Orchard Theatre

HVAC, Power Generation

From Crisis to curtain call

The Orchard Theatre is a huge part of the local economy in Dartford and as panto season approached, Dartford Borough council faced the prospect of immediately closing the venue due to the presence of RAAC. Working with GL events, we created a seamless temporary venue combining structures, seating HVAC, and power.

Flow engineered a complete temporary power and HVAC solution leveraging a cutting-edge battery cell system and dynamic temperature control equipment to create a sustainable, cost-effective and comfortable guest experience. The battery cell system reduced fuel consumption by 66%, delivering a CO2 saving of around 120,000kg.

Project details

We provided two sets of 60kva generators with a 45kva/90kwh battery on each. Power distribution was carefully considered with over 4,000m of cabling carefully routed and concealed away from the public across the site, keeping a keen focus on attention to detail and the guest experience.

One of the critical success factors was managing the power demand for the venue itself and the range of touring productions. The team considered every aspect, from AV demands for maximum capacity productions to fire alarm systems. The system was designed to flex and accommodate every conceivable power requirement.

The main challenges were the tight timescales, budget and the number of contractors on site during the build stage. The fast-track programme enabled the theatre to open in time for peak pantomime season. Collaboration was a key ingredient to the success of the project and the project was awarded Best Temporary Structure at the Festival Supplier Awards.

What We Provided

“Flow exceeded all expectations with their exceptional work on the power installation.

Tal RosenTheatre Director

Previous project

All projects

Next project

Experts in delivery of temporary and semi-permanent power, heating and cooling