Birmingham’s Crescent Theatre installs Soundcraft Vi1

SSE recently supplied one of the first Soundcraft Vi1 digital live consoles to the Crescent Theatre in Birmingham.

The sale came about after technical staff from the Theatre visited SSE’s headquaters in Redditch last summer. They were looking to replace a Soundcraft K3 analogue console and initially enquired about a Soundcraft Si2.

The theatre, which is located in Birmingham Centre Centre, required a console that could be operated with little experience by the many visiting company crews that come in to use the space.

SSE Sales Manager, Richard Watts arranged a demo of the newly-released Soundcraft Vi1 digital mixing console, which was conducted by Deep Purple engineer, Gert Sanner.

“The Crescent staff decided there and then on the Vi1 and I had an order the next day.” says Richard.

The Vi1 was one of the first to be installed in the UK.

Three months after the console was installed, Richard Watts visited the theatre and caught up with Deputy Technician Supervisor Syd James to see how things have gone.

“He was singing its praises! They are very happy with both the console and SSE’s service, which is great” says Richard.

Syd added: “We have a high turn around of visiting companies, many with their own crews. We only have to give them a quick 30 minute ‘show and tell’ of the desk and they are up and running with the basics. I am then on hand for the more complicated programming.”

The Crescent is one of Birmingham’s oldest theatre companies, operating from a purpose built theatre in the Brindleyplace development. It has a membership in excess of 250 actors, technicians, set designers, etc. and stages upwards of fifteen productions a year. The theatre has a 340 seat plus main house, a 120 seat studio theatre along wth rehearsal rooms and a spacious bar.

• www.soundtech.co.uk/soundcraft
• www.soundcraft.com/products/product.aspx?pid=176
• www.sseaudiogroup.com/
• www.crescent-theatre.co.uk/