The John Labatt Centre

When Scenework sat down with Ellis-Don Construction and the City of London, we were presented with the challenge of turning an arena into a full-fledged theatrical performance space. Our participation was to design and install a fully working stage baton system that would accommodate a variety of shows.

The challenge was to create a fly system that could quickly and easily be installed (deployed) into the arena. This fly system would be incorporated with a portable stage system and would allow the area to be transformed into a theatre.

The answer was the thirty (30) line set counter weight system that would be deployed from the underside of the permanent grid sixty (60) feet above the arena floor. The system was broken down into three (3) hinged wall frames each containing ten (10) 1200 lb capacity counter-weight line sets.

When not in use, each of the pipe batons are removed and the wall frame containing only the counter arbors would be winched up and store under the existing grid by means of a 400 lb dual drum motorized winch.

When deployed the wall frames would create a complete thirty (30) line set counterweight system similar to what is found on professional stages.

The empty arbors would be sent to the grid with the control lines. The pipe batons would then be attached to the lines, loaded with scenery or lighting. The arbors would then be lowered by means of a portable capstan winch to the arena floor and balanced with counter weights thus creating a traditional counter weight line set.