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Staff Blog: Louise Gregory


  • An Tobar Argyll Terrace Tobermory, Isle of Mull United Kingdom (map)

Technical blog, October

With just a couple of weeks until November, I’m deep in the final planning stages for our exciting winter redevelopment work! Thanks to funding from the Charlotte Aitken Trust and Wooden Spoon, we’ll be transforming An Tobar with a new Writers' Studio, Production Studio, and Sensory Space. My days are a whirlwind of contacting builders, balancing the budget, and coordinating with suppliers. Right now, I'm drafting the designs—and, as anyone with an old building knows, battling the wonky angles!

I’m especially excited about the cutting-edge equipment we’re bringing in for the Production Studio, including a new Dante system—the gold standard in audio networking. To prepare, I’m diving into Dante certification training, which is as fascinating as it is technical!

The Writers’ Studio will be a creative haven for visiting writers, complete with inspiring sea views and decor that nods to An Tobar’s history as a school and performance venue. Our Production Studio will offer soundproof recording and editing facilities, where writers can archive their work in an audio library. We’ve even commissioned an artist to create a new mural here! Finally, we’re creating a Sensory Space—a peaceful retreat for anyone feeling overstimulated and a fantastic spot for sensory-seeking kids to explore. It’ll be filled with fiber optic lights, bubble tubes, multi-textured surfaces, and plenty of cozy blankets and cushions.

I’m also gearing up for our technical maintenance period in January—a perfect time to clean, test, and repair all the lighting, sound, and AV equipment we rely on throughout the year. This includes scrubbing down the trusses and lighting bars, ensuring our venues feel fresh and ready for next year’s performances. I’ll also be doing a stock take to identify underutilized equipment, followed by a reorganization of our extensive costume and props collection. Cataloging everything will take a while, but once it’s done, it’ll be a fantastic resource for our community—and a step toward more sustainable production practices!

Looking ahead, I’m thrilled to be planning a special workshop with local primary schools in February. Andi and I will be introducing students to Torchlight Tales, where they’ll get their first hands-on experience with lighting and learn how it can shape emotion on stage. Who knows—maybe we’ll spark a passion in a new generation of theatre technicians!

 

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Staff Blog: Finlay Birch

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5 December

Staff Blog: Calum Hall