Time
Dominion Theatre, London (Previews from 24 March 1986, Charity Preview 4 April 1986, Opening April 9th, 1986, Closed 16 April 1988) 
Devised & Created by Dave Clark
Book, Music and Lyrics co-written by Dave Clark
Book & Lyrics by David Soames
Music by Jeff Daniels
Set design: John Napier
Lighting design: Andrew Bridge
Sound design: Bobby Aitken & Jonathan Deans
Production Musical Director: Mike Moran
The portrayal of 'Akash' by Laurence Olivier created & directed by Dave Clark
Choreography by Arlene Phillips
Related Equipment:
Documents
This groundbreaking high-tech musical featured Cliff Richard (later David Cassidy) and Laurence Olivier (via projection).
The interior of the theatre was remodelled extensively to accommodate the set design by John Napier (a steel construction featuring a hydraulic lift). The character of Akash (performed by Sir Laurence Olivier) was projected onto a large blank head centre stage, on film. The projected head appeared like a hologram, and was billed as such by the show's producers.
The show took around 3 months to build, with the final five weeks in the Dominion Theatre. The theatre was rewired to accommodate the large power demands of the lighting rig, and a computer was installed to control the 48 hydraulic axes of movement on the set, and the projection system.
The entire set for TIME was built on an old lift that already existed in the Dominion Theatre. After renovation and a rebuild, it was up to the job.
See also ABTT News, March 1987
Lighting: Used 16 x Vari*Lite 2's
The plan of the lighting rig can be viewed in the Backstage Heritage Collection and full size prints of the plan can be bought in our shop.
External Link: Time The Musical Fansite
From ABTT News, December 1990
A High Court action was brought by Dave Clark's production company, The Right Time Production Company Ltd, against Rank Theatres Ltd, claiming that Rank Theatres Ltd had failed to run an efficient box office at the Dominion Theatre consequently being responsible for the premature closure of TIME: The Musical and loss of box office income.
Documentary excerpt: Dave Clark and Time The Musical
Soundtrack Excerpt: Sir Laurence Olivier as Akash
'Time' by Freddie Mercury
Music video shot on the Time set at the Dominion Theatre on 22 May 1986
Equipment Schedule
From Lighting & Sound International Issue 6:
Main Lighting Rig:
232 Par 64
6 Par 36
6 Par 64 / AC 8-Lite
112 Altman Leko
24 Century 8 x 13 Leko
32 Patt.23
4 Patt.23N
4 Patt.243
1 HTI Prelude
6 Minuette
14 Coda Flood
12 Patt.252 & FX
8 Bowens
22 Colorsette
4 Colormax
16 Vari-Lite
Rock & Roll Truck Lighting Rig:
145 Par 64
218 Par 36
15 Par 46
122 Sunflood
14 Starstrobes
16 Beacons
10m Arcline
32 Linolite
12 Pyro-Flash
Lighting In Set:
400 Par 36
63 Par 46
24 Birdies
30 M16
6 Par 36 Scanner
2 Helicopter
2 Astrobeam
6 Optikinetic Solar 250
80 Starstrobe
78 GLS Lamps in Spheres
30 Light Sources in Fibre Optics
25km Fibre Optics
150m Arcline
120m Neon
500 Linolites
Projectors & Follow Spots
1 4kW Xenon 35mm Cine
2 2.5kW Xenon 35mm Cine
4 Pani 4kW HMI Slide Projector
4 Short Throw HTI Ultra-arc Followspot
2 Short Throw HTI Lycian Followspot
4 Smoke Processor
2 Cloud 9 Smoke Gun
4 Dry Ice Machine
3 4 watt Laser (water cooled)
5 Remote control mirrors for Lasers
4 Mirror ball
Control for Lighting Rig:
1 Laserpoint Laser control system
2 Kliegl Performer II.2
1 60 way Avolites desk
1 160 x 20 Pin Matrix
1 Vari-Lite Desk
382 Dimmers (2.5k and 5k)
64 Multiplexed Relays