An overview of some of the projects completed by Visual act AB follows. All of the deliveries include engineering, planning and system design as well as follow up and service after installation. (Click on the project name for further info)
Installation
Visual act installed the fly bar system for the new theatre at the Norwegian Theatre Academy at Østfold University College (Akademi for Scenekunst, Høgskolen i Østfold).
The fly bar system was installed together with a compact version of the Visual act Stage Control System. The stage design allows for up to 34 fly bars. 20 of these fly bars were delivered at the installation in November – December 2010.
The delivery included 4 electrical cabinets with 5 drives each. Connectors on the cabinets allow for the connection of a backup control or exchange of drives in the event of component failure.
Each fly bar is built as a double pipe with line adjustment situated between the pipes. This allows for maximum stroke with respect to the limited height in the theatre. A Visual act touring desk is connected to a central control computer placed one of the electrical cabinets.
The manufacture and installation of four ballet floor sections,16 x4 meters, as well as winches and a control system for their storage in the fly tower. The ballet floor is produced as a sandwich construction. After lowering to the floor the four segments are connected with a system of pneumatic actuators to form a seamless performance area.
Each section of ballet floor functions as a 3D object with 2 axes. The move from storage to the stage is in two segments. The first segment is operated without any rotation. When the floor section is at a suitable height the second segment starts and the floor rotates. The floor reaches a position parallel to the stage floor as or just before it meets the stage. The software is structured so that motion can start or stop at any position and in any direction and be resumed at any time.
Visual act supplied the drive and control systems for the new theatre at Kvæsthusbroen. The above-stage machinery includes 57 fly bars, 15 point hoists and 6 lighting bridges. The bars have a net capacity of 500 kg at 1.8 meters per second. The below-stage machinery includes four stage elevators, 4 x 16 meters with a 5-meter stroke, moving at 0.5 meters per second. Visual act has also supplied Spirolifts for the orchestra pit, hydraulic drives for the backdrop elevator, fire curtain and 3 acoustic doors, as well as a complete screw jack system for a 16 x 16 meter compensating elevator.
The control system is fully redundant and designed to meet the latest safety standard, EN 61508. A total of 5 operator desks were installed. The control software was integrated with a maintenance management system, allowing quick access to system documentation and diagnostic information. The hydraulics was supplied in close cooperation with BoschRexroth AB.
Visual act renovated and upgraded the stage machinery at Old Stage. A completely new control system with an upgrade of existing stage machinery and some new machinery was included.
Visual act upgraded the existing system of stage wagons at The Het MuziekTheater. These wagons are about 2.7 x 14 meters and are used in groups of 1 to 5. The wagons rest on air castors. Previous to the Visual act installation the wagons were moved manually by the use of air-operated “movers” or tractors. Each wagon weighs about 6000 kg and has a load capacity of 6000 kg. The original wagons have been modified to accept Visual act Advanced Wagon components. It is possible to operate the wagons along preprogrammed paths by remote control. The wagons can be assembled in up to two groups of up to 5 wagons, or 4 groups of up to 2 wagons and has all the features of the Visual act Advanced Wagon system – including wireless control and accurate navigation.
In addition the transport system includes two sets of standard Visual act Advanced Wagon components. These can be installed in wagons built by the theatre for scenic transport or effect.
Wagon
Visual act delivered components for 7 advanced stage wagons and 1 advanced desks for use in the Roma Music Theatre.
Visual act together with HOAC executed an order for stage wagons to the famous Buff Theater in St Petersburg. The order contained 6 pieces off Visual act Advanced wagons (2×3m) with dual laser navigation scanners together with 2 operator desks and mobile Servers.
In co-operation with HOAC, Visual act delivered components for 4 advanced stage wagons and 2 advanced desks for use in the TDM St Petersburg in June 2009.
A system of 10 advanced wagons for use on the Kremlin Palace stage and on tour. The system includes two separate control systems so that productions can take place in two venues simultaneously. The 1.5 x 1.5 meter modules can be extended by using standard HOAC aluminum profiles. The local contractor was Mossib IB.
Visual act delivered 4 Analog radio controlled wagons with integrated turntable to Helsinki City Theater for the musical “Wicked”. This fairly new musical was first shown in New York 2003 and is opening the 26 August in Helsinki. Director is Hans Berntsson and set designer Mikael Varhelyi. The 4 wagons incorporate the main set and will be travelling along 2 diagonal tracks with a possibility to rotate at the same time.
3D, stunt, performer and camera flying
The collaboration between Stuntgruppen, Face Off and Visual act has resulted in that the Visual act system was used in the ‘Grand Opening of Ferrari World’ on November 30 in Abu Dhabi.
The show was performed using the Visual act Stage Control System and 8 of our standard winches, each with a load capacity of 250 kg, 2,0 m/s and 60m stroke. The show was produced by the German production company Battle Royal Productions, and Seth Ericson from Stuntgruppen was the operator.
The famous children book “Karlsson-on-the-Roof is sneaking around again” (Karlsson på taket smyger igen) from the Swedish author Astrid Lindgren comes alive in a new musical at the Oscars Theatre.
A fly system was delivered including 4 winches for 3D fly with speeds up to 1m/s carrying a load up to 100kg. An extra winch was delivered for a separate vertical fly at same speed and load as the 3D system. This allows for Karlsson-on-the-Roof to fly at the same time as “Little brother” another character in the musical.
Velocity Stunts Ltd supplies stunt rigging and camera movement services for Hollywood and international film making. Visual act supplied a 3-dimensional flying system capable of speeds of 10 meters per second. The system controls direct drive 150-meter stroke winches from Waagner-Biro and be used to fly stunt performers as well as film and TV equipment.
Visual act provided a sophisticated camera flying system for Eurovision 2010 in Oslo.
Event
Visual act supplied the stage technology for various parts of the opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Astana. The delivery included rental, installation and operation of 3D flying systems and various wagon systems comprising over 60 axes of motion.
The closing ceremonies for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver included an artistic presentation by the 2014 host country, Russia. With the help of Visual acts design and engineering teams the project’s artistic team’s vision was realized. Visual act was responsible for project management, a moving mechanical sculpture called Troika, Zorbs, costumes and several other props that were used in the show. To move the enormous Troika a Visual act Analog Wagon was reconstructed to fit the purpose of the show.
Visual act provided Stage automation for The Eurovision Song Contest 2009. Visual act was the main contributors to the show and was responsible for project management, stage construction, rigging, mechanical sculptures, LED arrays etc.
Stage and scenery
2 Visual act Advanced Wagons was used in this production of My fair lady. Visual act partner Philipson & Franck delivered the complete set and all stage technology.
MTG (Modern Times Group) produces the classical game show ”Wheel of fortune” together with Swedish lottery “Miljonlotteriet”. Visual act was responsible for the stage design, engineering and installation.
Visual act delivered the set design for a new musical: ‘Living life’ (Leva livet) at Chinateatern, the first Swedish pop-musical since the production of Mama Mia. Visual act worked in close collaboration with the set designer Rikke Juellund to adapt the stage design to the China Theatre and built and installed the complete set and stage technology.
The set design consists of large gold-colored walls that are ideal for the projections that the show contains. In order to create playing surfaces sliding doors were created in the décor, this allows the big props to be rolled in/ out when necessary. The stage design also included props such as; a fountain, a large dividable kitchen desk and a spa Jacuzzi among other things.
Visual act delivered the complete stage set for the theater production “Romeo and Julia”. The design includes a backdrop, sliding room dividers, mechanical constructions and enormous tree trunks with hundreds of magnolias that bloom within seconds.
The tree trunks were built by using similar techniques as boat builders do. Internal wooden frames were covered by foam, then glass fiber and gelcoat to get the rustic look of a tree. The magical flowers are powered by an intricate pneumatic system fitted inside the trunks.
Visual act delivered the stage set for the musical based on the 1959 film “Some Like it Hot”. The huge set design contains a life size automated Pullman wagon.