Tara Arts Kits Out Purpose-Built Multicultural Theatre with White Light

	Macbeth Photo: Talula Sheppard.

Since it was founded almost 40 years ago, Tara Arts has become one of Britain's most renowned theatre companies. Its productions allow diverse voices to be heard on stage, creating work that fuses East and Western cultures. The company recently moved into a new home in Wandsworth, known as the Tara Theatre. This will be the country's first purpose-built multicultural theatre, housing a 100-seat auditorium and a separate studio space. The team approached White Light, a company local to them, to invest in the very latest lighting technology.

Tom Kingdon, technical and operations manager at Tara, comments: "We are really excited about the new Tara Theatre and the great mix of work this space will allow us to bring to audiences, both old and new. Our intention is for the building to showcase some of the most original work in contemporary theatre. Therefore, it's important that the equipment we have reflects our ambitions. We approached White Light in order to complement our existing lighting stock as well as invest in several new fixtures."

Kingdon met with White Light's business development manager Jonathan Haynes to discuss the specifications of the new space, with Haynes making several site visits and working within both their budget and time specifications.

Kingdon states: "The main investment includes an ETC Ion with fader wing and monitors. From experience, I've found this to be a really user-friendly desk, ideal for the type of shows which we'll be producing. We also invested in a series of ETC Source Four Jrs, Selecon Rama Fresnels and Par 16s. These would all ensure greater flexibility for the visiting lighting designers, resulting in more options when they are working on a show."

With the equipment now purchased and set-up at the venue, it will be used on the first-ever production at the Tara Theatre, which takes place in the autumn.

Kingdon adds: "We are really excited for the opening season and it's fantastic to know that our space is now completely equipped with the latest technology to ensure each show can achieve its potential. I have worked with White Light on several occasions now, and it has always been a brilliant experience -- as it was once again on this occasion."

The company notes this marks another example of White Light working alongside a local venue, with the Tara Theatre less than 15 minutes away from the company's Wimbledon base. White Light will also be working with another local venue, Putney Arts Theatre, later this year as it looks to refurbish its performance space.

Haynes states: "We are proud to be supporting community theatres, in venues which are not only close geographically, but share a similar ethos to our own. By having its own brand new purpose-built theatre, this is a really exciting chapter in Tara Arts' history and we are very pleased to be involved, supplying technical solutions for its diverse range of shows."