The invention concerns theatre installations.

A wide variety of well-known spectacular views of natural scenery or man-made works such as monuments, present throughout the world, become accessible to the general public through modern means of tourism capable of moving masses of people at the best seasons for seeing them, arranging transport and accommodation to the various localities. But just because in many cases crowds of spectators are brought together, often paying high costs and undergoing fatigue, it is not always possible to ensure their full enjoyment of a scene or object with the result that, after so much effort, they may go home only partially satisfied.

Such drawbacks may be summarised as follows : - long distances from the place of residence; - inadequate viewing positions due to a great mass of visitors; - difficulties over obtaining the necessary information for a full appreciation of a scene, monument or exhibit; - few initiatives available of the"sons et lumieres"type.

The invention here described overcomes these drawbacks by transferring the"features"of the natural or artificial"setting"or

monument to a theatre, enhancing the sensations perceived and the cultural character of the show as will be explained below.

Subject of the invention is a process, carried out in a theatre installa- tion, that generates and enriches the sensations created by some spectacular natural or artificial scene or by some monument, and is therefore of interest to tourists.

The installation, placed between a large panoramic screen for projecting fixed or moving images and an area with seating for spectators, comprises an arena to receive a removable plastic model giving a three-dimensional reproduction of the spectacular natural or artificial setting or monument.

Much of the arena is occupied by an area at a lower level forming a basin to hold water for a model reproducing a scene which may be close to the sea, beside a lake or alongside a river.

Strips of ground, accessible to the public, surrround the lower area, some higher with access ramps, but also some still higher up from which spectators can view the plastic model at ground floor and other levels.

At the position of the screen, the higher strips of ground are connected by a stairway leading to a central panoramic terrace.

The installation includes equipment for amplifying music, announce- ments, cultural descriptions of the"setting"shown, lighting and special effects.

This equipment is preferably situated in an overhead structure, maintained in a central position, in relation to the model, by cables fixed to poles at the sides of the arena.

The overhead structure can take the form of a rectangular"ring" moored by cables at its four upper corners.

At the base of the screen and stairways and at the sides of the arena, space is available for arranging shows as well as for offering cultural information in line with the sensations produced by the

natural or artificial"settings"or by the monuments exhibited, for the purpose of their enhancement.

By means of the model,. the panoramic screen, the systems for lighting and for amplifying music words and special effects, a combination of images, sound, information, and"sons et lumières" effects are produced, linked to the features of the model.

A large terrace is laid out at the top of the steps for seating.

The installation may be open to the sky or be covered by a fixed or movable roof.

The steps and the panoramic screen are preferably built at substantially the same level enabling use to be made of the space below, rendered available by the formation of colonnades.

This space is used for access to the theatre installation but also contains rooms for cultural events and information relating to the theme of the model.

The area below the screen can be used for cafés, restaurants, kitchens and shops.

The screen, preferably of the retroprojection type, is horizontally arched and extends across the whole width of the arena.

Images are projected onto the screen by cabins placed on towers situated at a suitable distance at the rear.

The steps for seating preferably extend along the entire width of the arena.

The model may be built of mixed materials, plastic, wood.

Typical building techniques are used to construct the installation.

The invention offers evident advantages.

A specially designed theatre installation enables groups of spectators, including school children, to benefit from a multimedia presentation offering information, arousing emotions, providing cinema, theatrical and musical'shows around some spectacular natural or artificial"setting", or relating to some monument,

reproduced by means of the diorama plastic forming a physical element to which continuous reference is made.

The installation constitutes a"place where shows can be held and information provided", integrating conventional forms to create an entirely novel effect whose essential features cover a variety of means for offering a combination of shows and information relating to the object represented by the"model".

Those of the"sons et lumieres"type, traditionally produced in real natural surroundings or against a background of real monuments, are here reproduced to scale by the"model"which not only makes it possible to"visit"cultural or natural amenities in their own settings, but also to see them from above, contrary to what is usually the case where the spectator can only obtain a partial view of the scene or monument.

The model thus becomes the main subject of the show and of the information given during the performance, due to its own presence and to the spectacular and other effects that the projection offers.

By means of linear, precise or diffused illumination, or of that obtainible with laser technology, parts or details of the model, explained. by a voice off-screen, become explicitly identifiable from the pictures projected onto the screen and by a series of scenic effects, achieved with the collaboration of artists.

For example, descriptiions can be given of the geographical, historical, environmental, natural, urbanistic, archeological, monumental, anthropic, literary, ethno-anthropological or musical features of the"setting"represented by the model.

The scenic and musical effects, cinematographic and photographic projections as well as the guide's voice added to the view of the "model", all contribute to enhancing the sensations that perception of the natural scenary or monument would arouse in tourists.

In addition to this and without altering the structure, the installation can be used for cultural functions, business meetings, conferences,

as well as for recreation and related needs associated with the use of free time.

A further use still would be the promotion of tourism to places of cultural interest in any city, inside or outside the country, approaching schools and universities, research institutes, conference organizers, town and country planners, agronomists, geologists, oceano- graphers, cultural heritage organizations, naturalists, journalists, all types of media producers.

Equipped with ample parking space, the installation can also make a useful contribution to community life by providing a structure for recreational activities, in addition to its main purpose of bringing natural and monumental amenities practically to the doorstep of many persons who would otherwise never see them.

Characteristics and purposes of the disclosure will be made still clearer by the following examples of its execution illustrated by diagrammatically drawn figures.

Fig. 1 The installation comprising a panoramic screen for projections, an arena designed for reproduction of some spectacular natural or artificial"setting"or of a monument, and steps for seating the spectators, in axiometry.

Fig. 2 Detail from Figure 1 showing the position of seating.

Fig. 3 As above, showing the position of the screen.

Fig. 4 Plan view of the installation.

Fig. 5 Plan view of the installation at ground level.

Fig. 6 Longitudinal axial section of the installation.

Fig. 7 Rear view of the installation.

Fig. 8 Cross section of the installation showing the screen.

Fig. 9 As above, showing the seating The installation 10, protected by an outer wall 11, presents a rectangular arena 16 comprised between the retroprojecting panoramic screen 50 and the steps 80 for seating, both set at a level of about +5 m.

Much of the arena 16 is occupied by a lower area 17 at a level of about-2 m which can form a basin for a plastic"model"100 reproducing a natural"setting", which may include deep depressions, or be situated at the seaside, on the shore of a lake or along a river.

Around the lower area 17 are strips 25 of ground at about-1 m with access ramps 26, strips 28 of ground at zero level and strips 40 raised to about +5 m accessible to spectators.

From said strips 25,28, 40 spectators can see substantially all round the perimeter of the lower area 17, at ground level and at various levels of the centrally situated"model".

At the position of the screen 50, the strips 40 merge into a central panoramic terrace 41 at the same level, accessible by means of the stairways 43.

Open spaces, respectively 30 and 31, below the panoramic screen 50 and seating steps 80, are available for informative and cultural events at which actors, presenters, orchestras, musical groups, ballet dancers and other artists can participate, or initiatives be organized in harmony with the natural or artificial"setting"or monument reproduced in the"model", to enhance the emotional effect.

The square for access and parking 20 is situated at the front of the installation 10.

This square continues, through the colonnade 23, communicating with the area below the seating, in the centre of which is the entrace 21 and ticket office 22, to the left the large multimedia hall 60 and to the right the projection rooms 61 with seating.

Stairways 65 and elevators 66, to reach the seating 80 and toilets 67, are situated at the two ends of the entry square 20.

Above the rows of seating 80 is a wide terrace 82 with access ramps 83.

The panoramic screen 50 at a level of about +5 m is supported by the colonnade 51.

In the central area at the base of the screen 50, the café 33 can be seen with the restaurant 34 behind it, kitchens 35 on the left and a large space for shops 36 on the right.

The large panoramic balcony 41 can be seen in Figure 4 behind the screen 50; its floor level at +5 m is reached by stairways 43 and is joined to the raised passageway strips 40.

Projections reach the screen from three cabins 55 set on towers 54 at the rear, one central and two lateral.

Figure 6 shows the projection bearns 71 and the view of the screen 50 as it is seen from the seats.

In the middle of the arena 16 the rectangular overhead structure 90 is supported at its upper corners by cables 91 fixed to poles 92 placed at a suitable distance on each side of the installation.

This overhead structure contains the lighting plant 95 facing towards the arena 16.

The figures illustrate a suitably scaled"model"100 of a natural setting in Sicily, the region being surrounded by water 101 to simulate the sea, supported by short columns 103.

As appears in Figure 6, the seating 80 is set at a suitable angle to ensure that the model is fully visible from all the seats.

In one type of execution the arena 16 measures approximately 90 x 90 m.

Static or moving images, relating to the spectacular and educational material offered by the model, are projected onto the screen.

Provision is made for suitably powerful sound amplification, not shown for simplicity, and for other scenic means to create effects of a particular kind traditionally present in public shows.

Every possible kind of technically advanced equipment in the field of lighting and special effects, such as laser beams for instance, can be mounted on the overhead structure 90.

A whole series of services can be allied to the installation, including restaurants, snack-bars, souvenir shops, commercial and information

centres, tourist offices, bookshops, conference rooms, exhibitions of local products, archeology, ethnography, arts and crafts as well as actual museums.

The complex can be set up on any open space inside or outside a town ; it can be adapted to any surface condition and form of the terrain and be provided with whatever further services or equipment are desired.

In its central position within the arena, the"model"can be constructed of different materials, such as mixtures, plastic or wood, and is removable to make way for"models"made to different scales as best suited to the natural"settings"and monuments to be shown.

The"model"can be built on any site using methods typical of the building industry.