Theatre Design & Technology - Fall 1977 - 18

TECHNICAL ORGANIZATION OF THE
KARLSRUHE STATE THEATRE
WALTER HUNEKE

OTTOBRUNN

TRANSLATED BY MARION E. WILEY

UNIVERSITY OF DELAWARE

This article appeared in Buhnentechnische Rundschau, Heft 3 (1976), pp. 13-16, and is reprinted here with their permission. The title of the original is "Die technischen Einrichtungen des Staatstheaters Karlsruhe." [Ed.}
STAGE PLAN OF THE "LARGE HOUSE"
In the planning of the stage machinery the following
tasks were of prime importance:
1. The large house had to be su itable for both musical
and non-musical drama.
2. Besides a variable picture stage for the traditional type
of theatre, the construction of a large "experimental
theatre" had to be possible, without the hindrance of
portals and separation of the stage and audience areas.
3. The technical organization was to be expedited as
economically as possible. No mechanical theatre with
all its subsequent costs was to be constructed.
4. The cost of the stage machinery of the large and small
theatres was not to exceed 4,000,000 OM. This figure
was determined in the planning stage of 1969. From
planning until completion in 1975 there ensued a 100%
increase in the estimated construction costs.
Under these stipulations a staging facil ity has resulted
that can be used for both opera and drama. Neither type
of performance suffers from technical shortcomings or
inadequate visual and acoustic conditions. The stageportal area, that is, the transitional zone between the
stage and audience areas, always causes problems with
dual usage. An opera production requires an orchestra
pit in front of the performance area; whereas a play needs
a performance area which begins directly in front of the
first row of seats.
These requirements were met in this way: the stage
tower with its vertical rigging system was drawn forward
over the orchestra pit, where it begins immediately up
stage of the first row of seats. The safety curtain, which
separates the audience and stage areas into two fire zones,
was also installed here.
The largest stage opening, without the use of a technical portal, has a width of 27.3 meters, including the
side-stage openings. This stage opening is particularly
appropriate for the simultaneous stage. If the side panels
in front of the side-stages are closed on the left and right
sides, the largest opening is then about 23.7 meters
wide and 12.5 meters high.
To make these large openings possible, it was necessary
to construct the light portal towers (bordering the technical portal on the left and right sides) in an unusual manner. They are not suspended or attached to the portal,
but rather provided with guide pulleys, so that they can
be easily moved to any desired spot on the stage. The
towers have a 30 centimeter high floor platform
18

FALL. 1977

(3 x 1.5/.7 m.) under which the guide pulleys are located.
Additional platform levels are located at a height of
+2.7 and +5.2 meters. The tower concealment (a twosided mask) can be operated at heights ranging from
+6.2 to +9.25 meters.
By means of this portal tower solution it was possible
to make the lighting portal bridge almost twice as wide
as usual for walking purposes and to equip it as usual
with lighting instruments. It is constructed as a lighting
portal bridge, a bi-Ievel catwalk, with a height of 7 meters
and a total width of 24.2 meters. The traversable portion
has a width of 18 meters and a depth of 1.1 meters and
is designed with a carrying capacity of 4,000 kilograms.
During productions on a proscenium stage the normal
opening of the portal is between 12 and 14 meters. The
height, which is limited by the portal bridge, is adjustable
within the range of +6.2 and +13 meters. The ceiling
construction over the orchestra pit provides for two collapsible, reflective acoustical baffles. They are adjustable
in height, and they are also supplied with masking.
A proscenium portal for the dramatic theatre can be
assembled over the raised orchestra platforms with the
aid of the two freely movable portal towers; or the portal
can be omitted, depending on the particular staging requirements. The upper limit is achieved by a movable
teaser. The lighting required in the front part of the stage
area is then done by the house lighting bridge, which is
located in the first movable ceiling segment. The variability of this downstage portal zone enables the director
and technical personnel 'to create an area corresponding
to their idea of the production.
To meet the various acoustical conditions already
named by the architect and needed for specific use,
this auditorium ceiling, whose two parts can be raised
or lowered, was fashioned as a lifting element.
Ceiling panel I, with an approximate surface of 25.4 x
6 meters, and a lifting range of +8 to 12 meters is put into
motion by means of electric motors drawing 2 KW.
Ceiling panel II, with a surface of about 25.4 x 7.7 meters
and a lifting range of +7.85 to 11.85 meters, is moved
by means of electric motors drawing 4.4 KW, as a result
of the lighting bridge having a carrying capacity of 3,000
kilograms.
THE STAGE AREA OF THE LARGE HOUSE
The stage area, together with the loft above, is approximately 28 x 28 meters. In thh case, the rear stage (which
is usually lower) was included in the loft area of the main

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