ABTT Theatre Show's Seminar Program announced

Following the success of the theatre-related seminars at the ABTT Theatre Show last year, a key element in the expansion of the Association of British Theatre Technicians' event this year will be extra seminar space to accommodate over a hundred people at a time and more than three times as many seminars as last year. ABTT Seminars 2013 include a range of subjects ranging from advice on theatre training and practice to informative updates on recent regulations, and will run in two separate rooms within the exhibition over the two days of the show running June 12-13 at the Old Truman Brewery in London.

Live entertainment, whether commercial or educational, must comply with regulations. One seminar examines proposed changes in licensing legislation, which may have considerable impact on the way venues operate. Another seminar focuses on the latest news and advice from the HSE on relevant safety issues, and a further session will provide an update on "Work at Height."

There are several sessions that will be of interest to those who are guiding future generations towards careers in live entertainment. The industry as a whole is working hard to develop a structured apprenticeship scheme. Bryan Raven from the White Light Group will be giving a seminar on how his company has embraced modern apprenticeships illustrated through their recent experiences, and in another session he will explain the aspirations of "Skillscene." And for students, there's a seminar on "Production training - where is the step into work?"

For established practitioners there are sessions covering advice on stage managing shows overseas, professional insurance cover, on how to prove technical competence to potential employers, and how to make the best use of social media to further their careers.

Robin Townley, associate executive officer of the ABTT, is presenting the work of the ABTT in "How can we help you" for current and potential members of the association, and in a separate session, the ABTT will be launching their new brand new edition of the Yellow Book a.k.a."Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment."

Everyone involved in the practical and creative aspects of producing live entertainment will be interested in sessions on mixing tungsten and LED lighting technologies in the same venue, advice on temporary electrical systems, and how to be more environmentally aware by recycling scenery.

Following on from the Theatres Trust conference on "Thriving Theatres" on June 11, the Trust's director, Mhora Samuel, will be chairing a debate on the business and finance of running a theatre.

All these and more seminars are free to attend, and full details can be found on the website at the URL below. The ABTT 2013 Theatre Show takes place at The Old Truman Brewery, London E1 from June 12-13 and registration is free online.