9. June 2026
Reflections from ABTT 2026: Learning, Connecting, and Looking Ahead
Last week, Show Weight Solutions attended the ABTT Theatre Show in London for the very first time.
As newcomers to the exhibition, we weren't entirely sure what to expect. What we discovered was an incredibly welcoming and diverse community of manufacturers, suppliers, venues, consultants, production professionals, and technical specialists, all contributing to the success of the theatre industry in their own way.
For us, the biggest takeaway wasn't a particular product or technology. It was the people.
Understanding the Bigger Picture
One of the most valuable aspects of attending ABTT was gaining a deeper understanding of how the theatre industry fits together.
When you're focused on your own area of expertise, it's easy to see only a small part of the overall picture. Walking the exhibition floor and speaking with so many different businesses highlighted just how interconnected the industry really is.
From stage engineering and automation specialists to lighting manufacturers, rigging providers, venue operators, consultants, and production teams, every company plays an important role in bringing performances to life.
These conversations helped us better understand not only what others do, but also where Show Weight Solutions fits within the wider ecosystem.
As a specialist supplier of load monitoring and rigging solutions, our role is often behind the scenes. Yet those conversations reinforced how important accurate load data, safe rigging practices, and reliable equipment are to the success of a project.
The Value of Conversation
One of the best parts of the event was simply talking to people.
Some conversations were highly technical. Others were about industry trends, challenges, future projects, and opportunities to collaborate.
Many businesses were incredibly open with their knowledge and experience, and it's always refreshing to meet people who are genuinely passionate about improving standards across the industry.
For a company like ours, those conversations are invaluable. They help us understand emerging needs, identify areas where we can add value, and continue developing our expertise.
Not Every Conversation Was Perfect
Of course, no exhibition would be complete without a few reminders that every business has different priorities.
While many companies were happy to share ideas and discuss future developments, others were understandably more focused on their own immediate objectives and less interested in wider industry conversations.
That's perfectly normal.
In any industry, some organisations naturally embrace collaboration and innovation more openly than others. What matters is recognising where meaningful partnerships can be built and focusing energy on those opportunities.
If anything, it reinforced an important lesson: the strongest relationships are built with people who are willing to engage, share knowledge, and explore how the industry can move forward together.
Why Events Like ABTT Matter
The theatre industry continues to evolve, with new technologies, new challenges, and new ways of working emerging every year.
Events like ABTT provide an opportunity to step away from day-to-day operations and take a broader view of where the industry is heading.
They create space for learning, networking, and discovering opportunities that simply don't appear during a normal working week.
For Show Weight Solutions, attending ABTT wasn't just about products or sales. It was about education, understanding the industry better, and building relationships that could prove valuable for years to come.
Looking Forward
We left ABTT with plenty of ideas, new contacts, and a much clearer understanding of how we can continue to support suppliers, venues, production teams, and rigging professionals across the industry.
Most importantly, we left with a renewed appreciation for how much there is still to learn.
That's one of the things that makes this industry so exciting.
No matter how long you've been involved, there's always another conversation to have, another perspective to understand, and another innovation to discover.
We're already looking forward to our next opportunity to continue that journey when we attend the PLASA Show in London this September.
We hope to see some familiar faces there and meet plenty of new ones too.
Until then, we'll keep learning, keep listening, and keep finding ways to help make the industry safer, smarter, and better connected.
Anthony Chapman
Show Weight Solutions
Precision. Safety. Confidence.