27 Verlinde STAGEMAKER electric chain hoists now power the new lighting system at Lithuania's renowned Keistuoliai Theatre

The Keistuoliai Theatre, which opened in 1989 inside an old building in the capital Vilnius, was Lithuania's first independent professional theatre. Its artistic productions, known for pushing past the usual boundaries of classical music, literature, theatre and cinema, are highly valued by a broad audience. After 30 years in operation, the Keistuoliai Theatre went through a major renovation in 2019. Scenos Techninis Servisas, Verlinde's partner in Lithuania, built an original, custom-made lighting system for its distinctive circular stage.

The Lithuanian company Scenos Techninis Servisas (STS) is Lithuania's largest provider of technical services for the entertainment, culture and performance sector. For over 30 years, STS has supplied standard and custom stages and technical equipment for countless performances at home and abroad. Depending on the venue and the type of event, it designs fully customised sound, lighting, mechanical, stage and video systems, which interact not only with one another but also with other building systems, such as electrical and fire safety. STS also manages project delivery from installation through to staff training.

STS maintains long-standing relationships with foreign suppliers, Verlinde chief among them for lifting equipment. The French manufacturer's STAGEMAKER hoist range is engineered and developed specifically for the entertainment industry, in line with applicable worldwide standards and regulations (CE, DIN, UKCA) as well as market needs. STAGEMAKER enjoys an outstanding reputation across the global entertainment and theatre industry, backed by over 45 years of expertise in these market segments. This long track record and extensive list of references speak to the equipment's durability and reliability.

A truly unique lighting system

The lighting system for the Keistuoliai Theatre's circular stage was designed by the theatre's own lighting designer, Darius Malinauskas, with STS responsible for delivering the project. Installing the lighting system demanded the highest quality standards, which STS successfully met.

«The renovation process, spanning more than two years, gave the Keistuoliai Theatre a genuine new lease of life,» explains Julius Gružinskas, head of STS's design department. He notes that the project's biggest challenge was the hall's layout: the single amphitheatre-style hall and circular stage called for a non-standard lighting system.
Indeed, making the best use of the available space and fitting a versatile lighting system required non-standard stage structures. Aluminium trusses with varying curves were purpose-built for this project. The large theatre hall's lighting system is unique, with nothing else quite like it anywhere in Lithuania.

STAGEMAKER hoists built for stage lifting systems

Today, over 100 new lights illuminate the renovated stage in the Keistuoliai Theatre's main hall during performances. This system stands out in several ways: its distinctive shape, the sheer number of lights, and its mechanisation. The lights hang from ten lighting bridges, with the front bridges formed by striking curved trusses reaching up to 15 meters long. The whole system is mechanised by 27 Verlinde chain hoists from the Stagemaker range, which raise the lighting equipment in complete safety. These electric chain hoists make it simple to adapt the system for different types of shows and to change the lighting quickly.

Verlinde's Stagemaker range, built for the entertainment industry, lifts loads from 125 to 5000 kg, and benefits from ongoing innovations developed together with market players. For instance, the patented «Perfect Push» concept uses a 5-cell lifting nut to drive the lifting chain more smoothly, improving guidance and reducing the risk of jamming. Another innovation found on this equipment is «ChainFlux», a unique concept featuring horizontal chain ejection that lets the hoist be used in either an industrial or climbing position.
In addition, LED lighting strips run all around the semi-circular room. Varying the lighting's colour and intensity in the hall makes it possible to change the atmosphere to suit each performance.

During the renovation, the theatre also gained a small auditorium. A dedicated frame for the lighting system was designed for this space and built around its perimeter, allowing the lights to be mounted in various configurations. This frame, too, is raised using Verlinde hoists.

STS also handled the theatre's video equipment, including projectors and screens, as well as the stage curtains, front curtain and side backdrops. Fog machines add further depth to this theatre's lighting effects.

The power of an outstanding partnership

STS is among the few Lithuanian companies offering complete, customised installation solutions for customers' performance venues, with non-standard solutions in public and cultural spaces clearly one of its strengths. An experienced design team seeks out the best solutions and calls on STS's long-standing partners in stage equipment production to bring their ideas to life.

«The Keistuoliai Theatre renovation project succeeded thanks to strong cooperation with our customers and partners,» says Julius Gružinskas, head of STS's design department. «The end user is delighted with the outcome. Their vision has come to life through the installer and every partner who contributed. The chain hoists, made by Verlinde, are central to this installation and do their job perfectly.»

Verlinde is glad to contribute its expertise and top-grade products to installations carried out by STS. This quality partnership within Lithuania's cultural and entertainment industry helps build our reputation worldwide», concludes Jean-Yves Beaussart, International Sales and Marketing Manager for the Stagemaker range.