The Opera House at Artscape

Opera House
Auditorium
The auditorium seats 1487 with provision for twelve (12) wheelchairs.

There are 23 rows of seats in the stalls and 8 rows on the balcony.

The distance from curtain to back rows are respectively 26.10m and 29.70m

Stage
The Opera house stage consists of the main stage, rear stage, and two side stages.

Stage machinery is controlled from a computerized panel on the first fly gallery.

The Proscenium opening is 15.35m wide and the main stage is 17.1m deep.

There are three stage lifts built into the main stage, each 14m wide by 4.1m deep. These lifts function independently or as combined units and are computer controlled. They can move down 1.5m below, or up 2.7m above stage level.

Each lift has six traps which can open separately or be joined to form one continuous trap.

The stage floor is wood covered and each lift can tilt ten degrees.

The rear stage has a wagon that covers the combined area of the three stage lifts with a double revolve.

The wagon can move forward and be sunk via lifts to provide a turntable facility on the main stage.

There are three side stage wagons, each measuring the same dimensions as the stage lifts, which can move sideways onto the stage either individually or coupled to form one large combined truck and can be sunk via the lifts to become part of the main stage.

Orchestra Pit
The orchestra pit consists of three lifts which can operate separately or as a combined unit. When lowered the pit can accommodate 75 to 80 musicians.

The lifts can be set at three standard levels namely, orchestra pit level, auditorium floor level and stage level to form an apron or thrust stage.

Technical
The fly tower allows scenery to fly up to 21m above stage level. It houses 67 computerised décor battens including 3 cyclorama battens.

The Stage Manager’s control desk is a freestanding unit on stage right.

Electrically operated house curtains which travel vertically and horizontally.

Independent three phase power supply of 120 amps per phase is available.

Emergency back-up for emergency lighting only within eight seconds of general power failure.

Lighting rig operated from a control room at the back of the auditorium, using a Compulite Vecta control desk.

Meyer sound system with a Midas Heritage control desk located in the sound booth at the rear of the stalls.