Following huge success last year, the much-loved ABTT Theatre Show is set to return for its 44th edition once more at Alexandra Palace on 5th and 6th June.
FREE to attend, this popular industry event connects thousands of visitors with many of the biggest names in theatre and live entertainment.
With demand through the roof, the show floor will be bigger than ever with over 150 brands showcasing their products and services. In addition, there will be more activities including Skills Workshops, Training, Seminars, Demonstrations, CV Surgeries, Career Advice and FREE Hearing Tests.
The ABTT Theatre Show always attracts a broad range of visitors at all stages of their careers alongside an ever-increasing list of exhibitors from all areas of the industry!
Running over two summer days, it is THE essential meeting point for our community, giving the Industry a chance to meet face-to-face in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere which provides a hot-bed for new discussions, connections, knowledge and productivity.
The ABTT is always keen to acknowledge achievement by Industry practitioners and recognise new products making an impact. As such,we will be hosting our ABTT Awards at 6pm on the first day of the show in the Londesborough Room. Generously supported by TAIT, all exhibitors and visitors are invited to join us for a drink and to celebrate the achievements of their peers.
Both exhibitors and visitors always report that the conversations that take place at the Theatre Show are one of the most important aspects of the event. To encourage this dialogue and allow discussions to carry on into the evening, there will be additional food and drink options available around the west terrace as the sun sets on the first day of the show.
What’s on?
Seminars: As always, the two-day event will include a wide range of FREE inspiring seminars on the latest industry topics which run alongside the busy show floor. Last year’s programme included sessions on “The Future of Theatre is AI”, Es Devlin’s“Staging in the Wilderness”, “The Art and Craft of Comms”, “Automation:Creating Moments that Move People”, “Teaching Technical Drawing in Education”plus “Sound Design from Script to Stage”, “The Voice of the Next Generation” and many more. This year’s programme will be announced soon!
Skills Workshops: The ABTT will once again be providing a wide variety of hands-on skills-based sessions, including taster sessions from the ABTT Bronze Award for Theatre Technicians. Last year, attendees learnt how to tie a variety of different knots, were taught get-in and get-out essentials,how to correctly store and handle drapes and electrical inspection and faultfinding! Details for the 2024 sessions will be released shortly!
Demonstrations: There will also be opportunities for technical equipment demos on many of the exhibitors stands, as well as in the Palace Suite where ROBE will be putting on educational taster sessions about their automated followspot system. Visitors will be able to learn how to set-up and program RoboSpotTM which is a great chance to test out the system.
Careers and Education: The Theatre Show is the perfect opportunity to network and speak with specialist exhibitors on the show floor. Visitors can check out the popular “Education Alley” and “Associations’ Aisles” where they can find out about courses, apprenticeships, training, career development and more.
The popular “Careers and Professional Development Hub” will be returning for its third year, providing a focused location where those in their early career can make sure they have all the latest tips, tricks and practical advice to help them land that all important next role!
Visitors will be able to learn about the different jobs and schemes, networking with the most influential creatives in the business, with opportunities this year to meet key universities, colleges,associations and apprentice employers face-to-face; to have their CV’s reviewed or to sign-up for 1-1 meetings with key industry figures.
Additions for 2024: This year the show floor will also include a destination for Wigs, Hair and Makeup as well as Costume specialists. This stand will be support by the ABTT WHAM and ABTT Costume Committees.
Who’s there?
With thousands of visitors and exhibitors from all sectors of the Theatre and Live Entertainment world, anyone who would like to know more is welcome to join them - expand their professional network and discover what's new in the Industry!
Lighting professionals can look forward to ROBE offering product demonstrations and RoboSpot taster sessions in the Palace Suite. They will be joined on the show floor Lighting brands including: ADB Stagelight, Anolis Lighting, CHAUVET Professional, City Theatrical, Clay Paky, Coemar Lighting, CP Wave, Encore, ETC, GDS Pioneering Light, Gobo Plus, Highlite International, LED Technologies, Martin Lighting, Mushroom Lighting, and Robert Juliat.
Top of the line sound, AV and comms brands present include Acoustic Design and Architecture, Adam Hall, AED UK,Amber Sound, Atlas Show Control for Spatial Audio, Audio Visual Material,Autograph Sound, Clear-Com, d&b audiotechnik, DPA Microphones, EM Acoustics, HD Pro Audio, Hollyland, JBL Professional, KV2 Audio, Meyer Sound, NEXO, Orbital Sound, Point Source Audio, Polar Audio, Raycom, Riedel Communications, Shure UK, Sound Technology and Stage Sound Services.
Specialist solution providers in rigging, engineering and staging technologies will also be in attendance, such as Centre Stage Engineering, Doughty Engineering, Ewart Richardson Design Limited, George Taylor Lifting Gear, igus®, North Star Engineering, Resolution Production Services, Rigging Team, Steeldeck Industries, TAIT, Total Solutions Group, Triple E, Unusual Rigging, WhirlyReeler and XM Automation.
Key companies offering seating solutions will also be present, such as Aresline, Audience Systems, Ezcaray Seating, Ferco Seating Systems, Figueras Seating, Sedia Systems and Stage & Tiers.
Technical Suppliers such as A&M Productions, AC-ET, Entedi, Henley Theatre Services, PRG, Steve Myers LTD and White Light have also taken stands on the show floor, ready to welcome visitors.
Pioneering products will be on show courtesy of Drapemakers, Harlequin Floors and J&C Joel, and don’t forget to check our specialists in their field: 2scale.shop, Aluminium Access Products, Ampetronic, Blue Lemon,Flints Theatrical Chandlers, Hayles and Howe, Health and Safety Executive (HSE),Just FX, Locker & Riley, Mayr Transmissions, MDG Fog, Preevue, RB Health and Safety Solutions, RWS Global, Scenic Supplies, SES Entertainment Services, Smartrad Creative, Solutions on Stage, Stageset.shop, Test Event, The Experience Department and Vectorworks.
Visitors can check out “Education Alley” where Academy of Live Technology, Falmouth University, Guildford School of Acting (GSA), Guildhall School of Music & Drama (GSMD), London Academy of Music & Dramatic Art (LAMDA), Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), Rose Bruford College, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Stage-in-a-Box and Wimbledon College of Arts eagerly await to speak about training, courses and more.
Opportunities to speak with those recruiting and offering apprenticeships will also be available with Backstage Centre, Celebrity Cruises, Delfont Macintosh,Disney Cruise Line, LW Theatres, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises, Royal Opera House and Royal Caribbean International all present to talk about career opportunities.
Those attending will also be able to touch base with their Associations and Unions, with the Association of British Theatre Technicians (ABTT), Association for Lighting Production and Design (ALPD), Association for Sound Design and Production (ASDP), Broadcasting Entertainment Communications and Theatre Union(BECTU), Freelancers Make Theatre Work, Institute of Sound Communications and Visual Engineers (ISCVE), Production Managers Forum (PMF), Society of British Theatre Designers (SBTD) and Stage Management Association (SMA) present and looking to connect with their members.
ABTT Events Manager, Elysia Moore, comments,
“It is the 44th edition of the ABTT Theatre Show this year and the event just keeps on getting bigger! The Theatre Show prides itself on growing to meet the Industry’s needs. We will be presenting tailored seminars covering essential topics, building on the popular Skills Workshops introduced last year to promote the need for continuous education and continuing with the in-demand Careers and Professional Development Hub which helps to join the dots between employer and potential employee and guide visitors on the next steps in their career..
2024 sees more exhibitors on the show floor than ever before and I am delighted that the ABTT Theatre Show remains such a popular event with our visitors too. We are privileged to be able to provide a platform for our industry to discuss, share, reconnect and be inspired. We cannot wait to return to Alexandra Palace in on the 5th – 6th of June!”
ABTT CEO, Robin Townley, added,
“We are very pleased that the ABTT Theatre Show continues to serve the theatre and live performance sector so effectively. It is tremendous that the event recovered so promptly after the pandemic and that we have seen major growth over the last three years. We very much hope we shall continue to offer our exhibitors and visitors a uniquely useful show, with a tremendous atmosphere and at which everyone can rekindle their excitement and passion for being part of live performance.”
The ABTT Theatre Show will take place from 5th-6th June at Alexandra Palace, London.
Register for FREE: https://www.abtt.org.uk/abtt-theatre-show/register-now/
Find out more: https://www.abtt.org.uk/abtt-theatre-show/
