Stage One Create An Environment Fit For A Dinosaur

Walking with Dinosaurs, the award-winning BBC TV series, has come to life in a stunning
theatrical event, with 20 life-sized dinosaurs touring the country in what promises to be
one of the most exciting and groundbreaking arena shows ever seen in the UK. Integral to this is the set, which has been built by Stage One.
Stage One, who were brought in by The Creature Production Company, creators of the
animatronic dinosaurs, were asked to provide several scenic elements, consisting of an
automated representation of the Pangaea (the super continent that began splitting up
200 million years ago), several sections of bespoke truss and extensive ground row. They
also supplied extensive pre-tour rehearsal space at their North Yorkshire base, in a former aircraft hangar.
"Our extensive workshop facilities and skill base means that we are able to offer all
manner of manufacturing techniques from under one roof," said Roy Webber, Project
Manager, Stage One. He continued, "that, coupled with the rehearsal facility we were also
able to provide, was a huge draw for The Creature Technology Company".
The Pangaea is intrinsic to the action in the arena. It consists of three stage trucks that
begin the show dovetailed together before they split open and separate, in conjunction
with the unfolding story, to represent a different Mesozoic era. Stage One designed and
manufactured the stage trucks, with the movements controlled by two drive motors and
two slew motors. A winch driven telescopic mast was incorporated into each truck and
used to raise ‘palm trees’ out of the Pangaea. Stage One provided all of the automation,
controlled by the company's renowned motion control system, Qmotion, facilitating
the smooth transition from one scene to the next and from one era to the next.
To complete the Pangaea Stage One produced a scenic surface detail, representative of
the rocky earth of the era. This consisted of cast pieces, which were then cut, hand
textured and painted to create a 3D surface, covering an area of around 150m2. Around
50 apertures were created within the Pangaea to allow the emergence of plant life.
Stage One also built several large bespoke truss; the 'Orni' truss and the 'Iris' truss.
The Orni truss will be positioned high above each arena to support an Ornithocheirus, one of the largest flying creatures ever found.
Both the reveal of the creature and its realistic
movements are achieved by the raising and lowering of the attached hoists, controlled via Qmotion and a pre-programmed animation programme that is fed into nextQ, Stage
One’s own show software.
The 28m long 'Iris Truss forms the opening via which the dinosaurs emerge into the
arena.
Stage One designed and built this truss incorporating three roller blinds and four
Qmotion controlled motorized tracks, enabling four Tormentor Panels to track on and
off stage allowing the dinosaurs to enter the arena. They also supplied extensive material
for both the blinds and the panels.
In order to help set the scene Stage One produced around 100 metres of ground row to
surround the edge of the arenas. Employing traditional methods, their Interpretation
Department hand-created six patterns from which six moulds were created and then used to cast 38 pieces from Class 1 GRP. Each piece was then hand finished to resemble rock.
A further 100 apertures for emerging plant life were created in the ground row.
Finally, to allow for the efficient transportation of the scenery and to facilitate a quick
turnaround at each venue, Stage One's metalwork department constructed six wheeled
stillages to house the scenery.
(KMcA/BMcC)