h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Whereas The Grand Opera House in Belfast regularly has musicals like Grease or Mama Mia, and an annual pantomime, as well as concerts by singers like Brian Kennedy, or performances like Tap Dogs where the stage floor is miked - all of which definitely have sound technicians involved.

I'd think it would be a major omission not to mention something about this aspect

Okay, I see where one problem has arisen: the Belfast Grand Opera House is now a general theatre, which puts on short seasons of opera (like the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin). It's no longer really an opera house as the term is used internationally. I've footnoted the introduction to clear that up.

I've added a mention of the pit extending under the stage.

I've added the term 'the nosebleeds' for the high balconies.

I've added a sentence about closed circuit tv in the modern improvements section.

Ive added a mention of lighting, with a couple of sentences about natural sound being the norm, with mikes only for radio or tv broadcasts.

I don't want to mention the rake of the stage: I don't think it can be taken for granted with all the modern additions like trains, lifts and revolves. Also, I was certainly under the impression that ballets were normally danced on a flat stage, and I've mentioned at the beginning that most opera houses now do ballet also. It seems more usual now to increase the rake of the auditorium rather than that of the stage, so I think it's better to leave it out altogether.

I likewise would prefer not to go into any more detail about the Green Room or Stage Door etiquette, as I don't want the entry to get much longer!


Azara

I think the headers 'The Stalls', 'The Boxes', 'Mid-level Galleries' and 'High Galleries' should be subheaders since those are, strictly speaking, sub-sections of the auditorium.

The Coliseum has CCTV throughout the building, even in the canteen so that you can be sitting down there (and I do mean *down* there - it's way down in the basement) having your tea and buns, and never miss a cue, whether you're a stagehand, a techie or a performer

Yes, BH, it's more logical to have those as sub-headers, not headers.
Changed.
Extra sentence about more widescale cctv added.

Azara

great idea for an entry

How about adding something about the use of sur-titels, if you're focussing on opera productions?

I know you don't want to make the entry much linger, but...

I do have a couple of sentences about surtitles already, under the headers Renovations/Public Areas: I thought that would be the best place to group all the modern additions. Is that bit not clear enough?

Azara

Sorry, my fault, I hadn't seen that bit.

I read this this morning before havig to spend much of today backstage in a theatre (a very titchy one, it has to be said). which is apropos of nothing except to say I still like this!

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Well done!

What he said

yaaaaaaayyy!

Thanks, everyone!


Azara

etc.