| 
|
 |
A South Wales-based theatre company has handed a starring role to its latest cast member – a new-generation Mercedes Sprinter van.
Spectacle Theatre’s its now using its Sprinter 311CDI Long as transport for its regular tours. The van is ferrying actors, scenery, props, lights, sound systems and costumes to venues around the country, from the theatre company’s base at Coleg Morgannwg in the Rhondda Valley.
Formed in 1979, Spectacle Theatre is an Arts Council of Wales-funded community theatre and ‘Theatre in Education’ provider. Most of its performances are delivered to Welsh schoolchildren but it has also given shows in London and Ireland.
Administrative Director Sandra Jones says Spectacle Theatre opted for a new Sprinter as its previous, nine-year-old Mercedes had given such excellent service.
“We like the Sprinter because it’s powerful enough to handle the steep hills of the valleys and is equally at home on A-roads and motorways,” she says. “It’s also big enough to carry our sets and equipment, yet is still very easy to manoeuvre.”
The van was funded by a joint Arts Council and National Lottery grant. It has been decked out in a special ‘vinyl wrap’ livery designed by Savage and Gray, of Cardiff, and produced by ACT in Cardiff Bay.
“The van is a mobile advertising billboard,” adds Sandra, “and looks absolutely stunning.”
To celebrate the arrival of its new Sprinter, Spectacle Theatre hosted a special gala performance of A Ghost In The Attic, a World War Two tale written by Mark Ryan and directed by Menna Price. It was attended by Arts Council of Wales Chief Executive Peter Tyndall.
The new-generation Mercedes Sprinter was launched last summer. Combining dynamic good looks, ‘bullet-proof’ build quality, comprehensive specification and ingenious technology, the range cost £1.25 billion (1.8 billion euro) and took a team of 400 design engineers five years to develop. The result is a triumph, a vehicle that sets new standards in terms of productivity, refinement and safety.
Highlights of the range include best-in-class side-loading door widths, outstanding ergonomics and comfort, a powerful and clean CDI diesel engine line-up topped by a storming 184hp 3.0-litre V6, and an advanced new version of the remarkable ESP® anti-skid system called Adaptive ESP®.
|
| | |
Model range
Your toolkit