1. Annual Conference 2013

2. ShowTex & the Backstage Centre  Who we are  What we’re passionate about  Why we believe in the Backstage Centre

3. WHO WE ARE ShowTex is a worldwide specialist in inventing & manufacturing flame retardant fabrics and innovative suspension systems for the theatrical, entertainment and event production industry

4. From theatrical performances, operas and ballets

5. To the most extravagant special events and effects

6. SHOWTEX WORLDWIDE  Headquarters in Antwerp for 30 years  Full scale workshops in Belgium, the Netherlands, Dubai, Hong Kong & South Africa  Sales offices in UK, Sweden & France  120 full-time staff

7. WHAT WE DO At the ShowTex sewing workshops, custom curtains and fabric decorations are manufactured with high quality finishing and short lead times. New products are constantly being developed and improved on by in-house R&D

8. Colour

9. Finish

10. Manufacture

11. Details

12. Mayflower Theatre Southampton

13. What we’re passionate about

14. FABRICS Made for experimentation Vital part of the show Interaction with light and motion Physically and aesthetically flexible Structurally, basic rules about FR fabrics otherwise=anything goes!

15. Antony and the Johnsons

16. Norwegian National Ballet-Design by John Otto

18. U2 VIP LOUNGE

19. London 2012 Olympics

20. Outdoor Stretch Fabric

21. Stretch Fabric

22. Spaghetti String Curtains

23. Akram Khan Dance Company

24. Design by Es Devlin

25. Rosas Dance Company

26. Axelle Red Tour

27. Akram Khan Dance Company

28. De Singel Arts Centre

29. Belgian National Opera-De Munt

30. Take That Progress Tour

32. Arctic Monkeys at Rock Werchter

33. Gossip at Rock Werchter

34. London 2012 Olympic Opening ceremony

35. Anything is possible with fabrics…. With experience, planning, and cooperation between the creative and technical teams It takes all their skills combined to produce the amazing results that audiences expect.

36. Students of today shouldn’t have to wait until a job requires them to experiment with fabrics for them to gain the experience of working with them.

37. Just think of the images I could show you a few years from now when students can start their career with that knowledge instead.

38. Backstage Centre & ShowTex

39. The American Folk singer Pete Seeger explained the difference between education and experience. “Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't. ”

40. Industry generated training The next generation of designers, stage technicians, and production specialists already have the advantage of an ever growing selection of training programs, but in order to really know what it’s like to work as a team from start to finish, they’ll need a lot of practical experience in a real world environment.

42. Industry generated training Supply specialized drapes Classes based on industry experience Fast introduction of new technologies into courses Path to mentorships between students and professionals

43. Industry generated training We can also give expert advice and devise manuals and course materials for subjects like the: Care, handling, and storage of drapes Motion effects with tracks and motors Visual effects with lighting Specialized information about shaping venue acoustics with fabrics

44. Benefits The benefits will be an across the board improvement in skills regarding fabrics regardless of study specialty Long term this will drive innovation and add value for our industry as a whole.

45. Benefits It all starts now and I’m excited to see what our partnership will bring about in the coming year and for years to come.

46. We’re passionate about fabrics We want to share that passion with the next generation of industry professionals The Backstage Centre is the ideal environment for education, experimentation, and innovation