CAVERN Technical Specification

This document is intended to accompany the Production & Technical Guidance which can be
found at www.vaultfestival.com/resources.

REVISION HISTORY
Revision Date Author Amendments
1.0 01.11.21 U Kerswell Template for V22
1.1 03.12.21 SR V22 Updates

Please note that this technical specification (inc photos and plans) hasn’t
been updated for 2023’s Festival yet.
SPACE SUMMARY
A flexibly-configured ‘atmospheric’, performance space. The seating can be configured as Traverse, "horse shoe"
thrust, In-The-Round, or promendade with no seating at all. The bare brick walls and concrete floor provides a
unique backdrop to productions. Suits theatre, circus, immersive, and phsyical theatre productions.
n.b, this space is inherently damp and humid. Whilst the festival will do what it can to maintain temperature and
humidity control within the room, it is not recommended for anyone with existing respiratory problems to spend
prolonged periods of time in the room. Slip hazards are most common in Cavern due to the moist floor.
 CAVERN Technical Specification
VAULT Festival

ADDRESS & LOAD IN

● Address (Load In):
Cavern is located at
The Vaults, Leake
Street, London, SE1
7NN.
● Address
(Audience): As
above.
● Load In: via Leake Street
which is a cul-de-sac
accessed from York
Road (the London
Eye/River end of
Leake Street).
● Vehicle Restrictions: There are no restrictions on vehicle size although It is recommended that large (i.e. 7.5
Tonne+) vehicles reverse in from York Road. All large vehicles will need banksmen from the festival present
to guide them in.
● Vehicle Access Notes: There are bollards at the end of Leake Street - follow the instructions on the box
next to the bollards to gain access.
● Parking: There is no parking available onsite – all vehicles must leave once unloading/loading is complete.
● Loading/Unloading: is at ground level through the front entrance of the venue and through the public
corridor. There is no loading directly onto stage from vehicles.
● Access Dimensions: Door Dimensions = 1480mm (w) x 1980mm (h) (double fire exit doors).
● Each Company is assigned a tech time prior to their first performance. This is time for you to load your set
and props into the venue and to tech your show.

VAULT FESTIVAL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER THIS TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OR
CONSULTATION.

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 CAVERN Technical Specification
VAULT Festival

SEATING
● Configuration: Flexible. There is no fixed performance space or stage. Instead, the space is effectively
divided into three sections; near, middle, and far which can be utilised separately or together. There are 32 x
1.35m long benches that can be arranged as required. You will need to notify us (on your tech form) as soon
as possible on which configuration you would like to use. Can be set out as an end-on performance space
with a central aisle (8x rows), a traverse/thrust (with seating on both sides), a Horse-Shoe, In-The-Round, or
promenade.
● Please note that site lines for floor-work can be poor if using an End On Configuration.
● Site Lines: End on or deeper audience configurations can cause sight-line issues due to lack of a raised
stage or raked seating. We recommend working with shallower seating configurations wherever possible
and considering sight lines in the making a staging of your show.
● Capacity: 94 Seated or Standing (including 2 house seats) = 92 On Sale
● Capacity Reductions: Different seating configurations may be subject to a reduced capacity. Must be
agreed in advance with the Festival Team (programming@vaultfestival.com).
● Seating Type: Seating will be 32 x 1.35m (L) wooden benches of three different sizes:
○ Small: 8
○ Medium: 8
○ Large: 16
● See photos for seating dimensions. CAD drawings available upon request.
● The benches will need to go somewhere within the room if they aren’t to be used.
● Audience Entrance: Tt the rear of the room.
● Wheelchair/Stair-Free access: Through the main audience entrance.
● Wheelchair Positions: Wheelchair positions are flexible but generally in the front row.
● Emergency Exits: There is only one Emergency Exit doors in the space, the route to which needs to remain
clear and accessible at all times. This is marked on the ground plan.

STAGE
● Stage Width: (TOTAL ROOM WIDTH) 7.00m (varies)
● Stage Depth: (TOTAL ROOM LENGTH) 30m (varies)
● Height: 5.8m at the apex, 4m at the edges (varies)
● Stage Description: At ground level, no orchestra pit, no fixed proscenium, no safety curtain, no air
conditioning.
● Floor: floor space is concrete (neither smooth or level throughout). Often wet / moist.
● Upstage Masking: No masking – bare brick walls throughout.
● Wings/Side Masking: There is no wing space on stage and no other masking is available.
● Backstage Area: A storage area on the right as you enter the space which can be used as offstage space.
● Backstage Crossover: Not possible without the adding of additional masking.
● Screwing into the floor in this venue is not permitted. Screwing into the walls may be permissible but
only at the discretion of the Head of Stage. Please note that the walls are (damp) brick and therefore
the appropriate tools and hardware would need to be considered and provided.
● Turnaround Between Shows in this Venue: 30 minutes (from show finish to show start)
● Stage & Venue Notes: Please be mindful of cable runs across audience as they cannot be easily taped
down.
● Emergency Exits: There is only one Emergency Exit doors in the space, the route to which needs to remain
clear and accessible at all times. This is marked on the ground plan.
● Set Durability: Ensure your set is light yet durable enough to withstand daily movement and dismantling and
the humidity within the space.
● Flame Retardancy: All scenic elements and props must be constructed from inherently flame retardant
materials or be suitable treated to meet fire classification (UK Class 1) or (Euroclass B, S1, D0)
● If you have stage related requests or questions prior to submitting your Technical form, we recommend
contacting our Head of Stage to check feasibility and costs: Hannah Wallis: stage@vaultfestival.com.

VAULT FESTIVAL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER THIS TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OR
CONSULTATION.

WWW.VAULTFESTIVAL.COM | Page 2
 CAVERN Technical Specification
VAULT Festival

SET STORAGE SPACE

● Storage Location: Within the performance space.
● Storage Dimensions: Approx. 5m x 3m. This is shared between the companies in the space that week.
● Secured Instrument Storage: may be available on a first come, first served basis.

TECHNICIANS & OPERATORS

● Your production is required to be self-sufficient in the provision of technical crew and operators to facilitate
their get in / get out / turnaround. We can provide Operators & Technicians if booked in advance.
● We’ll provide a Venue Stage Manager for each venue to manage the turnaround between shows and the
timely running of the performance space. This person won’t be present during your Technical Rehearsal or
operate your show (unless booked in advance).
● During your tech rehearsal: our technical (lighting, sound & stage) teams will be able to spend up to 15
minutes with you facilitating your show’s requirements. If you think you’ll need more than this (i.e. a lighting
programmer if you have more than 3-4 lighting states), you should book additional technical crew - either
through the festival or your own contacts. Speak to our Technical team if you are unsure whether you think
you’ll need additional technical crew. (productioncoordinator@vaultfestival.com)
● During your show run: our Venue Stage Manager will help with your turnaround but also consider whether
you need additional crew on top of this. Our Venue Stage Manager can operate your show if you need them
to, so let us know if you do. There is a charge for this.
● Show Operator Costs:
Operator (Full Show Operation): £25 + VAT per 1-hour Show
Operator (Lights Up/Lights Down): £8.33 + VAT per 1-hour Show
Tech / Dress Session: £15 + VAT per Hour (minimum 2 hrs)

● Operators are not specialist Technicians - if you require someone who can programme lighting or
mix live music, please select the Lighting, Sound or Video Technicians instead.

● Lighting, Sound, Video Technician Costs:

Tech / Dress / Shows £20 +vat per hour (minimum 2 hrs)

● Lighting Technicians can programme moving lights and LED fixtures

● Sound Technicians can mix live bands and programme qlab
● Video Technicians can setup and configure multi-projector setups, video map, and programme qlab.

● Booking Crew: All operators and technicians booked via VAULT Festival are booked using your Technical
form on Eventotron and can be adjusted or confirmed by emailing productioncoordinator@vaultfestival.com.

LIGHTING
● Lighting Console: An ETC Ion with 2x10 Fader Wing
● Lighting Programmers: Our Lighting team will spend 15 minutes with you getting you set up. If you only
have 3-4 lighting states/cues, we can programme these for you. If you have more cues/states than this, we
can arrange a Lighting Programmer for you. Please see the Technicians & Operators section above for
details.
● Standard Lighting Rig: Consists of a general cover (ETC Colorsource), along with six moving profile lights
and an LED wash throughout the space. A full lighting plan is available here. You may not alter the house rig,
but moving lights can be focussed into any position.
● Additional Lighting Equipment can be booked via the festival. The kit is allocated on a first come, first
serve basis, and there may be a charge for its use (the charge will be confirmed with you prior to the booking
being confirmed).
● Gels & Consumables: Companies should provide their own gels and other consumables.
● Floor & Boom Stands: we have a small selection of floor stands, booms, and other rigging equipment
which must be booked and confirmed in advance and is subject to availability.

VAULT FESTIVAL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER THIS TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OR
CONSULTATION.

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 CAVERN Technical Specification
VAULT Festival

● If you have lighting related requests or questions prior to submitting your Technical form, we recommend
contacting our Head of Lighting to check feasibility and costs: Paul Salmon lighting@vaultfestival.com.

POWER
● Dimming 15A sockets. 24x spare dimming channels available, these are shared between companies so
replugging may be required as part of turnarounds.
● Hot Power 16A sockets. Hot Power is available anywhere in the space, an indication of where you will
require extra circuits is appreciated in advance to assist with preparation before your arrival.
● Standard Power Adaptors (i.e. 16 amp -> 15 amp -> 13 amp) are available from the festival if needed.
● Additional Equipment may be brought in. Please indicate on your Technical form in Eventotron where you
may need additional power. Any additional equipment must be electrically sound (accompanied by a PAT
sticker, or inspected by a member of the VAULT Festival Technical staff). If deemed unsafe, the appliance
will not be able to be used and may be removed from the venue or destroyed without warning.

HAZE & SMOKE MACHINES

● Haze & Smoke Machines: are not provided in the space as standard.
● Haze machines can be booked from the festival and are available on a first come, first serve basis (subject
to availability). There will be a £25+vat per week charge for use of a hazer (includes fluid). (£10+vat per night
for shorter run shows, maxing out at £25+vat for a 3 night or more run).
● Smoke Machines can be booked via our Lighting team (lighting@vaultfestival.com) Rates will be confirmed
on booking.

SOUND
● Sound Summary: The venue comes with a Mac Qlab Playback system, a digital mixing desk, full cover
venue with PA in different configurations, 2 SM58 mics and 1 DI Box as standard

SOUND PLAYBACK AND MIXING

Quantity Make & Model
1 Mac mini with Qlab 4 (Pro Audio and Video Licence)
Video Connectivity: Mac mini HDMI/thunderbolt to VGA/thunderbolt to DVI
1 Yamaha QL1
1 Mini jack input - suitable for ipod and laptop playback (no adaptor for new iPhone)

SPEAKERS / PA
Quantity Make & Model
8 QSC I-82H 8” Waterproof Speakers (on speaker stands)
2 D&B E18 hangs on ceiling
Small onstage speakers may be available on request (first come, first serve)

MICS & DIs

Quantity Make & Model
1 Stereo DI Box
2 SM 58’s with Stand

● Additional Mics: A range of microphones and stands are available to be booked on a first come first serve
basis.
● Radio Mics: Headset and handheld radio mics can be booked and will incur a charge of £30+vat per week
per mic used. Once confirmed, cancellations less than 14 days before the usage will still be charged. This is
to avoid other companies missing out who may actually need them.
● Booking Additional/Radio Mics: email Sound@vaultfestival.com or via your Technical Form on Eventotron.
All requests aren’t confirmed until you’ve received written confirmation from our Head of Sound.

VAULT FESTIVAL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER THIS TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OR
CONSULTATION.

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 CAVERN Technical Specification
VAULT Festival

● Wireless Frequencies: If you’re bringing in your own radio mics, wireless headphones or other radio
frequency based equipment, it is your responsibility to ensure they are licensed to a unique frequency.
● Cable & Sound Power: All necessary cable and stage sound power will be supplied at your request.
● We don’t stock RCA (phono) cables or any of its derivatives
● If you have sound related requests or questions prior to submitting your Technical form, we recommend
contacting our Head of Sound to check feasibility and costs: Ben White sound@vaultfestival.com.

VIDEO & PROJECTION

● Projector: There is no video equipment provided as part of the basic venue technical infrastructure.
● Projector Screen: none.
● Video Connectivity: The mac mini has a Qlab Video License (QLab 4 only).
● Unless specified above, companies are responsible for providing all projectors, screens, cables, splitters,
adapters, and cradles/rigging that they require..
● Video / Projector Equipment Booking: The festival has video & projector equipment available to book
which is allocated on a first come, first serve basis, and there may be a charge for its use (the charge will be
confirmed with you prior to the booking being confirmed).
● If you have video or projection related requests or questions prior to submitting your Technical form, we
recommend contacting our Head of Video to check feasibility and costs: Sarah Readman
video@vaultfestival.com. If you require video or projection as part of your show we suggest you discuss your
requirements with our Head of Video (video@vaultfestival.com) prior to the Tech form deadline.

SUSPENSION & RIGGING

● Lighting Grid: 3 x 8m span of steel scaffolding down each side of the main area of the space.
3 x 6m spans of steel scaffolding down the centre of the main area of the space.
Height from floor to scaffolding on the left hand side of the space varies from 3.5m to 4.9m.
Height from floor to scaffolding on the right hand side of the space varies from 4.2m to 4.9m
Height from floor to scaffolding in the centre of the space is approx. 5.2m.
● Rigging Notes: All scaffolding is dead hung and cannot be moved. Our points cannot be used for dynamic
loads, or for lifting people. Additional/special rigging points are needed for this purpose, which will require
prior discussion with VAULT Festival and will incur extra cost.
● Rigging SWL Rating: All scaffold rigging is rated to 100kg UDL.
● Rig Access: Rigging of additional equipment is via ladder.
● Aerial: There is one point located in the centre of the room. It is rated to a minimum of 500kg and is suitable
for single person aerial/dynamic loads. There is also a rated point at ankle level for tying off a pulley system.
● Aerial Equipment: Must be rigged by a competent person and paged prior to the venue opening (see
above). No ladders can be used in public spaces once the venue is open. Aerial equipment must be paged
when not in use. Aerial equipment must be installed by a competent & qualified person and an Aerial risk
assessment must be provided prior to the event.

STAGE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES

● Operating Position: (both Lx and Sound): Rear of room, adjacent to audience entrance. It is possible for
one person to operate both Lx and Sound simultaneously.
● Comms/Cue Lights: There are no comms or cue lights available.
● Dressing Room: is located in a room outside of and a short walk from the space. You will have access to
your dressing room 20 minutes before and for 15 minutes after your performance each day.
● The dressing room is shared with the other companies in the venue that week.
● Physical Warm Up Space: A quiet warm up space (for stretching etc.) may be available on request.
● Vocal Warm Up Space: We are not able to provide any space for vocal or loud warm ups.
● Wardrobe Facilities: we’re unable to provide any wardrobe facilities (including washing machines, dryers,
irons & Ironing boards etc).

VAULT FESTIVAL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER THIS TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OR
CONSULTATION.

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 CAVERN Technical Specification
VAULT Festival

SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
● Risk Assessment: All Visiting Companies must submit a Risk Assessment as part of their Technical Form
(via Eventotron). Templates and guidance are provided on the Resources page (specifically in the Production
& Technical Guidance).
● High Risk Activities: The use of smoke, haze, strobe lighting, lasers, replica firearms/weapons, aerial
performance, pyrotechnic effects, children, animals, food & drink, or naked flames in your production must
be cleared with the VAULT Festival Technical Team in advance and must accompany a sufficient risk
assessment and method statement. Approval of usage will be retracted if deemed unsafe at any point.
● Fire Retardancy: All scenery, props, and masking must be rendered non-flammable to the satisfaction of
VAULT Festival and may be subject to a flame test at any time.
● Gun or Weapon Safe: is available for use. Please contact the Head of Production for more information
(production@vaultfestival.com)
● All Accidents, Incidents, First Aid Requirements, or Near Misses must be reported to your Venue Stage
Manager as soon as possible after the incident.
● Covid-19: The festival runs January - March 2022. At this time, there will be no social distancing restrictions
in place. In the event things change, we will review each venue to include social distancing. If artists chose
to be socially distanced from the audience, each venue will have a marked line across the front of the stage
to mark 1.5m distance from the front of stage to the front row, which will act as the new front of stage.

KEY TECHNICAL CONTACTS

Responder EMAIL ADDRESS PURPOSE

Public Liability Insurance
Emma Dobson Risk Assessments
Production & PPL PRS
productioncoordinator@vaultfestival.com
Technical Technical Rehearsal Scheduling
Coordinator Rehearsal Bookings
Tech Crew Bookings
Sarah Readman
Head of Video (& video@vaultfestival.com Video & Projectors
Technical Manager)
Staging, Set & Furniture
Hannah Wallis
stage@vaultfestival.com Masking & Draping
Head of Stage Turnarounds & Set Storage
Paul Salmon
lighting@vaultfestival.com Lighting, Power & Hazers
Head of Lighting
Ben White
sound@vaultfestival.com Sound, Mics, and Radio Mics
Head of Sound

VAULT FESTIVAL RESERVES THE RIGHT TO ALTER THIS TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE OR
CONSULTATION.

WWW.VAULTFESTIVAL.COM | Page 6