Automation is widely used in theatre and live entertainment to safely move staging, set and people with ease and precision. Theatre automation is an important part of most large-scale venues and productions, from high-speed winches to large custom designed staging equipment to unique show specific effects. The design of automation equipment brings together a unique mix of theatre, design, and engineering.

TAIT has been designing and manufacturing automation equipment from its Haverhill office and workshop (just outside Cambridge) for over 40 years. TAIT are always looking for the next generation of creatives and engineers, along with many others, to deliver these exciting projects in theatre and entertainment venues all over the world on land and at sea.

Tony Dent is a former member of CUADC (2009 onwards) working as a senior mechanical design engineer at TAIT and is coming to the ADC to give a talk on theatre automation. The presentation will include an introduction to theatre automation, the work that TAIT does and examples of some of the exciting projects that Tony has worked on recently.