Re: Making the most (or least) of a bad room.
I've worked often in a church hall similar to this, albiet a little smaller. (22x12m with a 6m high pitched roof. Walls of brick and timber and a wooden floor.) The reverb is horrible. I modelled the room in EASE once and simulated some absorption but the church didn't want to spend any money.
Echoing John's comments, the only thing I've found that works is flying the speakers about 3 to 4m off the ground and pointing them downward towards the audience.
When the room is used long, I have a centre speaker 3m out from the "front" wall and 4m up. Then a flown delay about half way down.
When the room is used sideways, I fly a pair either side of the stage and about 3m up, splayed outwards to cover each half.
The first time I did the sideways configuration, many of the old folk came up to me and said it's the first time they've been able to hear any dialog clearly in the hall since it was first built!
Best,
Michael
