Tag Archive: Heritage Arts Company

1. White Light’s Apprenticeship Scheme: Going Underground at VAULT Festival

   5 March 2019 15:56 Leave a Comment

   

   VAULT Festival is London’s biggest, boldest and bravest arts and entertainment festival. Founded in 2012, it is located inside the Waterloo tunnels and annually hosts over 400 shows from over 2,000 artists. It features the best new writing in theatre and comedy along with immersive experiences, late night parties and much more. Since its inception, WL has supported the Festival by supplying the complete lighting and rigging solutions. The Festival is also an opportunity for the company’s apprentices to work on-site as part of the technical installation.

   VAULT Festival is produced by Mat Burt and Andy George of the Heritage Arts Company. Andy, who is also Head of Production, comments: “The Festival exists to provide opportunities for visiting companies to present work. But it also exists to further the lives and careers of those we work with too; hence why we were so keen to get WL’s apprentices on board. It’s an agenda driven by WL’s Managing Director Bryan Raven who wanted to give the apprentices a chance to experience the hands-on, multi-natured, exciting environment of the Festival. Much like he used to do up at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival back when he was first starting out, he wanted the apprentices to experience something that can only be learned ‘on the job’. Fringe festivals can shape the careers of those backstage and behind-the-scenes just as much as those onstage – and we’re no different”.

   

   Prior to the Festival, the apprentices worked with VAULT’s Head and Deputy Head of Lighting to fit up all of their performance and public spaces. There are 11 venues, 5 public areas, and a range of vehicle and pop up venues; all of which are built from scratch. During the festival, the apprentices work with everything from flying in chain hoists and truss, to rigging, cabling, and plotting. They also help deal with tech and dress rehearsals, daily maintenance, troubleshoot when problems arise, help with turnarounds between performances and even operate shows as well.

   Andy comments: “With around 32 different performances per day, this normally includes at least four new shows, so the programme is constantly changing. As a result, a lot of what the apprentices are learning is to work with a wide range of people, challenge particular circumstances and find the best and most efficient ways to problem-solve. This, coupled with the hands-on skills of rigging, cabling, patching and programming means they are gaining hands-on experience of all the necessities of working in the theatre and events lighting world”.

   

   This year’s intake of apprentices have worked once again on this year’s Festival which was the biggest one yet. It opened on 23rd January and will run until 17th March. WL’s Managing Director Bryan Raven comments: “As an organisation, we make it a priority to offer our apprentices training that is both hands-on and  transferable for when they complete their studies and pursue a career within the industry. VAULT Festival provides us with the invaluable opportunity for them to do just this”.

   Andy concludes: “We love working with the apprentices. It’s an opportunity for us to pass on the exciting learning opportunity that the Festival is to people who really thrive and benefit from it. The apprentices form the core of the lighting crew we work with and without their passion, energy and support, the Festival wouldn’t be what it is”.

   Photos courtesy of VAULT Festival.

2. White Light Supports VAULT Festival for Seventh Year Running

   22 January 2019 09:43 Leave a Comment

   

   White Light will be returning to VAULT Festival once again this year to supply the complete lighting and rigging solutions. This will mark the seventh consecutive year that the company has worked on the Festival, having supported it from day one.

   Located inside the Waterloo tunnels, VAULT Festival is London’s biggest, boldest and bravest arts and entertainment festival. This year it will run from 23^rd Jan to 17^th March, with more than 400 shows from over 2,000 artists. It features the best new writing in theatre and comedy along with immersive experiences, late night parties and much more.

   The event is produced by Mat Burt and Andy George of the Heritage Arts Company. Andy, who is also Head of Production, comments: “When we first started the Festival back in 2012, we had no idea it would grow to become what it is today. We initially thought it would be a one off yet the more people heard about it, the more they wanted to come along and get involved. One of our biggest aims has always been to make theatre accessible and remove barriers for our visiting artists. As we know, making creative work for a live audience is always risky but we try our hardest to minimise up-front costs and reward the creative party”.

   

   With the Festival being so committed to supporting its artists, this means it largely depends on the help of other organisations to make itself sustainable. Andy explains: “We are not publicly funded which often makes things difficult; especially when the whole purpose of the Festival is to make theatre financially viable! That’s why when we first started, we contacted WL as we knew about their reputation for supporting emerging artists. Thankfully, they’ve been with us ever since”.

   At VAULT Festival, WL supplies all of the lighting, rigging and power across 16 venues, six bar spaces and six box office areas. This year, they have worked closely with Head of Lighting Sarah Readman who specified the kit required for each area. She comments: “This year, we’ve made a conscious decision to move more towards LED. Not only is this much more energy efficient but also offers our designers more flexibility and reliability. I worked with Senior Account Handler Dan Last who was extremely supportive and helpful; as always”.

   Alongside supplying the equipment, WL also provides the services of its current apprentices who help install everything on-site across an 11 day period. Andy comments: “The apprentices this year, like the previous cohort, are a fantastic bunch who have really gone above and beyond to get everything ready on time.  Across the Festival, they will also take on different roles such as show operator and technician, ensuring they take full advantage of the festival whilst it’s running”.

   

   VAULT Festival opens on Wednesday and the headline show this year is Counting Sheep which visits London after an acclaimed sell-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe.

   WL’s Managing Director Bryan Raven comments: “We are delighted to once again be supporting VAULT Festival. It’s one of the few platforms out there for emerging artists of all disciplines to have their work showcased and is a hotbed for the next generation of theatre-makers. As an organisation, it’s been fantastic to see the Festival simply go from strength to strength and we look forward to continue supporting Andy, Mat and the whole team on what promises to be another memorable year”.

   Photos courtesy of VAULT Festival.