The ABTT Theatre show has been running since 1978, originally named The ABTT Trade show rebranded in the 2001 to make the annual event more accessible to a wider audience including front of housetheatre services. This has resulted in the growth of both exhibitors and attendees. The show originally started in 1978 at the hands of principal organiser Roger Fox and ABTT members Bob Anderson, Joe Aveline, David Adams and Richard York at the Donmar Warehouse Theatre, RSC Warehouse in Covent Garden, moving on to the Piccadilly Theatre in 1979. Fellow Ian Albery is part of the Albery theatre family who owned the Donmar Warehouse Theatre and the Piccadilly Theatre and facilitated the ABTT in getting the Theatre Show started. From 1980, the event was situated in the Shaftesbury Theatre; proceeding in 1981-82 to The Roundhouse and Riverside Studios during 1984-90. The Mermaid Theatre hosted the show in 1991 and then it relocated to The Royal Horticultural Halls where it stayed until 2011. The move from the Royal Horticultural Halls came after the sale of the hall to Westminster School – who planned to convert the exhibition space in to a sports hall. The ABTT then moved the Theatre Show to The Old Truman Brewery in Shoreditch after deciding that an event space, rather than an exhibition hall would "provide everything we need to use… a quirky venue… exhibitors have welcomed the choice." and since then Alexandra Palace has held the event from 2015 to present. In 2018, Roger Fox will be celebrating his 40th anniversary as Theatre Show Director along with the Theatre Shows 40th anniversary on 6-7 June 2018.
Remit
The purpose of the ABTT Theatre Show is to bring together drama schools, Trade Associations and live entertainment under one roof to help explore the connection between these different Industries. "The ABTT Theatre Show is an event where suppliers of goods and services meet up with industry professionals... involved in the staging of live performance." The ABTT Theatre Show has been developed by the ABTT to be relevant across theatre, TV, film and commercial work. A broad range of technical disciplines are covered, bring relevant to venue operators, production staff, theatre consultants and students addressing issues of health and safety, codes of practice, live performance, academic development, and other relevant matters. Exhibitor Technology, Live performance and specialist advice is made available for a wide range of issues which relate to theatres and places of entertainment. These include theatre design, sound design, stage lighting, live performance, and issues relating to health and safety issues matters that relate to places of entertainment.
ABTT Awards
Each year the Theatre show presents the ABTT Awards. These started in 1976 and were then hosted alongside the Theatreshow from 1984. This has progressed from the initial "product of the year" in the 1979’s a variety of awards including "technician of the year" and "stand of the year". In 1993, this altered from an initial ABTT Awards ceremony to the "ABTT Awards and Dinner" with in excess of 150 people attending. In 2014, these awards were presented for the first time in combination with the National Awards for Stage Management in a joint ceremony with the Stage Management Association, with the host for the awards being actress Lesley Manville.
