Central Presentations Ltd (CPL) has completed a full technical upgrade – staging,
lighting, audio and AV – to the conference theatre at Heythrop Park Resort where the
west Midlands based company is also the house onsite technical support provider.
Heythrop Park Resort is a unique, luxury venue set in 440 acres of stunning
Oxfordshire Countryside and dating back to 1710. It currently has two hotels, an 18
hole golf course, a health club and spa and state-of-the-art conference facilities
including a ballroom with capacity for 300 – 400 guests (in banqueting or theatre
style respectively), the Conference Theatre which can hold 400 delegates and the
charismatics Enstone Room for up to 200.

The latest plans have seen the addition of a marquee which can be configured as a
650 seater banqueting hall or an 800 capacity theatre space which will further expand
the available resources to host a diverse selection of conferences and events.
A brand new audio system is at the heart of the refurbishment project, which has
been designed and optimised for the theatre space to provide the clean, high clarity
well-focused audio demanded by clients.

These specifications and packages have all been fine-tuned and co-ordinated by
Simon Haydon and Richard Burrow from CPL in close collaboration with Heythrop
resort director Paul Russell.

A d&b Y8 line array with subs was chosen, powered by the new d&b D20 amps, with
an Allen & Heath 24 digital channel console. Also integral to the audio package is a
Shure UR4 mic system.

The stage itself has been completely renovated. It has new boards and carpet, a new
set of steps for access plus a new lectern.
“Clean-looking, practical and with a twist of contemporary was the look we aimed for,’
explained Richard.

There is now a 5-metre wide edgeless projection screen, suspended on discreet steel
wires giving the appearance of it floating in air. It is fed by a 20K Panasonic projector.
Behind this is a smart grey drape bringing stylish modernism to the stage area, and
on the reverse of the screen, strips of LED tape have been applied in optimal positions
to light the drape adding lots of texture and depth to the space.

There is also a selection of day-to-day AV and conference kit available on site for the
various clients, and “extras’ packages can be arranged for the Theatre, as well as the
other conferences spaces including the Enstone Suite, the Ballroom and the Marquee.
New lighting fixtures include a compliment of ARRI L7 LED fresnels, ETC Source Four
Studio HD profiles for a high quality LED solution. “We like to be as green as possible
when it comes to lighting, especially for a constantly busy environment,’ confirms
Richard.

CPL’s knowledgeable, efficient and friendly team will be providing site-wide technical
support and project management at Heythrop, a resource that will be available to all
the venue’s clients.

CPL has also been appointed as technical supplier for The Studio complex of meeting
and conference rooms in central Birmingham.

This will involve combined skills and resources from three CPL divisions – Rental,
Technical and Venue Services.

This busy event venue has 18 different spaces all in constant use, and CPL’s Joe
Cartwright is now based on site to ensure that all the day-to-day technical needs are
dealt with quickly and smoothly including providing PA systems, lighting, cameras,
and video conferencing.