Memos - Internal [Internal Memorandums]

  • This material is held at
  • Reference
      GB 2080 TPC/1/56
  • Dates of Creation
      19 December 1972-11 December 1978
  • Physical Description
      5 folders

Scope and Content

The file mostly consists of Theatre Projects Consultants Ltd internal memorandums, with some external memos to contractors and to the architects, a few items of external correspondence and some meeting notes regarding pushing for completion in the Lyttelton and Olivier Theatres, with reports of outstanding issues and plans to monitor and push contractors to finish within agreed completion dates. The following topics are specifically covered: wiring and electrical installation; control room windows; Lyttelton works and liaising with National Theatre company; sub-contractor completion dates and their progress towards them; monitoring of sub-contractors on site; new and retiring staff members; problems and snagging such as electrical failures, failures with power flying, wagon locks, the lightboard and safety curtain operation; complaints by the Theatre about number of visitors viewing the control room; equipment training; timesheets and expenses, working around the Theatre's requirements such as auditioning on stage; scenery hoist, lighting, acoustic cable and other testing; progress meetings; the date for showing the completed Olivier Theatre to the public - 30 September 1976; reports on the functioning of the drum revolve and night work. The correspondents include Theatre Projects Consultants, contractor and National Theatre employees - Derek Mardon, Peter Turner, Richard Pilbrow, Richard Brett, David Staples, Flint & Neill, Alan Cohen, Brian Benn, and JG Pilcher and Martin Saul, Ian Mackintosh, John Coffey, W Bundy, M K Saul, Bob Anderson and external communications with Avis Rent-A-Car, , the Greater London Council (GLC), the National Theatre, the South Bank Theatre Board, Denys Lasdun and Partners, and P E Kemp Engineers Ltd. Items include a confidential memo regarding the necessity of completing the Olivier in time for the opening despite it being 'impossible'; a memo including a diagram of Theatre Projects Consultants Ltd's structure and a description of employee roles in 1976, a memo regarding industrial action by National Theatre technical staff during which Theatre Projects Consultants employees were asked not to cross the picket line, a rough sketch showing hoist numbers for power flying; a letter from the GLC ordering the Theatre to either operate the scenery dock fire shutter in the Olivier or cancel the performances of 'The Madras House'; and a memo listing direct contracts and job numbers. Original card folder disposed of. '904-1AX' was written on the front, and a sticker marked 'QS 2B+3/A/B/C ETC' was also on the front. [These reference numbers do not seem to relate to the content of the folder.] On the inside along the right edge was written 'Memos - Internal'.

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