Hot Ice has been running for over 70 years, with the 2011 show, Aura, performed twice daily, six days a week, to entertain and enthral nearly 20,000 visitors a week. This makes it one of the UK's most popular attractions.
Hot Ice is created, produced and directed by Amanda Thompson and presented by Stageworks Worldwide Productions at the Pleasure Beach's ice skating theatre, The Arena. Stageworks head of production, management & events, Scott Hope, specified the Jands Vista T2 in consultation with his team, when the time came to upgrade and replace the show's lighting control desk.
Key to his decision, says Scott, was that Vista "Is as easy or as sophisticated as you want to make it, which is really helpful to get the most out of short programming windows." He especially likes the way it is quick and easy to manipulate any fixture and any cue, "This is hugely powerful and saves masses of programming time" he qualifies, adding that the whole Vista concept is excellent.
Once they had decided that Vista was the way to go, they looked at the hardware range to find the console that best fitted their needs and budget, finally settling on a Vista T2.
The Vista T2 controls a wide mix of lighting fixtures including 40 Martin Professional MAC 2K profiles and 12 x GLP Impression moving lights, along with 60 x Chroma-Q colour changers and over 200 generics, plus 20 banks of ACL's, 23 Showtec Sunstrips, two Starcloths, MDG Atmosphere and Compack smoke machines, as well as numerous strobe and in-house effects.
It also controls a special bespoke 'Prometheus' flame jet fire effect that was developed in house, comprising of four effects heads.
Stageworks were so impressed with their T2 that they decided to invest in a further two Vista I3's and three Vista PC 'dongles' for various other shows and events onsite. They find these to be a handy 'quick fix' solution for corporate events, presentations and press launches.
(Jim Evans)
