I'm with FatherMurphy on this one. Human
power is the way to go, for these reasons:
1. It's cheap
2. It won't break down - or at least, if it does, you can replace the motor easily!
3. If something goes wrong with a scene change, you can easily change the
revolve speed/direction/whatever without needing to reprogram
4. It's safe - if the operators see a problem then they'll stop; if you're shifting them mechanically then you have to
build in all sorts of pressure sensors to do this.
I've done several shows with a
revolve, and every time they've been people-powered, even down to
Les Miserables on a 9-metre diameter
revolve with half a ton of
barricade and about 25 people on it. It's not difficult to
build the
revolve so it can be controlled by a
winch from the wings - a metal C-section around the outside of the
revolve,
wire rope and some pulleys and you can route the control to wherever you want.