Back to School with White Light
White Light supplies the lighting installation to the new theatre at Newton Preparatory School

| Esther Heaslip of White Light Sales with Newton Prep's Tim Walford and Frazer Wiseman

Newton Preparatory School, a co-educational school in Battersea, South London, recently celebrated the opening of its magnificent new 288 seat theatre. The opening ceremony was led by renowned theatre director Sir Peter Hall; also in attendance were White Light's Technical Sales Manager, Roger Hennigan, and Assistant sales Manager, Esther Heaslip, marking White Light’s close involvement with the creation of the new venue. During the project’s design phase, the school’s electrical consultant, Phil Whiffin from Engineering Co Partnership, contacted White Light for advice as to how to equip the venue. Roger Hennigan and David Howe from White Light Projects devised a comprehensive, flexible lighting system that suited both the school’s needs and their budget. The theatre’s new dimming system uses four twelve-way ETC SmartPack racks with RCD protection controlled by a Strand 300-series lighting console. An internally-wired lighting grid includes both dimmer and DMX outlets, and there are also dimmer and DMX outlets at stage level. An ETC Unison architectural control system runs the house- and work-lights. The lighting rig is based largely on Selecon’s 650W Acclaim range, including twelve Fresnels, eight PCs, eight 18/34 Profiles and four 24/44 Profiles as well as four Selecon 3-circuit 500W cyc floods. Two Robert Juliat Buxie followspots complete the rig. The electrical contractors were Power Installations and the installation was overseen by Gary Doherty. As well as supplying and commissioning the lighting system, White Light will supply the school with training on the use of the rig through its Training Initiative education scheme. Founded in 1991, Newton Prep is housed in purpose-built premises constructed around an original Victorian building. A £5million development programme started in 1998 expanded the school’s facilities to include an all-weather playing field, a new dining room with kitchen, sixteen new classrooms, art studios and two new gyms as well as the theatre. Further information on Newton Prep School can be found on their website www.newtonprep.co.uk while further information about White Light Projects can be found here on this website. News Page Home Page