Fochabers Public Institute | Touring Venue

FOCHABERS PUBLIC INSTITUTE

Sept 2023 Mick Andrew

General Information

Address: 15 High St, Fochabers, Morayshire IV36 7EP. Tel: 01343 821325.

Venue is at East end of High St on South side of road. Car Park at venue.
Built 1905. Upgraded 2017
Capacity up to 345 if stage used including 65 balcony seats, approx 150 if performing on floor. Stacking padded non-interlocking chairs.
Mobile reception good. Venue has Wi-Fi.
Fochabers has general store, bank & cashpoint, hotels and cafes. Petrol at Mosstodloch (2 miles). All other services in Elgin (9 miles).

Hall Details

Hall Dimensions: 8.8M (28’10”) wide x 20.85M (68’5”) long with balcony overhang over last 4.8M (15’9”). Height at side walls 4.92M (16’2”) rising to approx 6M (19’8”) over centre.
Stage: 6.4M (21’) wide x 5.75M (18’10”) deep to back tabs, 7.15M (23’6”) to back wall. Wings 1.3M (4’3”) both sides. Height to grid 3.8M (12’6”); height of stage 1.3M (4’3”). Crossover behind back drapes. Access treads off both sides of front of stage (8 steps), no rake. 6 folding stage extension units available to extend stage.
Décor: floor polished dark wood, no markings; walls cream upper, light grey lower; roof cream. Windows have beige curtains; stage has black box & borders, 2 sets black drawing tabs and maroon FOH tabs.
Get-in: good – through side fire exit, flat, straight through single door into hall. For stage up 3 steps or ramp to loading dock and through double door straight onto stage. Approx 5M from van loading area to stage. Hall access 0.83M (2’9”) wide x 2.35M (7’8”) high; Backstage access doors 1.15M (3’9”) wide x 2M (6’6”) high.
Acoustics good.
Blackout good – all windows have lined curtains.
Heating by wall-mounted convector heaters.
Upright piano in FOH room. Smoke Detectors in hall and above stage – possible to disable these.
Large 9-step A-frame ladder & 7-step stepladder available.

Technical

Power: 60amp 3-phase incomer in switch room FOH. 63amp single-phase socket in SL wing.
Stage lighting rig – Zero88 jester 12/24 desk, 24 channels Chilli dimmers, 3 stage LX bars 2 FOH perches. 6 x 650w profiles spots, 6 x 650w fresnels, 6 x 500w floods. Venue has one of only 2 working heritage 1960’s revolving disco lights, mounted from ceiling.
Allen & Heath 24-2 QU24 mixer, Martin speakers, Crown 2002 amps and powered LD system monitors. Some mics & stands.
Houselights are dimmable down-lighters, control at back of hall.

Backstage