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Box
Box
A

Box

1-4

1-4
2

House
Box C
1-4
5

1-4

9 10 11 12 13

Box
E

Box
F

Box
G

1-4

1-4

1-4
1-4

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

Box
U
1-2

Box

9 10

Box
S
1-3

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Box
T
1-4

Ladies
Toilet

W 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

T 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

SX 1

R 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45

Q 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

P 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

O 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

N 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42

M 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

L 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39

K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

J 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38

H 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

H
G

WHEELCHAIR USERS PLATFORM

B
2

C
2

G 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

Box L

F 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

1-3

E 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34

Box
K
1-4

D 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

C 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32

Box
J
1-4

B 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

STAGE
Please note: Some seating areas may have restricted viewing so check when booking.
Boxes are not to scale

D
2

2 SX

Gents
Toilet

Box
R
1-3
Box
Q
1-4
Box
P
1-4

12 11 10 9
5

Accessible
Toilet

BRISTOL HIPPODROME FLY PLOT

SHOW:
DATE :

BAR

DISTANCE U/S
OF SETTING
LINE (m)

1
2
3

0.187
0.387
0.587

4
5

0.807
1.007

6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15

1.317
1.527
1.717
1.917
2.217
2.327
2.527
2.737
2.937
3.137

16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

3.647
3.847
4.057
4.257
4.457
4.657
4.867
5.072

24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31

5.377
5.577
5.777
5.987
6.187
6.397
6.587
6.797

32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39

7.307
7.507
7.707
7.907
8.117
8.317
8.517
8.727

OBJECT
Green Bars S.W.L. = 650LBS / 295KG / 26 weights
Red Bars S.W.L. = 1100LBS / 500KG / 44 weights
House bar - Red border
House bar - House tabs
House bar - Hard proscenium header
House hard tormentor legs dead-hung between bars 3 & 4
Underslung ladder beam

Grid lattice truss

Ladder beam

Grid lattice truss

Ladder beam

WEIGHT
(kg)

NO OF
C/Ws

BRISTOL HIPPODROME FLY PLOT

SHOW:
DATE :
40
BAR
41
42
43
44
45
46
47

DISTANCE
9.027 U/S
OF SETTING
9.237
LINE
(m)
9.437

48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55

10.957
11.157
11.367
11.567
11.767
11.977
12.177
12.377

56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63

12.687
12.887
13.087
13.287
13.487
13.687
13.907
14.107

64
65

14.587
14.817

WEIGHT
(kg)

NO OF
C/Ws

9.637
9.847
10.047
10.257
10.457
Grid lattice truss

Grid lattice truss

Notes
- All bars are 56mm gas barrel unless otherwise shown. The Hippodrome has a stock of 48mm bar and drop-clamps
- The setting line is marked on stage and is at the upstage edge of the iron safety curtain
- Most bars are at 200mm spacing, however there are larger spaces for the grid structural trusses, dividing the grid and
counterweight sets into bays as shown. Tie bars in the centre of each bay result in a slightly larger bar spacing between the
2 central bars in each bay.
- Bars 1 - 5 do not have full flying height due to shortened cradle runs over doorway to stage. They all reach the grid but will
not come fully into stage level. Bars 1 - 3 are reserved as house bars. Bar 4 is suitable for front-cloths etc.
- Bar 5 has a ladder beam underslung from the gas barrel to allow it to come in to stage. With full drifts the ladder beam has
an out dead of 13.8m. With the drifts halved, it is 15.85m.
- Total weight available on the loading floor is approximately 6 tonnes

Bristol Hippodrome Weight Chart

Lbs
25
50
75
100
125
150
175
200
225
250
275
300
325
350
375
400
425
450
475
500
525
550
575
600
625
650
675
700
725
750
775
800
825
850
875
900
925
950
975
1000
1025
1050
1075
1100

Weight
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44

Kg
11.4
22.7
34.1
45.5
56.8
68.2
79.5
90.9
102.3
113.6
125
136.4
147.7
159.1
170.5
181.8
193.2
204.5
215.9
227.3
238.6
250
261.4
272.7
284.1
295.5
306.8
318.2
329.5
340.9
352.3
363.6
375
386.4
397.7
409.1
420.5
431.8
443.2
454.5
465.9
477.3
488.6
500

Bristol Hippodrome Counterweight system safe working loads

Green sets (small cradle): max load per set = 295kg (650lbs)
Red sets (large cradle): max load per set = 500kg (1100lbs)
Standard weight = 11.5kg
Maximum load imposed on any single line = 250kg

Steels used are of 6mm galvanised 6x19 construction

There are 3 styles of bar used on the Hippodrome counterweight sets:
- Old gas barrel 56mm diameter, 4mm wall thickness
- New gas barrel 56mm diameter, 6mm wall thickness
- Ladder beam 2 x 48mm diameter, 3mm wall thickness. SWLs are given for the ladder beam used
alone, and also for the beam if it is braced to prevent twisting along its length. Loads may be
placed on either chord of the ladder beams, and do not have to be at node points
Point loads above 100kg should not be applied to any bars by steel wire rope drifts alone without softening
being used, or some other method such as hanging clamps or webbing straps being employed, to prevent
local deformation / crushing of the bars at those points
Point loads should not be applied to bar overhangs beyond any bolted bar joints
Bar extensions should always be inserted at least 300mm, be taped in place, and used only to suspend soft
masking, which should have at least 3 ties made off to the counterweight bar proper
The suspensions lines all employ a levelling clamp, terminating along the bar from the pick-up point. The
spans are measured between suspension points where the lines meet the bar, not where they are terminated:
- Maximum span between 2 lines 15
- Maximum overhang beyond end line 46

SWLs (kg)
Loading configuration
Point load below suspension line
Point load in centre span between 2 lines
Point load 0.5m overhang beyond end line
Point load 1m overhang beyond end line
Maximum UDL on span between 2 lines
Max UDL on full overhang beyond end line
Maximum moment imposed on bar (Nm)

Old gas
barrel

New gas
barrel

100
250
100
200
175
1200

125
250
150
250
250
1650

Ladder
beam

Braced
ladder beam

175

500

250
250
200
350

500
250

2000

14450

Notes:
Load cases may be superimposed to check maximum loadings are not exceeded
For simple load cases, SWLs may safely be linearly scaled between index cases given above
Maximum SWLs above are calculated on loadings which will not cause permanent plastic deformation
of the fly bars, or lead to excessive deflections of the bars in use
For non-standard load cases, calculation may be required to check the maximum bending moments
imposed on the fly bars and the final row of the table used to check these are acceptable
Safe working load calculations are held on file in the Technical Managers office
P. Tovey October 2010

Bristol Hippodrome - Front of House Rigging Points

Plan not to scale

C L
7275

7275
Setting line at back of iron
SAFETY CURTAIN

Setting line

Line of proscen ium wall above

220

Proscenium wall

Proscenium wall

Front edge of stage

1750

Sound A

Sound A
A2

A1

ORCHESTRA PIT

A1

A2

Sound B

Sound B
B2

B1

B1

B2

Front edge of orchestra pit

2860

3110

3130

3110

2860

Dome ring rigging points (indicative only). 9.300m apart

Auditorium centre rigging points (indicative only). 12.00m apart

C L

Point locations (mm)

All rigging points SWL = 0.5 tonne (1 tonne may be available dependant on total load, please discuss)
All dimensions on plan in mm
Height of points above stalls row A (raised pit level):
Truss points A & B: 16.05m = 52'8" (45'3" to ceiling and 7'5" above)
Sound points A & B: 14.17m = 46'8" (42'6" to ceiling and 4'2" above)
Please note that line arrays are normally flown from sound points B, with A being used for
safety steels, to ensure that speakers fly clear of the proscenium ornamental plasterwork

Point
Truss A1
Truss A2
Truss B1
Truss B2
Sound A
Sound B
Dome ring points
Aud centre points

From setting line

From front of stage

1860

800

2790

1730

1500
2055
5610
9510

440
995
4550
8450

From centre line

1565
4675
1565
4675
7500
7535
4650
6000

1060

600

240

Setting line

Bristol Hippodrome Stage Power Supplies

Updated March 2011

The Hippodrome stage has a wide variety of power supplies available, as shown below. If you are concerned
that your show requirements may not be met by these supplies, please contact the Hippodrome Chief
Electrician as soon as possible.
All backstage large power outlets are supplied from the rear-of-house incoming 800A 3 phase supply.

Lighting:
1 x 250A max Powerlock midstage left, supplied from MCCB with adjustable trip characteristics
1 x 200A max Powerlock midstage right, supplied from MCCB with adjustable trip characteristics

Sound:
1 x 125A 3P Ceeform midstage right. This has local 100mA RCD, and is fed with dedicated earth from
main RoH panel-board. MCCB has adjustable trip characteristics, and will supply 100A max. Outlet is
usually jumped down to 63A 1P (L3).

Rigging:
1 x 32A 3P Ceeform substage MSR. Usually extended by house cable to midstage right in wings.
1 x 32A 3P (3P&E) Ceeform upstage. This is a 4 pin outlet on facility panel, switched and phase
reversed by controls on panel and pickle to direct control in-house chain hoist over trap to substage.

Spot box:
4 x 32A 1P Ceeform. Note that numbers 1 & 2 feed the in-house followspots, 3 & 4 are for extra spots.
1 x 32A 3P Ceeform

Other:
1 x 63A 3P Ceeform, upstage facility panel
1 x 63A 1P (L1) Ceeform, upstage facility panel
1 x 32A 1P (L1) Ceeform, upstage facility panel
Please note that the upstage facility panel has a supply and thus total maximum permissible current draw of
63A
1 x 125A 3P Ceeform, substage DSR (cable store)
2 x 63A 3P Ceeform, substage DSR (cable store)
1 x 16A 3P Ceeform, substage USL

Bristol Hippodrome Lantern Stock

Updated March 2011

FoH stock
Please note that the following lanterns form the Hippodrome standard FoH lighting rig. If you would like to
use any of these lanterns in alternative positions, please discuss this with the Chief Electrician prior to your
arrival at the theatre.
18 x Source 4 750W, 15-30
6 x Source 4 750W, 15-30
12 x Source 4 750W, 25-50
4 x Source 4 750W, 25-50
2 x Patt 743 1kW fresnels

Upper circle rear bar (BoD)

Dome
Box Booms
Slips
Tabwarmers

Overstage stock
The following lanterns are available for use overstage, and can be used in combination with the theatres
IWBs to provide a general overhead wash in 3 or 4 colours as required for your show.
32 x 1.2kW Selecon SF1200 fresnels with barn-doors
5 x 4 cell Thomas 1kW Cyc-lite flood battens
4 x 6 lamp par-bars, all lamped with 1kW CP62 medium flood

Followspots
2 x Lycian 1290 XLT professional followspots, with 2kW Xenon lamps

Other
The Hippodrome has a very small selection of older lamp stock, which may be available for use as backstage
working light etc, only after discussion with the Chief Electrician.

Bristol Hippodrome - standard FoH lighting rig

Box head SR (box S)

Box boom SR

Box boom SL

Box head SL (box M)

34 - 36, DMX 5

Wall

Aud

Aud

Wall

38

37

49

50

40

39

51

52

42

41

53

54

43 - 48, IND 4, DMX 6

Source 4 25 / 50

Source 4 25 / 50

31 - 33, DMX 4

55 - 60, IND 5, DMX 7

Dome

Slips SR

Slips SL

253

247

254

248

Grand Circle front rail

255 - 258

249 - 252

67

84
68 - 83, IND 7 & 8, DMX 9 & 10

Tabwarmer

Tabwarmer

Upper Circle front 'auto bins'

61 - 66, IND 6, DMX 8

Upper Circle rear bar (BoD)

7

10

11

12

13

14

15

22
Source 4 15 / 30
16 - 21, IND 2 & 3, DMX 2 & 3

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

Source 4 25 / 50

Source 4 25 / 50

Source 4 15 / 30
IND 1, DMX 1

Bristol Hippodrome - RoH outlet boxes

SR Fly Floor

Stage

SR flys box 6
15A outlets
Socapex

SL Fly Floor

US stage box
15A outlets
Socapex

161 162 163 164 165 166 161 - 166

167 168 169 170 171 172 167 - 172
173 174 175 176 177 178 173 - 178
WHITES BLUES
IND 14
13A Technical power x 2
DMX 15
Ethernet 15

219 220 221 222 223 224 219 - 224

225 226 227 228 229 230 225 - 230
BLUES IND 21, 22, 23, 24
13A Technical power x 6
DMX 19
Ethernet 19

SR flys box 5 - 5kW dimmers

Outlets on 32A & 4 x 15A

US stage box - 5kW dimmers

Outlets on 32A & 4 x 15A

157

158

159

160

231

232

233

SL flys box 3 - 5kW dimmers

Outlets on 32A & 4 x 15A

234

203

204

205

206

SR flys box 4
15A outlets
Socapex
139 140 141 142 143 144 139 - 144
145 146 147 148 149 150 145 - 150
151 152 153 154 155 156 151 - 156
WHITES BLUES
IND 13
13A Technical power x 2
DMX 14
Ethernet 14

SR flys box 3
15A outlets
Socapex
121 122 123 124 125 126 121 - 126
127 128 129 130 131 132 127 - 132
133 134 135 136 137 138 133 - 138
WHITES BLUES
IND 12
13A Technical power x 2
DMX 13
Ethernet 13

SR stage box
15A outlets
Socapex
207 208 209 210 211 212 207 - 212
213 214 215 216 217 218 213 - 218
BLUES IND 17, 18, 19, 20
13A Technical power x 6
DMX 18
Ethernet 18 Riggers

SL stage box
15A outlets

Socapex

235 236 237 238 239 240 235 - 240

241 242 243 244 245 246 241 - 246
BLUES IND 25, 26, 27, 28
13A Technical power x 6
DMX 20
Ethernet 20 Riggers

SL flys box 2
15A outlets

Socapex

191 192 193 194 195 196 191 - 196

197 198 199 200 201 202 197 - 202
WHITES BLUES
IND 16
13A Technical power x 2
DMX 17
Ethernet 17

SR flys box 2
15A outlets
Socapex
103 104 105 106 107 108 103 - 108
109 110 111 112 113 114 109 - 114
115 116 117 118 119 120 115 - 120
WHITES BLUES
IND 11
13A Technical power x 2
DMX 12
Ethernet 12

SR flys box 1
15A outlets
Socapex
85 86 87 88 89 90 85 - 90
91 92 93 94 95 96 91 - 96
97 98 99 100 101 102 97 - 102
WHITES
IND 9, 10
13A Technical power x 2
DMX 11
Ethernet 11 Riggers

SL flys box 1
15A outlets

Socapex

179 180 181 182 183 184 179 - 184

185 186 187 188 189 190 185 - 190
WHITES
IND 15
13A Technical power x 2
DMX 16
Ethernet 16 Riggers

Bristol Hippodrome - FoH outlet boxes

Orchestra Pit

Top

Top

Box boom SR

Box boom SL
SR pit box
15A outlets

WHITES
38

37

40

39

Box head SR (box S)

31
32
33
13A Technical power x 2
DMX 4
Ethernet 4

Slips SR
Dimmer circuits 253 - 258 fed here
from SR pit box via socapex

SL pit box
15A outlets

nb - dimmer circuits paralleled across pit

247 248 249 250 251 252 247 - 252

253 254 255 256 257 258 253 - 258
IND 29
13A Technical power x 2
DMX 21
Ethernet 21

13A Technical power

42

Socapex

WHITES

Socapex

247 248 249 250 251 252 247 - 252

253 254 255 256 257 258 253 - 258
IND 30
13A Technical power x 2
DMX 22
Ethernet 22

Socapex from 247 - 252 feeds SL slips FoH

Socapex from 253 - 258 feeds SR slips FoH

43
45

48

52

53

IND 4
DMX 6 Ethernet 6

46

50

51

13A Technical power

41

44

49

54

IND 5
DMX 7 Ethernet 7

Dome
15A outlets

56

57

58

Socapex

1-6
1
2
3
4
5
6
WHITES
IND 1
13A Technical power x 2

47
Bottom

55

59

60
Bottom

Data
DMX 1

Ethernet 1

Riggers

Grand Circle front rail

67

68

69

70

71

72

IND 7

73

74

13A Technical power x 2

DMX 9
Ethernet 9

75

76

77

67 - 84
IND 7, 8

78

IND 8

79

80

81

82

83

84

13A Technical power x 2

DMX 10
Ethernet 10

Upper Circle front 'auto bins'

IND 6

61

61

62

62

63

63

13A Technical power x 2

DMX 8
Ethernet 8

64

64

65

65

23

24

66

66

26

27

61 - 66
IND 6

Upper Circle rear bar (BoD)

16, 17, 18 also fed
here with TRS

10

11

12

IND 2

13

14

13A Technical power x 2

DMX 2 Ethernet 2 Riggers

15

16

17

18

19
7 - 30
IND 2, 3

Box head SL (box M)

34
35
36
13A Technical power x 2
DMX 5
Ethernet 5

20

21

22

IND 3

25

13A Technical power x 2

DMX 3 Ethernet 3 Riggers

28 29 30

19, 20, 21 also fed

here with TRS

Slips SL
Dimmer circuits 247 - 252 fed here
from SL pit box via socapex

Bristol Hippodrome - Dimmers and outlet boxes notes

All dimmers and independent switch circuits are rated at 3kW, except the labelled 5kW dimmers
All 3kW dimmers output on individual 15A BS546 outlets, and in groups of 6 on 19 pin socapex outlets except in FoH positions
All independents output on a single 15A socket
To obtain the DMX channel number for an independent circuit, add 300 to the number shown on the plans
The 5kW dimmers output on a single 32A Ceeform (IEC60309) socket, and 4 x 15A sockets individually locally protected by 16A MCBs
(C16)
13A (BS1363) technical power outlets are in the form of double unswitched socket outlets with local RCD protection, except on the box
booms where they are single sockets. All are fed from the technical power distribution board off the lighting supply, located in the
DMX points on outlet boxes are 5 pin XLR, fed to a patch bay (with 12 way DMX splitter) located in the dimmer room. From here 4 ways
go to the rear circle control room, 3 of which can be extended to a rear stalls control position if required.
Ethernet points on outlet boxes are ethercon connectors, fed to a patch bay located in the dimmer room. From here 4 ways go to the
rear circle control room, 2 of which can be extended to a rear stalls control position if required.
Sockets for temporary blue and white workers on backstage outlet boxes are provided on 15A outlets, and are switched by the working
light switches located DSR
Riggers points are 5 pin XLR for connection of a riggers remote for the Hippodrome Strand 520, and are all connected to the feed from
the rear circle control room
The orchestra pit dimmers are paralleled to duplicate outputs on the boxes each side of the pit. House socapex lines from these boxes
can feed the FoH slips positions as shown on the plans
Dimmers 16 - 21 on the Upper circle rear bar ('BoD') are not generally used in their output locations as units rigged there block line of
sight from followspot box to stage. Hence house TRS runs from these to the ends of the bar, where extra units may easily be rigged.
The Upper circle front 'auto bins' rigging position is not commonly used, as it required units to be inverted and stand on baseplates.
There are 12 positions only available here, with the six dimmers each feeding 2 positions as shown on the plan.

Bristol Hippodrome - DMX and ethernet patches

DMX
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
A
B
C
D

Ethernet

Location

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

Dome
BoD house left
BoD house right
SR Box head (box S)
SL Box head (box M)
SR Box boom
SL Box boom
Auto bins (house left end)
Circle front (house left of centre)
Circle front (house right of centre)
SR flys box 1
SR flys box 2
SR flys box 3
SR flys box 4
SR flys box 6
SL flys box 1
SL flys box 2
SR stage box
US stage box
SL stage box
SR pit box
Sl pit box
Rear circle control room
Rear circle control room
Rear circle control room
Rear circle control room