Adlib's audio, lighting & AV crew who work on the tour
UK - Adlib's working relationship with the touring version of multi award-winning mega-successful sitcom Mrs Brown's Boys hits the 15 year mark this year, with the Liverpool based company providing full technical production - sound, lighting and video - for the various legs of the 2015 arena tour, scheduled to conclude in December, plus a live DVD shoot in September.

Adlib also made a major investment in new Absen high definition LED screen, Sony broadcast cameras and Prolyte pre-rigged trussing in time for the first leg of the tour in the spring.

LED video screen has replaced the projection systems of previous tours this year taking everything up a level, complete with 252 panels of the new 3mm Absen A3 screen.

The lighting, sound and video production were all based around the new 2015 set designed by Frankie & Brian.

The entire production is tailor-made to suit each of the various arena venue runs on the itinerary, explained Adlib's technical production manager for the tour Kevin Byatt, who oversees all the equipment, logistics, prep, crewing, etc. This approach allows them to fine tune each performance space so it's just right.

Adlib's Ian Tomlinson takes up the story of the Absen investment. "The build quality is excellent and it's a great all-round choice for us and the variety of work that Adlib undertakes."

On Mrs Brown, the left and right IMAG screens each measure 6.5m wide by 4m high and the delay screen - located at the back of the FOH riser for the convenience of those seated towards the rear of the venues - is 5 x 3m landscape.

Adlib also purchased four new Sony HSC-100 Cameras for the tour, two of which are positioned FOH, fitted with Canon HJ40x10 long throw Lenses, while the other two are deployed either side of stage to catch the close-up action.

They are mixed by Mrs Brown's video director, Eric O'Carroll using a Blackmagic Atem 2 also from Adlib.

The 2015 tour lighting design was again created by Mike Summerfield who has been on-board for several years and is one of several familiar faces. The client likes to keep as many of the same team on-board where possible. It features a selection of moving lights including Martin MAC Viper Profiles and Washes and ARRI 2Ks. The lighting aesthetic is bright, bold and rambunctious - much like the humour.

FOH engineer Kenny Perrin has ensured Mrs Brown's sonic excellence for the last decade and continues this year utilising another Coda Audio system from Adlib. The show has used Coda for some time with great success.

His console of choice is currently a Soundcraft Vi6, using all the on-boards with a selection of compressors and de-essers on Brendan O'Carroll (Mrs. Brown), complete with a set of Lake LM44s across some of the vocal groups for fine tuning. Kenny has specified Adlib's new Vi7000 console for the next leg of the tour to give him more dynamic EQ via the onboard DPR-901 processing, which is an easy upgrade due to the show compatibility with the Vi6.

He also mixes monitors from FOH. For side-fills they have been using a couple of L-Acoustics ARCS cabinets as stage monitors together with some Adlib AA81s for hot-spot speakers.

(Jim Evans)


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