Pleasance Below Technical Specifications

Revision History
Revision No. Revision Date Author Revision

1 Feb 2019 Ruth Luckins Venue Lighting Updated

2 18 May 2019 Juan Carmona Sound Lighting updated

Dimensions and general information

● Pleasance Below is located on the Courtyard site and is an end on theatre space with full perimeter black drapes and a black
hardboard stage floor.
Seating configuration: End on
Seating capacity: 55
Room Exit Capacity Total: 60
Approx setting depth: 1900mm
Approx width - wing to wing: 2600mm
Approx setting width: 3800mm
Approx grid height: 3000mm

● There is limited wing space with no cross over possibilities. There is a good US space useful for quick changes or entrances.
● There is a generous shared stage facility which also doubles as a dressing room space. This area is shared with neighbouring venue
Pleasance Above.
● All companies in the venue will have shared use of the dressing room space and are able to access this space 40 mins before and up
to 20 mins after their performance each day. Unfortunately there are no shower, laundry, wardrobe or green room facilities in the
venue.
● Each company will be assigned a get in/ rehearsal time slot prior to their first public performance negotiated by our Production
Manager on submission of the productions technical information forms. This is the time for you to load your set and props into the
space, and for you to re-tech your show. It is important that you utilise the available time well ensuring that each technical element
of your show is covered and allowing sufficient time to plan and rehearse your daily turn around, set construction/ de construction
and storage.
● The Average turnaround time between shows in Below is set to 15 mins. This includes; audience leaving the previous show, the
previous show removing their set, time for you to bring in your set and set up, and your audience in time.

Pleasance Below: Access

• Pleasance Below is on the lower ground floor with public access via a set of steps down or an access lift located in the front courtyard.
• Vehicles are able to pull up on the street outside the venue and load in directly through a set of standard double doors. Once sets are
inside the building they will be turned around each day through a door measuring approx 1.5m wide by 2.1m high.
• All vehicle movement must be scheduled in advance, and no unauthorised vehicle movement will be permitted.
• There is no parking available on any of the Pleasance Sites.

Pleasance Below: Staging

● Below stage is set flat on the venue floor.
● The Venue has a fixed grid installed for rigging lighting, sound and video equipment. There is no dedicated facility for hanging scenic
elements and any requirements should be discussed in advance and agreed by our technical team.
● You will be expected to provide suitable and sufficient rigging hardware for suspension of any scenic item and will be recharged if the
Pleasance had to provide any hardware during your get in.
● Below is presented as a black box studio space, with 1 wing on each side. All drapes are provided as part of the basic venue design.
● Screwing to into the venue floor or walls is not permitted.
● It is worth ensuring that your set is light yet durable enough to withstand daily movement and dismantling.
● 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)
● The visiting production must make adequate arrangements for the removal or disposal of your set and any unused publicity materials
at the end of the festival. If the Pleasance has to dispose of any such material, a £500 disposal charge will be added to your
productions settlement.

Updated May 2022 - ED Pleasance Below - Technical Specification Page 1 of 3

Pleasance Below: Lighting
Lighting Control: ETC Nomad Puck or equivalent
Lighting Dimming: 6 ways of digital dimming. 4 of these are available for company specials, hard power can also be avail
- able for company specials if required.
● The venue has an LED (warm white only) general cover providing an US and DS split of the stage, with an RGBW LED backlight wash.
● We are able to provide additional equipment to supplement the basic rig. This can be discussed and negotiated with the Pleasance
Lighting team and you will be charged separately for the hire. Each hire will be charged for every week or part thereof that it is in the
venue, including rigging time where appropriate. Hire costs include rigging, labour and all cables/dimming etc as required. All
additional lighting hires must be agreed with the Pleasance in advance and a lighting plan of your intended design be provided. Please
see our price list for an indication of the price of frequently hired items. Please submit all requests for additional hires via the
Technical Information Form, following which a quote will be sent and must be confirmed by the company for the hire to be finalised.

● To comply with our electrical safety risk assessment, companies cannot tour in their own lighting equipment. Set electrics and
practicals will be considered, but must be electrically safe, have a valid PAT test certificate and are at the discretion of the Pleasance
Lighting team.
● It is not possible to refocus or re-gel in between shows, however re-patching of generics will be possible. As the generic rig is used
and relied upon by all shows, re-focusing of the generic rig is not possible under any circumstance.
● As it would be impossible to provide exact gel requirements for every show at the Pleasance, we ask that you please bring any gels
you require for your company special lights yourself.
● Companies are responsible for saving and backing up their show data and it is advised that this happens on a regular basis.

Pleasance Below: Video

● There is no video equipment provided as part of the basic venue technical infrastructure.
● If you require video as part of your show we suggest that you discuss your requirements with our video partners. They will offer
competitive rates on hires (with a special discount for Pleasance companies), they have a superb knowledge of each of our spaces,
and there is a representative team on site through the festival for servicing and repairs as well as a stock of spare equipment.
- Our video partners will receive your submitted technical questionnaires and will be in touch to discuss how they are able to help.

Pleasance Below: Sound

Mixing and Processing: Soundcraft Spirit E8 mixing desk with 8 mono and 2 stereo inputs or equivalent.
Loudspeakers and Amps: 2x d&b E8 loudspeakers which provide stereo coverage of the auditorium.
Playback and Recording: 1 PCDI with minijack input.
Microphones and Accessories: 2x Shure SM58 dynamic microphones with 1 tall boom stand and 1 hand stand, 1x DI box.

All venues as standard will be provided with a Mac Mini running QLab (Basic Unlicensed Version).
If you require a licence please contact edinburghtechnical@pleasance.co.uk who may be able to arrange or advise.
See here for a breakdown of the QLab licences.
● We are able to provide additional equipment to supplement the basic stock, this will be discussed and negotiated with the Pleasance
Sound team and you will be charged separately for the hire. Each Hire will be charged for each week or part thereof that it is in the
venue. It may be possible to share the additional equipment with other companies to reduce the cost, however we are unable to
guarantee this.
● All additional sound kit will need to be agreed with the Pleasance well in advance.
● Any electrical equipment that you wish to bring as part of your production must be electrically safe, have a valid PAT test certificate
and are at the discretion of the Pleasance Sound team.

Pleasance Below: Health and Safety

● All visiting productions must submit a show specific risk assessment and fire risk assessment to the Pleasance technical team as part
of the technical questionnaire submission. All companies must complete these necessary forms regardless of whether or not there are
any perceived risks. These documents are part of the Pleasance contractual agreements and are a legal requirement.
● The use of smoke, haze, strobe, laser, pyrotechnic effects or naked flames in your production must be cleared with the Pleasance
Technical Operations Manager in advance and must accompany a sufficient risk assessment and method statement.
● Due to Scottish executive regulations, smoking is not permitted in any venue under any circumstances.
● It will be the responsibility of the visiting company to ensure that each turn around is planned and carried out safely each day, you
must ensure that you have made sufficient provisions to undergo any construction and deconstruction in a safe manner. It is
recommended that a method statement should be drawn up for your turnaround and this should be discussed and rehearsed as part
of your technical rehearsal slot.
● All accidents, incidents or near misses must be reported to your venue manager at the time it happened as it's our responsibility to
ensure your safety and prevent injury to others.

Updated May 2022 - ED Pleasance Below - Technical Specification Page 2 of 3

Pleasance Below: Staffing and Operators
● Below will be staffed by 1x Venue Manager, 1x Crew Lead and 2x Multi Skilled Crew. They are there to ensure the venue operates
smoothly and safely to time each hour of the day for the entire month. They will be on hand to assist with your turn arounds,
program lighting and sound during your tech and are able to operate your show should they be required.
● There is a charge of £22.00 per performance per operator if you require Pleasance staff to learn and operate your show.
● If the operator is simply putting lights up/down, then a reduced fee of £13.00 per performance will apply.
Please note that Lighting and Sound in Below are located in the same control position so it may be possible to have a single operator

Pleasance Below: Contact us

To make a general technical enquiry or to discuss something about our spaces please contact:
edinburghtechnical@pleasance.co.uk
To contact our video partners please contact:
video@pleasance.co.uk
If you wish to email our Lighting Manager or Head of Sound directly please contact:
lighting@pleasance.co.uk
sound@pleasance.co.uk

The Pleasance receives the right to alter the technical specification of its venue without prior notice or consultation.

Updated May 2022 - ED Pleasance Below - Technical Specification Page 3 of 3