FEATS 2019 Munich 2019 - Technical Data Package
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Munich 2019
Technical Data Package
FEATS 2019
Munich – Ottobrunn
Thursday, May 30 – Sunday, June 2
Table of Content
Welcome and Introduction 1
Organising Committee 1
Participating Groups 2
Adjudicator 2
General Information 3
Overview of Key Deadlines 3
Venue 4
Access and Security 4
Fire Precautions and Safety Regulations 4
Insurance 5
Theatre Visit 5
The Rules of the Competition 6
Participation and Performance Slot 6
Play Selection and Performance Rights 7
Performing Rights (Music) 8
Timing and Penalties 8
Crew for Rehearsal and Performance 9
Presentation 10
Interpretation of the Rules 11
On the Day of Performance 12
Provisional Timetable 12
Arrival and Reception 12
Load-In 12
Pre-rehearsal briefings 13
Rehearsal period 13
The Evening Performance 14
Timing 15
Starting and timing the Performance 15
Ending the Performance 16
Load-Out 16
Photography 16
The Stage and Theatre Facilities 17
General 17
Stage 17
Proscenium 18
Stage Extension/Apron 18
Stage Floor 18
Stage Elements 18
Stage Manager’s Console 18
Flying 18
Dressing Rooms, Stage Wings and access 19
Lighting 19
Lighting systems 19
Pre-rigged re-focusable specials 20
Further specials 21
Lighting console 21
Proscenium 21
Sound 22
Location of Speakers 22
Microphones 22
Multicore 22
Set-up and Operation 22
CD Player 22
Own Sound Equipment 22
Provided Playback System by Entity Theatre 22
Audio File Types 22
Audio File Quality 22
Fog and Haze 23
Additional Equipment 23
Cyclorama 23
Video Projection 23
Adjudication and Awards 24
Public Adjudication 24
Private Adjudication 24
Written Adjudication 24
Awards 24
The Stage Management Award 24
The British All Winners Festival 25
Fringe 25
FEATS Program details 25
Appendix 26
Provisional Time Table 26
Stage Plans 27
Lighting plans 29
Lighting visualisations 31
Change History 34
Wolf-Ferrari-Haus – Technical Rider 34
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Welcome and Introduction
Welcome to FEATS 2019 hosted by Entity Theatre and the FEATS 2019 Technical
Data Package.
Whether you are new to FEATS or an old hand, this data package aims to provide you
with all the information you need to organise your performance. Don’t worry if you
have never stage managed at FEATS before, the Festival Stage Management Team
(FSM) is there to help you put on the best show you possibly can, provided you take
our instructions to heart, the most important of which is: DON’T PANIC
FEATS 2019 will be held from Thursday, May 31, 2019 until Sunday, June 2, 2019 at:
Wolf-Ferrari-Haus
Rathaus Platz 2
85521 Ottobrunn
Germany
https://wfh-ottobrunn.de/
+49 89 60808300
Please read this data package carefully and contact us if you have any questions.
feats2019-fsm-team@entitytheatre.org or +49 175 2242467
Organising Committee
Chair Jenni Mikulla jenni.mikulla@entitytheatre.org
Stage Manager Tom Hafner tom@entitytheatre.org
Secretary Jen Blastorah jen.blastorah@entitytheatre.org
Hospitality Christine Fuss christine.fuss@entitytheatre.org
Roxey Lau roxey.lau@entitytheatre.org
Your primary points of contact for this Technical Data package and participation in
the Festival are:
Tom Hafner, Festival Stage Manager
Christine Fuss, Festival Assistant Stage Manager
Supporting Tom and Christine Backstage to ensure you have a safe and rewarding
experience:
Daniel Plappert
Ashok Vasudevan
You can contact the Festival Stage Management Team on
feats2019-fsm-team@entitytheatre.org
Version 1.1 Page 1 of 34
Participating Groups
ACTS Anglophone Collaborative Theatre of Stuttgart !
ECC English Comedy Club
"
EDGS English Drama Group Salzburg
#
ESOC ESOC Theatre Group
!
GEDS Geneva English Drama Society
$
MFP Munich Feminist Project
%
NEAT New English American Theater
!
NWTC New World Theatre Club
&
SEMI-CIRCLE
$
TAGORA
'
Theater de WAANzin
"
University Players Hamburg
!
Adjudicator
Jan Palmer Sayer will adjudicate FEATS 2019. More information about Jan can be
found at https://www.godauk.org/.
Version 1.1 Page 2 of 34
General Information
The Technical Data Package (TDP) contains all the information you will need to
ensure a safe and successful production during the festival. Please read this data
package carefully and contact us if you have any questions. All this documentation,
as well as relevant revisions, will be available on the FEATS 2019 website, https://
www.feats2019.com/.
To ensure the Festival runs smoothly, there are a number of online questionnaires to
be completed by participating groups for various sections relating to your
production. These can be found on the Feats Management System (FMS), accessed
with your group’s password. Simply go to fms.feats.eu, log in to the Group area, fill in
the appropriate questionnaire in the tabs online before the given deadline and
remember to save all pages. Please complete these questionnaires within the
specified time deadlines. It is important to note that changes to the questionnaires
will no longer be possible after the deadline dates.
Overview of Key Deadlines
Please take note of the deadlines listed below and complete all your questionnaires in
the Feats Management System (FMS), fms.feats.eu.
Deadline Task
Sun 16th Dec 2018 Provide name and author of play and whether this is an
original script
Sat 12th Jan 2019 Complete "Play and Performance Tab"
Sat 26th Jan 2019 Provide name and contact details of your Stage
Manager.
Sat 2nd Mar 2019 Sign up for theatre tour (or let Stage Manager know
that nobody from your group will be joining the tour)
Sat 2nd Mar 2019 Complete "Stage and Set" tab
Sat 2nd Mar 2019 Complete "Lighting" tab
Sat 2nd Mar 2019 Complete "Sound" tab
Sat 2nd Mar 2019 Complete "Video and Projection" tab
Sat 9th Mar 2019 2 (two) copies of the play script to be mailed
Sat 9th Mar 2019 Upload lighting plan(s)
Sat 16th Mar 2019 Complete "Programme tab"
Sat 16th Mar 2019 Complete "Copyright Tab" & upload a scanned copy
including performing rights and cuts.
Sat 16th Mar 2019 Upload programme photographs and logo
Sat 27th Apr 2019 Return programme proofs with corrections/updates
Version 1.1 Page 3 of 34
Sun 5th May 2019 Submit the final list of names & responsibilities of cast
and crew for backstage badges. (or confirm that the
details on the programme tab are still correct.
Venue
The Wolf-Ferrari-Haus was opened in 1986 and is located in the centre of Ottobrunn
this is about 14km south-east of Munich. It is designed as multicultural centre and
used for different activities like theatre, concerts, performances, musicals, comedies
or other events. There is a restaurant and beer garden on site and there are other
restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, banks and a taxi stand nearby. It is named after
Italian composer Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari who lived in Ottobrunn since 1915. He was
partially one of the five best opera composer – after Mozart, Wagner, Verdi, Puccini
and sometimes before Strauss.
Access and Security
The Festsaal (auditorium and backstage areas) will be open, with technical staff,
from 8.00 a.m. to midnight on each day of the Festival. Although English is not their
native tongue, most technical staff from the Wolf-Ferrari-Haus speak English. Should
you experience any communication problems, please contact members of the
Festival Stage Management Team.
Access to the backstage area of the theatre will be restricted throughout the festival
to authorised personnel in possession of the correct colour coded backstage passes
for the day in question. While rehearsals are in progress, only members of the group
currently rehearsing are allowed in the auditorium and backstage.
Each participating group must list names and responsibilities of all group members
who will require badges for the rehearsal on the FMS Programme Tab by 16 March,
2019. Amendments to this list are possible until 5 May, 2019. Entitled to a badge are
the director, the cast, the Crew-of-Five, the van driver, lighting crew, sound crew,
make-up, costumes, props, plus any other members assisting during the two-hour
rehearsal period. Badges will only be issued to people on the list who have a genuine
reason for being backstage during your rehearsal period. Badges are only valid for the
day of your group’s performance.
Unfortunately, even the badge system cannot ensure complete security backstage.
We encourage you, therefore, not to leave any valuables unattended backstage,
including the dressing rooms.
Fire Precautions and Safety Regulations
The Wolf-Ferrari-Haus is a public building and is subject to all German safety
legislations. This means that any safety requirements imposed by the Theatre staff
must be followed. There will be a fire inspector present.
No one under the age of 18 may work as crew or support team members, either on
stage or back stage.
Version 1.1 Page 4 of 34
All crew members assisting during the loading/unloading of set pieces and properties must wear flat, slip-resistant, enclosed footwear throughout the rehearsal period and during the performance. Smoking is not permitted anywhere in the Wolf-Ferrari-Haus and no live flames or smoking are allowed during productions. All scenery must be fire-proofed; i.e. scenery should extinguish by itself when a naked flame is applied and subsequently removed. Scenery material used must be classified as B1 (flame resistant – schwer entflammbar). Please bring data sheets of materials used to fire-proof scenery when available with you. All aspects of safe working will be monitored. These include areas such as: soundly constructed scenery, effective stage management, safe setting and striking, avoiding tripping hazards, being prepared for foreseen potential hazards (e.g. breaking glassware) etc. There are no restrictions on the use of replica or toy firearms during productions in Wolf-Ferrari-Haus. However, cap guns or starting pistols should not be fired because the resulting smoke is likely to trigger a fire alarm. For the same reason, naked flames and pyrotechnics may not be used in FEATS 2019. Insurance All participants – cast, crew, and support staff alike – take part in the festival at their own risk. The FEATS 2019 Organising Committee will accept no responsibility for accident, injury or loss on the theatre premises or elsewhere. You are therefore strongly advised to take out insurance to cover any loss, damage, injury and third-party liability for the duration of your stay in Munich/Ottobrunn. Participants from outside Germany are also advised to check that their members have appropriate health insurance. Each participant is responsible for insuring its personnel, scenery, costumes, properties and transport. Theatre Visit A theatre visit is arranged for Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Please let the festival stage manager know via email, by the deadline listed in FMS, if you would like to attend. Directions to the Wolf-Ferrari-Haus can be easily found on Google Maps. Version 1.1 Page 5 of 34
The Rules of the Competition
The rules that appear below apply to your play and performance for FEATS 2019 in
Ottobrunn/Munich.
(1) The FEATS 2019 Organising Committee has appointed a Festival Stage
Manager whose decisions on backstage matters, including timing, are final
and binding on all participants. Authorised personnel from the theatre are
entitled to intervene at any time, for whatever reason, in the interests of the
physical safety of all persons within the building.
(2) Each participating group will present:
a) A complete play, or
b) An extract from a play, provided that this extract is intelligible to any
member of the audience who may not have seen or read the full play (note
that written and/or spoken synopses are not permitted), or
c) some other form of theatrical performance approved by the Organising
Committee.
(3) The language of the production must be English.
(4) No group is permitted to submit more than one competing entry to the same
FEATS.
(5) No member of a participating group may be paid for taking part in FEATS.
(6) Under no circumstances is any Participant permitted to attempt to influence
the Adjudicator in any way or to communicate with her in any dispute. Any
attempt may result in a disqualification.
(7) The filming, video or tape-recording of any performance, even for personal
use, is expressly forbidden during the public performance.
(8) Failure to comply with any of these rules of competition could lead to
disqualification from part or all of the competition.
Participation and Performance Slot
In determining the order of plays on each of the nights of the festival, the Organising
Committee has to take a variety of issues into consideration, be they technical,
practical, or have to do with genre-mix, length of plays etc. Acceptance of the
invitation to participate in FEATS and payment of the Performance Bond will be
considered full agreement by any Participant, without exception, to perform in
whichever slot on whichever evening is allocated by the Festival Stage Management
team and Organising Committee. Requests for specific performance slots cannot be
considered. Once the Organising Committee has publicised the running order, no
further changes will be made. The running order will be announced to all groups and
published on the FEATS 2019 website https://www.feats2019.com/ in April 2019.
Version 1.1 Page 6 of 34Play Selection and Performance Rights
If two or more Participants submit the same play, or a play, which was performed at
FEATS 2018 or if the Organising Committee considers a submitted play to be
unsuitable, for whatever reason, the Participant(s) will be advised by the Organising
Committee in writing and invited to reconsider their choice. If a Participant insists on
its original choice, the Organising Committee reserves the right to take whatever
decision it considers to be in the best interest of the Festival. This may include
replacing the Participant(s) and returning the Bond(s).
It is the sole responsibility of the Participant to obtain permission for use of all
copyright material, of whatever nature, and to pay any royalties, which may be due.
Similarly, if any copyright material is altered in any way, it is the sole responsibility of
the Participant to supply evidence that the owner of the copyright has granted
permission for the alteration(s). Performance licenses and any such evidence of
permission to perform and/or use and/or photocopy material must be uploaded in
the “Copyright tab” in the FMS. Failure to do so may result in removal from the
festival and forfeiture of the full performance bond.
Two copies of the entry script as it is to be performed, for use by Organising
Committee and Adjudicator must be sent by mail to be received by 9 March 2019 to
Entity Theatre:
Entity Theatre e. V.
Postfach 83 03 25
81703 München
Germany
feats2019-orga@entitytheatre.org
If the participating group has permission to copy the published script, they may scan
and email one copy of the script to the Festival Chair and this will be forwarded to
the Adjudicator.
An Original Script is defined as one being used in an original production, and in which
the original production has had its first public performance within the previous two
years or at the current FEATS; and it must have the director, set and interpretation
that it had when first performed in public, although individual cast members can
have changed since that first performance. Photocopies of this script are acceptable
to submit, should you be working with an unpublished original script. In this case, the
author must indicate agreement to the script being photocopied for use at
FEATS 2019.
A scanned copy of the written performance rights (or author’s written permission in
the case of original scripts) must be uploaded to “copyright tab” on the FMS by
Saturday, 16 March 2019.
The FEATS Steering Committee changed its rules regarding the number of original
scripts to a maximum of four entries per Festival at the FSC meeting during
FEATS 2018, with effect in FEATS 2019. The four scripts will be chosen by drawing
them out of a hat. Groups should be aware that if they propose an original script
which is not selected, they should have a fall-back plan to produce an alternative play
Version 1.1 Page 7 of 34which is not an original in the FEATS sense (please check the FEATS website
feats.eu/foh).
From indication given by invited groups there will be no drawing this year.
Performing Rights (Music)
In Germany, all rights to music used on stage are handled by GEMA (www.gema.de),
(Society for Musical Performing Rights). GEMA charges theatrical companies by
length of musical pieces played. Payment is due unless the music played is an original
piece, and the composer has granted its use; or if the piece is copyright free AND the
musicians playing it have granted free use of their art.
Participating Groups must list the names and performers of the pieces they intend to
use, and the exact length they will be playing them in the Copyright Tab in FMS.
Participating Groups are responsible to ensure they have paid the fees for their music
performing rights to GEMA prior to their performance. Documentation of this
payment must be on hand during participation in the festival. Non-Germany based
groups who require assistance with obtaining their music performing rights through
GEMA should contact the festival stage management team (feats2019-fsm-
team@entitytheatre.org).
If you want to use original or copyright free music in your performance, and the
artist(s) playing it has/have waived their fee, please make a written statement to
that effect available to us (to be included in the Copyright Tab).
Failure to provide required written performance rights or other copyright
permissions may result in disqualification from the Festival and forfeiture of the full
Performance Bond.
Timing and Penalties
Each entry must be at least twenty-five minutes (25) in length and may not exceed
fifty (50) minutes. This time includes scene changes during performance but
excludes the time spent in setting and striking as specified below. The theatre staff
and/or the festival management team will control the opening and closing of the
main curtain. Timing will finish when the last cue is called, but the curtain closing
time will not be counted within the 50 minute limit.
The Participant shall start the performance within one (1) minute of receiving the
cue from the Festival Stage Manager to do so. Timing of the performance starts with
the first cue given by the Participant stage manager and ends with the last cue, e.g.,
close curtains. If the first cue is not given within the one minute, timing will
automatically start at one second thereafter.
Failure to adhere to these time restrictions will result in the following penalties:
A performance of less than twenty-five minutes or exceeding fifty minutes:
Up to 1 minute 1 penalty point
Version 1.1 Page 8 of 34Up to 2 minutes 2 penalty points
Up to 3 minutes 5 penalty points
Up to 4 minutes 10 penalty points
Up to 5 minutes 15 penalty points
More than 5 minutes Disqualification from First, Second
and Third best play awards
The time allowed for setting the opening scene is ten (10) minutes and for striking
the set at the end of the performance is five (5) minutes. Failure to adhere to these
time restrictions will result in the following penalties:
Up to 1 minute 1 penalty point
Up to 2 minutes 2 penalty points
Up to 3 minutes 5 penalty points
Up to 4 minutes 10 penalty points
Up to 5 minutes 15 penalty points
More than 5 minutes Disqualification from Stage Management award
More than 10 minutes Disqualification from Stage Management award
as well as disqualification from First, Second and
Third best play awards
Crew for Rehearsal and Performance
Each Participant will be allowed a two (2) hour rehearsal period at a time to be
determined by the Festival Stage Management team. The rehearsal period may be
used by the Participant in any way it deems fit. No member of any other group will be
present during the rehearsal period.
There are no restrictions on the number of pre-registered Participant support staff
who may assist during the rehearsal period, as long as they have tasks to do and are
wearing official crew ID badges issued by the Festival Stage Management.
In addition to the cast of the play, a maximum of five (5) persons can be designated
by the Participant as its stage crew (Crew-of-Five) for the performance. The Crew-
of-Five can include members of the cast or other support personnel. Only the Crew-
of-Five will be permitted backstage to set and strike the scenery during the evenings
performance. This relates to the period immediately before, during and after the
performance and not the two-hour rehearsal period. Backstage is defined as the
acting area, the wings and rear stage area. Additional personnel who shall not be
deemed as part of the Crew-of-Five comprise:
a) Lighting and sound staff, who are permitted to enter the backstage area if
their sound and lighting duties so require;
Version 1.1 Page 9 of 34b) Properties, prompt or costume personnel, provided they do not contribute in
any way, either verbally or physically, to the setting and striking of the set,
unless nominated as one of the Crew-of-Five;
c) Support personnel who remain in the dressing room during setting and strike.
No one under the age of 18 may work as crew or support team members, either on
stage or back stage.
All crew members assisting during the loading/unloading of set pieces and
properties must wear flat, slip-resistant, enclosed footwear throughout the rehearsal
period and during the performance.
Presentation
For FEATS 2019, the Organising Committee will provide a theatre together with the
basic equipment of a well-run professional theatre. The Organising Committee is not
obliged to undertake provision of properties and/or equipment over and above those
identified in this Data Package.
The use of all property and equipment, including but not limited to scenery,
furnishings, lighting and sound equipment brought by the Participant, is subject to
the approval of the Festival Stage Management team at all times and must comply
with all necessary fire and safety regulations (see General Information section).
Participants are entitled to bring such scenery and properties as they consider
essential to their production. Box sets will be permitted but there is no guarantee
that they can be flown. On the day designated to a Participant for performance, its
scenery will be stored in the area assigned by the Festival Stage Management and as
specified in this Data Package. Any flown pieces may be mounted and flown during
the two-hour rehearsal period allocated to the respective Participant, subject to
availability of the bar and to the decision of the Festival Stage Management, but all
such pieces may have to be removed from the bars and placed in the assigned
storage area during the five minute striking period, subject to the discretion of the
Festival Stage Management. Note that height restrictions apply to flown items (see
section 5).
Lighting and sound representatives from the Festival Stage Management and
theatre staff will be available to assist with programming the lighting and sound
boards during the two hour rehearsal period. The Participant is responsible for the
control of the lighting and sound equipment during the performance.
Each Participant is responsible for ensuring that its lights are correctly set, that the
curtain is opened and closed at the required times, that its scenery is correctly set
and struck within the time allocated and that clear and concise cues are given to
theatre staff and/or to the relevant Festival staff.
Each participant is responsible for informing the Festival Stage Management if they
intend to use any special equipment that needs to be set up by individuals not in the
participant's Crew. If the Festival Stage Management considers it necessary to place
limits on the proposed effects, the Participant will be advised in due time.
Version 1.1 Page 10 of 34Interpretation of the Rules
1) Decisions of the Organising Committee, including the Festival Stage
Management Team, concerning interpretation of these rules and on all
matters relating to the running of the Festival will be final and binding on all
Participants.
2) Entity Theatre is the sole body legally and financially responsible for
FEATS 2019. In any dispute arising between a Participant and the Organising
Committee the decision of the Organising Committee will be final. The FEATS
Steering Committee may use its goodwill to resolve differences, but shall not
have the right to over-rule the Organising Committee.
3) As regards permission to use copyright film, television or video material
during the performance, please see section Play Selection and Performance
Rights. As regards the technical implications of such use, the prior permission
of the Festival Stage Management is required.
4) In case of infringement of the FEATS rules, it is possible that 100% of the
performance bond could be retained by the Organising Committee.
If you have any questions about the rules, please contact the Festival Stage Manager
Tom Hafner (feats2019-fsm-team@entitytheatre.org).
Version 1.1 Page 11 of 34On the Day of Performance On the day of your performance it is importance that you keep to the schedule. As a general rule it is better to be a little early than being too late. Timing of rehearsals will be rigidly adhered to. Be aware that your two-hour rehearsal starts at the given time, regardless of whether cast and crew are present. The starting time of the first performance of the evening is set at 7.30 p.m. There will be a twenty minute intermission after each performance. The adjudication for the day follows after the last performance. Provisional Timetable See Appendix Arrival and Reception On the designated performance day, at the Load-In time, the designated Group will come to the theatre (hospitality desk) and be met in the theatre lobby by a FEATS volunteer. Groups will then be issued badges and the load-in procedures will be discussed and commence. The driver may stay with the van near the unloading area and a member of the group can sign for and pick the driver’s badge. Load-In The Load-In Area is located at the back of the building. Exiting from A8 to Ottobrunn follow the signs to Wolf-Ferrari-Haus. Don’t turn right into Rathausstraße, you need to use the next road. Turn right into Am Bogen (coordinates: 48°03'54.8"N 11°39'57.9"E or 48.065221, 11.666071). There are two ways into the venue. Either via the loading dock or directly into the freight elevator. Using the direct way into the elevator the set will exit on the opposite side of the elevator. Using the loading dock the set needs to move around a corner, therefore larger set pieces will move easier via the direct way. The freight elevator is 4m long, 1.3m wide (narrowest point) and has a height of 2m. Theatre staff and/or the festival stage management team will operate the elevator. No personnel may remain in the elevator during its operation. The elevator will bring the Groups set into the stage right area and the stage. There is a door with a height of 3.3m and a width of 1.5m. There are 4 trolleys with size 1.25m × 0.8m and 2 large trolleys with size 1.75m × 0.8m available. Each group will be assigned an area backstage to store their set and scenery. This area is a rectangle of 2.2m × 1.5m. All of the group’s set and set pieces, including props, must fit into this rectangle. Festival Stage Management team will show you to your allotted storage space. This area will be clearly marked. Scenery can be leant against a wall if necessary. Space is limited. Version 1.1 Page 12 of 34
Groups will need to move their van immediately after unloading to a parking area nearby. As finding a parking area may be difficult and take some time, we strongly encourage groups to have a van driver who is not performing as light or sound technician, or one of the cast, so that the rehearsal is not delayed. The Group's stage manager, lighting and sound crew members will meet with the Festival Stage Management and the remainder of the cast and support crew will finish the unloading and load in, and then be escorted to the dressing rooms. Pre-rehearsal briefings Before rehearsals begin, the Group’s Stage Manager, Lighting and Sound crew members will meet with the Festival Stage Management Team to complete a final verification of the light and sound requirements and answer any technical questions. Attendance at this meeting is mandatory for the stage manager, lighting and sound crew members. Following the meeting with the Group Stage Manager and technical crew, there will be a short meeting with the Group’s entire cast and crew on the stage immediately before the two-hour rehearsal slot. As a safety and procedures briefing will be given, attendance by full cast and crew for this meeting is mandatory. Rehearsal period Each group is allocated a two hour rehearsal period on the day of their performance slot (see the provisional timetable) during which all facilities of the theatre and all staff are at the group’s disposal. In order to keep the entire festival on schedule, the designated two hour period will start as scheduled whether the group is ready to begin or not. The groups may use this two hour period in any way they choose. All rehearsal activities, including setting and striking the set, setting and focusing any lighting specials, setting lighting cues and sound levels, and fixing and testing any scenery to be flown must take place during this time. Times trials for setting and striking under festival conditions can be carried out on request. Only members of the performing group, the Festival Stage Management team and the theatre's own staff will be allowed on stage and in the auditorium during the two hours period. Groups can have as many crew members as needed during the rehearsal period, provided they have been issued badges. The rules on the Crew-of- Five apply only during the set and strike for the performance. At the beginning of the rehearsal period the set must be in the storage area. At the end of the two hours, Groups must leave the stage empty and clean, having returned their set to their storage area. Each group only has access to their set in the backstage area during the two hour rehearsal period, so any emergency repairs to the set must be performed during this period. During the two hour rehearsal period, the lighting board will be programmed either by the participating group themselves, or Theatre staff under the direction of the participating group's lighting person. During your performance, the lighting board will be operated by the group’s lighting crew member. Version 1.1 Page 13 of 34
During your two hour rehearsal period, the sound equipment will be programmed either by the participating group or the Theatre staff under the direction of the group’s sound person. During the performance, the sound board will be operated by the group’s sound crew-member. Groups must operate the sound and light boards on their own during the performance. Should Festival Stage Management team members or theatre staff provide active support during the performance, scoring for the Stage Management Award will be reduced. Any requests for the Festival Stage Management team to support the operation of theatre equipment during the performance will result in disqualification from the Stage Management award and will be taken into consideration for all other festival awards. If any set pieces or scenery is to be flown, it must be secured to the fly bar during the 10 minute set period and removed during the 5-minute strike period. Theatre staff will operate the fly bar and this time will not count towards the groups set and strike period. Each group will be provided with a different coloured spike tape to mark the positions of their set on the stage during the rehearsal period. Only the tape provided by the Festival Stage Manager is to be used. Props tables will be provided on both sides of the stage for group usage. All props have to be kept in the storage area until the ten-minute setup period before the performance. Personal props may be brought on by the actors during performance. Perishable props (food, drink, flowers) can be brought to the performance by one of the Crew-of-Five. The Evening Performance Please remember that while this is your show, this is also a competition! Therefore, all rules have to be strictly followed so that all groups work under the same conditions and the final adjudication is fair. Twenty minutes before the start of the performance the entire competing crew and cast (including lighting and sound operators) will assemble in the assigned dressing room and wait until called to the stage by the Festival Stage Manager. From the start of setting to the end of striking, no group members apart from cast, stage crew and lighting and sound personnel are allowed on stage or in the sound and lighting booth. The Crew-of-Five (normally the group stage manager plus four) will be called first and is allowed ten minutes to set the stage and props. During this closed curtain period, only these five people will be allowed on stage. The group sound and light technicians may only set up sound or lights that are required on stage during this time; all else will already have been programmed during the rehearsal. They are not allowed to help with setting or striking the stage, unless they are also named as members of the group’s Crew-of-Five. This is true also for actors who are only allowed to help with set and strike if they have been named as members of the Crew- of-Five. Version 1.1 Page 14 of 34
No scenery may be moved from the off-stage storage area before the timing has
started.
There is no restriction to the number of backstage support staff (make-up,
wardrobe, props, prompt). None of them may help with set and strike, however,
unless listed as a member of the Crew-of-Five.
Timing
Once the group Stage Manager has indicated to the Festival Stage Manager that the
Crew-of-Five is assembled and ready to start, they will be given the GO by the
festival Timekeeper.
Timing will begin at this moment and will continue until the Group Stage Manager
informs the Festival Stage Manager that the stage is set. No further adjustments to
the set are allowed after this point, except for safety reasons.
Starting and timing the Performance
When the stage is set, there will be a period of about five minutes during which the
group’s cast will assemble in their starting positions. The main curtain will remain
closed during this time.
• The Group Stage Manager will be asked if the group is ready to start.
• The Festival Stage Manager will obtain front-of-house clearance.
• Responsibility to start the show will then be formally passed over to the Group
Stage Manager who will have one minute to give the first cue for the show. This
first cue must be the one agreed on with the Festival Stage Manager in the pre-
rehearsal management meeting.
• The Group Stage Manager must cue the house lights to come down and back
up after the performance, but this will not be considered as the first cue for
starting or timing the performance.
Timing will start at the first cue (sound, curtain, etc) and will end with the last cue
that has been agreed upon (curtain closing, etc.) Music may continue after the house
lights are turned on and will not count in the timing.
The theatre staff and the Festival Stage Management Team will not take any
initiative in the running of the show unless action is required for safety reasons.
The theatre staff and/or the festival stage management team will operate the main
curtains and Fly Bar. Cues to open and close the curtain must be given to the theatre
staff and/or the festival stage management team by the Group Stage Manager. The
Fly Bar cannot be operated during the performance and must be brought into
position by the theatre staff during the 10 minute setting period. The cue to do this
must be given by the Group Stage Manager.
Version 1.1 Page 15 of 34Ending the Performance
No curtain calls are permitted. Once the curtains are closed, the cast will vacate the
stage immediately. The cast may only remove personal props and no other items.
There will be a short pause for the group’s Crew-of-Five to assemble backstage.
• The Festival Stage Manager will give the cue to start striking to the Group
Stage Manager, at which point timing will start. Five minutes are granted for
striking the set.
• All scenery and props, including any pieces that are in front of the curtain line,
must be cleared off the stage and returned to the storage space. This includes
any attachments to the stage and to the Fly Bar
• Timing will end, once the Crew-of-Five have finished, re-assembled and the
Group Stage Manager confirms that all is complete.
Tape Markings onstage are not considered part of the set and can remain on stage.
The Festival Stage crew will remove them.
Load-Out
Immediately after the evening’s performances and adjudications are complete, the
groups must begin their Load-out. Load-out will schedule for the groups is indicated
in the provisional time-table. The theatre staff and/or the festival stage management
team will operate the elevator. No personnel are permitted to stay in the elevator
during its operation.
Photography
No photographs or video recordings are permitted at any time during the evening
from 7 p.m. onwards. Participants may take photos or make recordings during their
two-hour rehearsal slot provided this does not affect safety or interfere with the
work of the theatre staff or the Festival Stage Management team.
The Organising Committee reserves the right to take photographs during the
rehearsal period (under the same conditions as outlined above). If the rehearsing
group does not wish any photos to be taken during their rehearsal, they should
indicate this to the Festival Stage Manager at the beginning of the rehearsal period.
Version 1.1 Page 16 of 34The Stage and Theatre Facilities General Please read carefully the information below and complete the FMS accordingly. In addition to the appendix, all stage diagrams and lighting diagrams can be found on the FEATS 2019 website. A plan of the acting area of the stage can be found in the appendix and in the FMS. Other information is available on request for groups with technically demanding productions. In addition to the Festival Stage Management team a number of theatre staff will be available during the rehearsal and performance periods. The auditorium and backstage areas will be open, with technical staff, from 08.00 a.m. to midnight on each day of the festival. The theatre's technical staff speak German and English, and several members of the Festival Stage Management team are German and speak English. The decision of the Theatre Stage Manager is final in all matters concerning the use of equipment. The Festival Stage Management's decision is final on issues where the organisation and running of rehearsals and performances are concerned. Throughout this pack, and in the theatre during the festival, the British definitions of stage right (SR), stage left (SL), upstage (US) and downstage (DS) will be used. In other words, if you are standing in the middle of the stage facing the audience, SL is to your left, SR is to your right, US is behind you and DS is in front of you. Signs in English will be placed backstage to help you find your way around. Stage The appendix contains diagrams with stage dimensions. The stage and apron together are divided into 9 reference areas: USR / USC / USL / CSR / CS / CSL / DSR / DSC / DSL. Please refer to these areas in your plan submissions in the stage plans and lighting plans tabs in FMS. The effective acting area, which will be lit with the standard lighting set up, measures approx 8.5m wide (portal width is 9.4m) by 6m deep. The maximum height of scenery is limited to 4m. In addition the Stage Extension in front of the main curtains is usable (see below). A black curtain covers the back of the stage area. A cyclorama will be right behind the curtain on the same flybar, but only on evenings which include plays using it. Groups requiring a cyclorama (Opera weiß, 5m × 10m) may request this in their stage plans submission. Curtain and cyc are attached to flybar DZ9. See the lighting plot in the appendix. Main curtains will only be operated by theatre staff and/or the festival stage management team, under direction of participating group’s stage manager or a member of their crew. Version 1.1 Page 17 of 34
Proscenium As can be seen on photos of the Wolf-Ferrari-Haus website, the wall of the proscenium is white. Please check the lighting section for more details. Stage Extension/Apron A stage extension will be in place. This gives Groups more acting space towards the audience. The apron is rounded and extends between 2.5 and 3m beyond the curtain. Please be aware that the Stage Extension is in front of the main curtains. Groups planning to put scenery in front of the main curtains should plan accordingly. Stage Floor The stage floor is wooden and painted brown. The state of the floor allows actors to go barefoot. (Only actors! Stage crew must wear suitable footwear at all times!). Scenery may be attached to the stage using stage drills or screws. The use of staple guns is strictly forbidden, as the tacks tend to remain in the stage and might lead to serious injury. You will have to remove all screws completely during your strike time. The stage extension in front of the main curtains uses parquet flooring (light brown). All scenery must be free standing. Screws or anything else that damages the parquet flooring is not allowed. Stage Elements Stage Elements of size 2m × 1m are available and can be set at heights 0.2m, 0.4m, 0.6m, 0.8m, 1.0m. Please request early on. Stage Manager’s Console The Stage Manager’s Console is located stage right. The Stage Manager can communicate over headsets to the Tech Booth. The theatre will provide headsets and groups may not use their own headsets. Flying There are Fly Bars available and approximately 5.5m above the stage. This means anything flown on the Fly Bar will be visible to the audience at all times and would not be flown out of view. The Fly Bar could be used for simple set or scenery pieces, which are easy and quick to attach and remove, and would be necessarily viewed by the audience. Groups may fly scenery or set pieces but the Fly Bars cannot be moved or operated during the performance. Only the theatre staff will operate the Fly Bars, before and after the performance. Attaching scenery to the Fly Bar will be part of the Group’s 10 minute setting time. Dismantling scenery or set pieces from the Fly Bars will be part of the Group’s 5 minute strike time. Please coordinate with the Festival Stage Manager early regarding requirements for cables, slings and other securing devices. Version 1.1 Page 18 of 34
Rigging items, which are considered unsafe will be rejected by the Festival Stage
Management Team, or the theatre staff, causing you to perform without,
perhaps, a vital piece of your set!
Dressing Rooms, Stage Wings and access
Dressing room accommodations are limited in the Wolf-Ferrari-Haus. Six Dressing
Rooms (4 small, 1 big, 1 medium) are available. Groups will be assigned to their
dressing room upon arrival for their load-in and rehearsal. Please ensure that the
dressing rooms are left clean and tidy at the end of each day.
Whilst every attempt is made to control access to the backstage area, no guarantee
of security can be made, and neither the FEATS organising committee no the Wolf-
Ferrari-Haus staff can accept responsibility for loss or damage to Groups personal
property. It is therefore recommended that no valuables are left unattended
anywhere in the theatre and that group or personal items are insured.
No smoking is allowed in the dressing rooms or anywhere inside the theatre.
Access between Stage Left and Stage Right wings is possible from behind the black
curtain, which hangs at the back of the stage. There is another way from Stage Right
to Stage Left outside the Stage. The dressing rooms are located through a short
corridor with stairs. Nearest entrance to the Stage from the Dressing Rooms is Stage
Right.
Lighting
The Light Tech booth is located behind the audience in the balcony area with good
view of the stage. The audio mixer is located just outside the tech booth, with a clear
windowless view of the stage. The booth is able to accommodate one lighting crew-
member. The booth has full communications with the stage manager’s console.
The outside area for sound is able to accommodate one sound crew-member.
There is a considerable distance between lighting and sound boards; therefore,
you will likely require separate people to run lighting and sound.
Lighting systems
The main stage will be divided into nine areas; three areas each on the apron
(downstage), centre stage and upstage. (See appendix figure 3).
See appendix figures 5 and 6 for the lighting plot. Following light systems will be in
place:
• Straight front light, tungsten ETC Source4 (fixtures 1–9)
• Mixed straight & diagonal front light, LED, ETC Colorsource DB (Deep Blue)
(fixtures 11–22)
• Tungsten diagonal fill (31–34)
Version 1.1 Page 19 of 34• Backlight: two systems of backlight on centre and upstage zones, clear (fixtures
41–46) and cool – probably Lee201 or 281 (fixtures 51–56). Currently planned as
Par64 with diffusion filter, but may chance to different fixtures.
• Toplight: four tunable white LEDs above apron (61–64)
• Sidelight: limited high sidelight system, two fixtures each for apron, centre and
upstage areas. Only the centreline has reasonably full coverage. (71–76)
• Low front fills: 2kW and 2.5kW Niethammers in the auditorium. (81–84)
• Moving lights: total of ten; six in the Front Of House and four above stage. Two
each on Z-Bridge and VZ2 in auditorium. Two each on flybars DZ1 and DZ6
above stage. One each on the two box rails either side of apron. (101-106 and
111–114)
• Cyclorama: the cyc can be rear-lit by Elation ColorChorus units. They will be
placed on the floor and hung from flybar DZ11. (preliminary numbers 201–205
and 211–215; these may change)
The moving lights (Varyscan P18 from JB Lighting) are intended to cover a fair
number of requirements for specials. We encourage you to use them. Especially in
the interest of minimising focus and maybe hang time during rehearsal, so that you
may concentrate more on artistic aspects.
In case the effects capabilities of the P18 may be interesting for your production,
please research the luminaires on the JB Lighting website. (Features include CMY
colour mixing, fixed and rotating gobos, animation wheel, framing shutters.)
The fixed systems outlined above will not be refocused or re-geled for the duration
of the festival, with the obvious exception of the moving lights.
Pre-rigged re-focusable specials
In addition to the fixed lighting systems, some further lights may be refocused by the
groups. These are also marked in the plot with an asterisk (*) instead of a fixed focus
position. To avoid potential conflicts with other groups performing on the same
evening, it is necessary that you request the use of those fixtures ahead of time.
Please indicate how you intend to use/focus them.
• Low Sidelight rail units: carts on a rail system, three each SL and SR. Each cart
has one 1kW Niethammer profile at 3.15m above stage level, and a 1kW ADB PC
at 4.4m above stage. (131–136, 141–146).
• Tower to left and right of the portal: each has two tungsten profile spots and
one ETC ColorSource DB unit. (121–123 and 126–128)
• One Niethammer HPZ 215 each at P2–SR and P2–SL (Pillar 2 stage-left and -
right) (151, 152)
Furthermore, a follow-spot is available, located above the lighting booth. You will
require a separate operator to use this during your performance.
Version 1.1 Page 20 of 34Further specials In general, we encourage the use of the moving lights if their hanging position is about right for your purpose. However, if not, further specials may be requested. We endeavour to hang such specials before the groups' rehearsal periods. However, due to limits on available fixtures, space or weight capacity on the flybars/trusses, this may not be possible. In that case, your specials will have to be hung during your rehearsal period. If you request specials for which this is likely to happen, we will notify you. Focusing of specials must be done during the two-hour rehearsal period under direction of the Group’s technical team, supported by theatre or Festival technical team. Further lights in the venue's inventory include: • Elation Sixpar300. These are 6-colour units: R, G, B, amber, white, ultra-violet. • Par64 Floor Spots • ADB 2kW Fresnel units, THH 2002 JHF. • ETC Colorsource DB, available with 15–30˚ optics or with fresnel adapter. Lighting console The Wolf-Ferrari-Haus uses a state of the art ETC Gio@5 lighting console together with an EOS fader wing with 20 motorised faders. The ETC board, together with the fader wing, allows both for cue-by-cue operation as well as submaster operation, depending on the preference of the Group’s lighting person. Submaster operation may not allow the full use of the potential of LED fixtures and moving lights. The Gio@5 will be running at least EOS software version 2.8, possibly newer. The participating groups are allowed to program the board themselves, however an experienced programmer will be available any time to help with programming or to program the board under the Group’s instructions. During performances, the board will be operated by the participating Group’s lighting crew-member. There will be an experienced operator/programmer present throughout performances to help with any possible technical problems, but will not be operating the board for the group during the performance. Proscenium Unusually for a proscenium stage, the audience-facing side of the proscenium wall is white. The fixed lighting systems try illuminate the white walls as little as possible, since they could otherwise become a distraction. If, however, you plan to use the white walls to your creative advantage (e.g. by lighting them intentionally), please let us know in advance. The reason for this is that the venue is considering the construction of removable black covers, however we don’t know whether they will be ready by the time of the festival. Version 1.1 Page 21 of 34
Sound The mixing desk is a Behringer X32. It is located behind the audience in the balcony area just outside the tech booth with the lighting console. There is a considerable distance between the sound and lighting boards; therefore, you will likely require separate people to run sound and light. Location of Speakers There are speakers located at the front left and front right of the stage. Additional speakers for onstage/monitor can be provided and need to be requested early on. Microphones Microphones are available for use like for offstage voices. Please request early on. Multicore An analog multicore cable with 24in and 12out connects to the stage. Set-up and Operation During the Group's two-hour rehearsal period, the sound equipment will be set up by the participating group's sound technician and the festival stage management team or theatre personnel. During the performance, it will be operated by the group's sound technician - and only if absolutely necessary - by Festival Stage Management or theatre personnel. CD Player A double CD player is provided. Own Sound Equipment Groups can bring their own sound equipment such as a laptop computer. It is recommended to disable all system sounds and set the output level high. Provided Playback System by Entity Theatre Entity will provide a retina MacBook Pro (15”, 2013, i7, 16GB RAM) with a full QLab 4 License that can be used to run sound and video projection. You can bring your audio files on a USB stick. Please make sure those audio files are playable on macOS. Audio File Types AIFF, WAV, CAF, AAC, MP4, M4A are recommended. MP3 is supported but is not recommended because of inherent timing problems. Audio File Quality All groups should listen critically to the recordings they plan to use on a high-quality sound system beforehand. Discovering that recordings have problems (perhaps the Version 1.1 Page 22 of 34
effects of compression, or have excessive noise) when played through the Theatre's sound system, will be disappointing and you may not have time to fix the problem! Fog and Haze There are two Smoke Factory Data II Fog Machines as well as two Look Unique 2.1 Hazer available. Please coordinate early on with the Festival Stage Management. Additional Equipment If the groups bring any electrical equipment to use in their performance, it must comply to CE standards and must be 230 Volts. However, the head electrician and/or the technical director of the venue reserve the right to deny usage of any equipment considered not to be safe to operate and/or does not comply with german rules and regulations applicable to the venue. Any decision made by the head electrician and the tech director on this matter is final. Cyclorama A cyclorama is available. A black curtain covers the back of the stage area. Groups requiring a white projection surface (Opera weiß, 5m × 10m) may request this in their stage plans submission. The surface will be attached to the same fly bar. Video Projection The theatre has a EiKi LC-XT3 10000 ANSI Lumen projected from the back of the auditorium with a native resolution of XGA (1024×768) for images and video. Connections via VGA, DVI, HDMI and Display-Port are supported. The projection surface is adjustable with a zoom lens. At maximum the throw angle of the projector will hit the top of the portal. Version 1.1 Page 23 of 34
Adjudication and Awards
Public Adjudication
At the end of each evening the adjudicator will present a general appraisal of that
evening's performances to the entire audience. The Feats Stage Team asks your
permission to use an item from your set to decorate the stage for the adjudication.
Private Adjudication
The morning following the performance, the adjudicator will meet each group
individually for a more comprehensive adjudication and critique.
Written Adjudication
For a fee of €40 it is possible to obtain a short written summary from the adjudicator.
This fee must be paid in cash to the Festival Organising Committee and will be
collected at the Hospitality Desk while being handed out the Groups badges. The
request for a written appraisal must be made as part of the Play and Performance tab
entry in FMS.
Awards
Best Production The Founders’ Trophy
Second Best Production The ECC Centennial Cup
Third Best Production The BATS Trophy
Best Actor and Best Actress The Blackie Awards
Best Stage Presentation The Grand Duchy Trophy
Best Stage Management Marcel Huhn/Bruno Boeye Memorial Award
Best Original Script DAW-Verulam Award
Discretionary Award Don Luscombe Discretionary Award
Further information on the awards is available on the permanent FEATS website:
https://feats.eu/foh/about-feats/the-awards/
The Stage Management Award
The Marcel Huhn/Bruno Boeye Award is presented to the group with the best stage
management, and is awarded solely on the decision of the Festival Stage Manager, in
consultation with the Festival Stage Management Team.
Assessment of the participating groups will be based on evaluation of five criteria:
Version 1.1 Page 24 of 34• Compliance with the Rules of the Festival and general attitude/approach.
• Lighting: planning, approach to use of the available facilities, liaison with the
Festival Stage Management Team and Theatre staff and production
effectiveness.
• Sound: planning, approach to use of the available facilities, liaison with the
Festival Stage Management Team and Theatre staff and production
effectiveness.
• Stage Management: planning, teamwork, use of stage facilities, conduct and
general effectiveness.
Safety is considered paramount, but otherwise the topics listed above will not be
judged in any particular priority.
The British All Winners Festival
The winning production of FEATS 2019 will be eligible for invitation to the NDFA 45th
British All Winners Drama Festival. The festival will take place from Sunday, 14 July to
Saturday, 20 July, 2019 at the Rhoda McGaw Theatre, Woking. Please note, winning
FEATS does not mean automatic entry to the All Winners, but it does make you
eligible to be invited. If your production wins 1st place, please be aware that as soon
as you walk off stage with your trophy, the chair of the FEATS 2019 Organizing
Committee will ask you if you want to be considered for the British All Winners
Festival.
Fringe
The Fringe will take place in the Wolf-Ferrari-Haus, Ratssaal, which is adjacent to the
main auditorium (Festsaal). Our Fringe coordinator can be contacted on feats2019-
fringe@entitytheatre.org. Further details will be circulated in due course.
FEATS Program details
Your program details will be based on the information that you put in the FMS by
March 16, 2019. The proofs will be sent to you by April 13, 2019 and should be
corrected and returned by April 27, 2019.
Version 1.1 Page 25 of 34You can also read
