News: Solutions On Stage Performs Remedial Works at MADS Little Theatre

Formed in 1947 above a butcher’s shop in the town centre, Macclesfield Amateur Dramatic Society (MADS) was created with one main purpose – to foster and promote theatre in Macclesfield by giving local people the opportunity to perform on stage. Fast forward almost eighty years and the Society is still going strong, having now produced over 250 main season productions, along with several one act shows, studio pieces as well as festival entries. Since 1954, MADS’ home has been a purpose-built ‘Little Theatre’ situated on Lord Street and has been upgraded accordingly over the years; now even boasting a bar and lounge area. Following a mechanical inspection conducted by Solutions On Stage, the company was asked to carry out some remedial works within the theatre’s main performance space – to ensure it was safety compliant.

Solutions On Stage was first contacted by MADS Management Member John Chandler back in 2023, to carry out some initial remedial works. They were asked to return the following year, in order to conduct the venue’s annual mechanical inspection. John explains: “As an amateur dramatics society, we hold ourselves to the highest industry standards – not just in terms of the performances but also the venue in which we perform. We needed the Solutions On Stage team to compliance check all of the bars, winches and ropes above the main stage, as well as the bars in the auditorium and studio”.

This inspection was carried out by Solution On Stage’s Technical Director Darren Williams, with the team uncovering several mechanical issues, as well as equipment - such as the original Hemp Set bars - that was non-compliant to the latest industry standards. John comments: “Regulations and standards, when it comes to theatre compliance, can often be a minefield! That’s why it was so great to see how communicative and transparent Darren and his team were when it came to explaining the situation, what needed repairing and how they were going to do this. They were also very accommodating when it came to our budget, as well as the time-frame in which they needed to deliver this”.

The Solutions On Stage team shortly returned to MADS Little Theatre where they spent three days carrying out the remedial works. Darren explains: “In terms of the unrated trussing with poor suspensions, we supplied and installed four new suspensions, from back-to-back Unistrut channel cantilevered off the main structural steel into the roof space. These suspensions comprised of 6mm OD steel wire rope, bottle screws, shackles and 50mm bar clamps. For the advanced lighting bar, we supplied and installed four new suspensions from the same Unistrut, whilst for the front-of-house lighting booms, we re-fixed them to the walls using Doughty ceiling saddle/universal coupler arrangements.

He continues: “We also had to update the existing curtain track, which meant supplying and installing four new suspensions from the existing truss grid. Finally, with the Hemp Sets, we supplied and installed replacement aluminium bars of a 48.3mm OD and 4mm wall thickness. Once these were in-place, we then tested the unrated static bars, before labelling accordingly with a safe working load and providing certification for all works”.

The remedial works are now complete and have made a significant impact to the Little Theatre, which has just announced its latest season. John states: “We were delighted with the service that Solutions On Stage provided and will continue using them for our annual inspection moving forward. They’re a very friendly and helpful team who go above and beyond; giving us the peace of mind that our theatre is now safety compliant”.

Darren concludes: “As a company, compliance lies at the heart of everything we do. It’s our role to work with venues such as MADS Little Theatre to demystify what can often be confusing safety regulations and ensure they’re aware of what needs to be carried out – and then put in place a plan in which this can be delivered. We really enjoyed working in such a beautiful and historic venue and are delighted to see the impact our work has had”.

MADS is a wholly volunteer run charity producing quality live theatre for the Macclesfield area. For more information, go to: www.madstheatre.org