Last chance to book!

Dear <<First Name>>,

We hope you are well and dealing with the current weather as well as you can!

As mentioned in our previous email, since lock-down began in March 2020, the ABTT has been working hard behind the scenes to continue to provide events, seminars, training and guidance for our members and our industry during this unprecedented time.

Next week, we will be hosting the next in our series of online Webinars 'Creating Theatre in a COVID-19 Landscape' which will take the format of a conversation - with our speakers talking about what practical approaches they adopted to present live performance under current restrictions. Audience questions and contributions will be welcomed to help promote practical solutions on how to produce live events during lock-down. Book tickets ASAP to make sure you dont miss out.  More details below.

Following further relaxation of lock-down the ABTT has been preparing to run its courses once more around the UK. We have been speaking with alternative venues since the unavoidable cancellation of our Summer School at Warwick Arts and have been now confirmed future dates for a Bronze Award Course and Silver Electrics Course in September this year. There are only a few remaining places available for booking so please do get in contact ASAP. More details below.

The ABTT has now released further Guidance Notes free to the industry for working safely post-covid. We have been preparing with widespread assistance from throughout the sector Guidance Note 101, Guidance Notes 102 and Guidance Note 103 (to be read in conjunction with one another). All created to help guide the reopening of places of entertainment. More details below.

Do remember that the ABTT is currently continuing as normal and stands ready to offer any support it can so please do keep in contact via email: office@abtt.org.uk

Kind regards,
The ABTT Team

Creating Theatre in a Covid-19 Landscape
2.30pm - 4pm BST

In this conversation about the practical ways to put on performances during Covid-19 we will be speaking with:

• Lucy Askew Chief Executive and Creative Producer at Creation Theatre Company who have been inviting audiences to watch an interactive, virtual version of Shakespeare's The Tempest - from the safety of their sofa.
• Rachael Duthie - Production Manager for Theatre Alibi who are doing fabulous work at the small scale in and around Exeter, Theatre and dreaming up socially distanced possibilities for live performance.
• Dominic Fraser, Production Manager at The Old Vic who ran the initiative Old Vic: IN CAMERA, combining a run of socially distanced performances of Duncan MacMillan’s LUNGS followed by a major series of rehearsed play-readings, all streamed live from the iconic Old Vic stage with the empty auditorium as a backdrop.
• Ian Garrett
• Bola Stephen-Atitebi, a creative artiste, producer, broadcaster and an entrepreneur. During this Pandemic, Bola is co-producing an intercontinental Digital Theatre play 'The Art Of Facing Fear' designed for Zoom currently running throughout August, 2020.
• Nia Thomson is a Production Manager for National Theatre Wales,  and she manages the coproduction “Network” with  the Sherman Theatre and Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru. This was a series of Digital Commissions and play readings delivered every week between May and July during the Covid lock-down.

Bronze Award for Theatre Techncians

Member’s price: £640 + VAT
Non-member’s price: £740.00 + VAT

The Bronze Award is a five day course which gives candidates knowledge and understanding of best practice, whether they are working in regional rep, touring, multi-art form studios, community theatre, the West End or as a freelancer.

It delivers the first vocational step for professional development to the theatre technician and will provide candidates with an industry recognised qualification equivalent to SCQF Level 7.

This course includes:
–      Manual Handling and Introduction to Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
–     Electrical Fundamentals
–     Knots & Splicing
–     Fundamentals of Flying
–     Safe use of temporary access equipment

Silver Award for Theatre Electricians

The Silver Award for Theatre Electricians course includes:

• Electronics Fundamentals – Part One,
• Electronics Fundamentals – Part Two,
• Electrical Inspection and Testing – Part One,
• Electrical Inspection and Testing – Part Two,
• Electrical Installation
• Portable Appliance Testing.

AutoCad for Theatre Technicians

This online training course is largely based on AutoCAD’s 2D functionality with a short bonus 3D tutorial at the conclusion of the course. It is used within the Theatre industry to develop technical drawings for a range of different uses. If you are on the technical drawing side of set or theatre design, this course is for you.

The course is specifically tailored to the needs of users in a theatrical environment. It consists of six parts and is structured so you can create simple drawings after Part 1. The course will provide you with a foundation of skills, allowing you to use the program straight away and build your knowledge. Each part should take approximately 10 hours to complete, this will vary from person to person as it's structured to allow you to you work at your own pace.

ABTT Covid-19 Return to Work Guidance

The ABTT has now produced 3 Guidance Notes in light o the current pandemic. This guidance is primarily directed to Theatres returning to work in the new normal. (These Guidance Notes are to be read in conjunction with one another.)

Guidance Note 101: COVID-19 Risk Assessments for Returning to Work in Places of Entertainment

Guidance Note 102: COVID-19 Returning to Work Support Information

Guidance Note 103: COVID-19 Production and Technical Departments Safe Working Procedures

We have also been collating other relevant COVID-19 Resources such as DCMS Guidance, working documents, articles and roadmaps for recovery to the Industry alongside financial resources, movements and initiatives that need your help and COVID-secure products that may be of interest.

Other Industry relevant resources such as Sustainability in Live Performance, Diversity and Inclusion and Mental Health and Well-being have also been collated to help our members' find the information they need to help bring about change. These topics are constantly growing and can be located on our Industry Resources page here.

The ABTT is continuing to work hard to make sure that our sector is being supported during these unprecedented times. 

As a registered charity, we are dependent on our membership subscriptions and donations as we do not receive any government subsidy, or regular financial help from local authorities or the Arts Council. If you are able, please pay any outstanding membership subscriptions. If it is possible and you would like to make a donation to support the ABTT in surviving in these incredibly challenging times, we would be extraordinarily grateful.

Any donations will help us in continuing to set and uphold standards in technical excellence, safety and compliance for live performance; to assist technicians and support relevant industry projects.