UK - Le Mark will celebrate its 20th anniversary with the launch of its new catalogue at PLASA 2003. After nine months in the design and production, the new catalogue will be launched on Sunday 7 September at the PLASA Show, Earls Court, and will include many new and innovative products.
This issue will reinforce Le Mark's reciprocal trading policy: the catalogue features exciting accessories from Apollo Design Technology Inc, City Theatrical Inc and GAM Products. For the first time, products from Le Mark's recently-announced production partner Tesa UK Ltd are introduced, including the new high heat-resisting Scroller-Tak splicing tape. "Le Mark offers an 'open house' on the day of the launch, with a Champagne toast at mid-day," says catalogue design co-ordinator Mark Gibbons. "It's been a tough time for many areas of the entertainment industry - we have worked hard to include cost-effective, quality items where needed. We hope as many as possible of our clients and friends can make it to the stand and celebrate with us 20 years in the industry plus the introduction of our new catalogue."
(Lee Baldock)
UK - The first Nexo GEO S system to be installed in the UK or Ireland was finally commissioned in the Millennium Forum, Derry, by Rea Sound (NI) Ltd. The theatre's technical manager, Jim Nelis, was demonstrated a number of key sound systems, but ultimately chose the Nexo GEO series for the clarity and quality of sound throughout the auditorium.
This 800-plus seated auditorium required a sound system that would cope with the wide range of uses, from poetry recitals to modern pop and rock bands, from local school productions to West End extravaganzas. With the GEO system the theatre is able to provide a high quality sound system previously lacking in Ireland's largest purpose built theatre. Rea Sound (NI) Ltd, the Irish Nexo dealer, installed the system, consisting of seven GEO S805, one GEO S830 and a pair of CD12 sub each side of the stage.
The installation team used specially-design brackets to fly the GEO system, which was positioned and angled using the Nexo GEO software package. The driving force behind these speakers consisted of six Camco Vortex amplifiers and Nexo NX241 digital controllers, with constant equalisation provided by Symetrix 533E Dual Channel 31-band graphic equaliser. Jim Nelis commented: "A lot of visiting artists have complimented us on the superb sound quality, and it has saved them from having to use their own gear."
All the above equipment was supplied by UK distributor Fuzion plc.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - www.StageAccess.com - launched in April 2003 and now joined by over 2,500 members - has revealed the next generation of features that are to be added to the site over the coming months. The unique Teams Tool feature, which has been piloted as a stand-alone module on the Robbie Williams European tour this summer, will be the first major addition when it is fully integrated into the StageAccess.com website in late August. From that point on, all its powerful communications features will be available to every StageAccess member.
Teams Tool allows anyone to set up a group of people and communicate with at once them from a computer via SMS and e-mail. Important documents can also be shared and uploaded for all team members to view and share, and members can set up and join multiple teams, invite new members and join relevant discussions.
The Tour Guide and Events Module is scheduled to be added to the site this autumn. It will add listings of upcoming tours and events and will hopefully prove an invaluable resource for suppliers and production personnel. The third addition will come in the New Year with the launch of a Classified Ads section, enabling members to advertise goods and services online - the perfect, low cost way to offload surplus equipment or promote a new service to the entire StageAccess membership.
Registration (including an eBiz Card) is free online. Individual annual membership for the full web package is £100. Company membership is £195.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - A Shropshire audio-visual company has re-launched its website with an online facility aimed specifically at DJs wanting to purchase new equipment.
Telford-based BK Sound & Vision Ltd specializes in the hire of audio equipment, computer projectors, video recorders, stage and theatre lighting and public address systems. The website, however, concentrates on selling DJ tools - everything from headphones, microphones and record cases, to turntables, mixing desks, lighting and portable public address systems. BK director Colin Willacy decided to offer online purchasing having noticed a change in the market. "Initially BK was only a hire company supplying AV equipment to local businesses and hotels. In the last two years, there has been a shift towards sales caused mainly by the ever-falling purchase price of electronic equipment. Our new website reflects this, offering quality products to those that choose to purchase. It also made sense in appealing to the increasing trend of people taking up DJ-ing as creative outlet and professional occupation."
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - CT Screenco recently undertook its first contract for the burgeoning esoteric dance festival, The Big Chill, a 16,500-capacity sell-out event which was held for the second year in the grounds of Eastnor Castle in the Malvern Hills. Working alongside production manager Ruari Cormack and AV manager Adam Seaman, CT Screenco provided a 5x5 15mm LED screen on its own ground support, situated upstage centre on the Sanctuary stage. Video is the equal of audio playback as the primary content in this dance extravaganza, and Screenco's daylight screen was put to good use, fed by a succession of VJs, providing self-originated video, animations and graphics to complement their respective artistes.
Since the festival was using a Wango elliptical stage (allowing a lot of natural daylight to penetrate the stage) the production would not have been effective without such a high brightness screen as that afforded by the narrow pixel pitch of the 15mm LED display. CT Screenco's Mike Walker said: "The festival decided to switch for the first time from a conventional projection screen to LED - and it certainly paid off."
The highlight, he said, was the performance by the Cinematic Orchestra, for whom CT Screenco supplied 10 Sony PVM21 21" monitors as a reference - a method of providing video foldback for the performers - as they presented their live score to the 1929 Russian experimental film, Man with a Movie Camera, directed by Dziga Vertov.
CT Screenco also dry-hired a number of high-grade DLP and LCD projectors, along with projection screens, monitors
UK - DL Electronics has recently completed the installation of a four-zone background music system by Cloud Electronics at Scalini's Italian restaurant in Botanic Avenue, Belfast. The system is controlled via a Cloud Z4 router with remote source and volume controls, providing control in each of the four areas. A total of 24 JBL Control 23 loudspeakers provide excellent coverage without becoming intrusive to the numerous clients. The loudspeakers were supplied in a white finish but were delicately painted by the interior designers to match the colour scheme and decor.
Meanwhile, DL Electronics also reports that Cloud equipment has also been utilized for the main announcements and foreground music system for the re-furbished Belfast Opera House. The existing JBL Control 1 loudspeakers were re-sited, along with the installation of two 19" LCD monitors for display of the stage performance to the main bar areas, with provision on the Cloud Z8 equipment for future expansion, due in early 2004.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
UK - Stage Electrics is holding a sale of theatrical and disco lighting and ancillary equipment on Saturday 20 September 2003. The auction is being held at the company's headquarters in Third Way, Avonmouth, Bristol at 10.00am. Lots will include smoke machines, theatre lanterns, dimmers and desks, flightcases, cables, disco consoles and various effects.
Patrick Behan, who has organized the previous successful Stage Electrics auctions, told us: "This year it has been difficult to keep the lots to 1,000 as we have acquired a considerable amount of new and second-hand kit. There should be loads of bargains and the usual chance to meet up with a few mates from the industry."
Electronic versions of the catalogue are available from Monday 8 September and hard copies from 12 September. Auction catalogues can be requested by emailing auction@stage-electrics.co.uk or by phoning 0117 937 9534.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Stagetec has just completed stage two of a highly flexible new dimmer installation at Fountain Television Studios in Wembley, the conclusion of a project started two years ago: the reason for the protracted lead-time was that the studio's schedule has been so hectic and August 2003 was the first opportunity the company had to complete the work.
The full installation consists of 32 Compulite CompuDIM 2000 modular dimmer cabinets plus an additional mobile, flightcased system used on the studio floor and elsewhere in the building. An impressive total of 726 x 20A (5kW) dimmers and 20 x 40A (10kW) dimmers has been supplied and installed, split between Fountain's two large studios. The combination of reliability, performance, ease of control and monitoring made the Compulite range the ideal solution for Fountain.
The 5kW dimmers are all fitted with Hard Power Bypass switches so the dimmer output can be quickly switched from dimmed mains to hard mains for powering moving lights. The dimmers are controlled from the studio's existing Galaxy lighting consoles via Compulite D54 to DMX converters. They can also be controlled via Ethernet, with four Ethernet nodes provided by Stagetec, so incoming desks can easily be connected to the system from anywhere in the studios.
The entire dimmer system is monitored and configured via Compulite's Dimmer Monitor Software (DMS). This enables all dimmer functions to be quickly and easily programmed, and also for different configurations to be saved, so when the same show returns repeatedly, the dimmer settings can be re-configure
Liechtenstein - Due to an acute risk of forest fire, a Lobo laser show was organized in record-breaking time to replace a cancelled large-scale fireworks display that had been booked to celebrate the national holiday in Liechtenstein.
The long period of drought and the increasing number of devastating fires in the heart of Europe took their toll, and the Liechtenstein government was forced to cancel the traditional fireworks just three days before the event. It was a hard decision for the tradition-conscious Principality in the heart of the Alps, as the national holiday and especially the magnificent large-scale fireworks are a symbol of national identity and an attraction for tourists from all over the world.
The solution to the problem was not far away: by noon that day the telephone was ringing at the facilities of the laser show market leader, Lobo. A few hours later, Lobo's president Lothar Bopp and art-director Alexander Hennig arrive in Liechtenstein's capital Vaduz for an on-site inspection. By 4pm the committee could announce that a giant laser show was to replace the fireworks. At the same time the crew in Lobo's headquarter in Aalen were already configuring and packaging the equipment whilst preparing all the appropriate customs paperwork. At 12am, not more than 16 hours after the last discussions in Liechtenstein, 16 tons of equipment were ready to go to Vaduz where it would be installed just a few hours later.
Over two night sessions a unique 20-minute spectacular was created in the Lobo studios: the 10 Lobo specialists used every second until sunr
UK - 'Popstars' finalist Liberty X recently made a headline appearance at the Newmarket Races. The event featured the first ever UK outing for AKG's revolutionary WMS 4000 professional wireless system. First past the post in employing the new true diversity UHF system was Nottingham-based Merlin PA. Five headset systems and five handheld systems were flown in specifically for Liberty X's performance and the events proved to be a resounding success.
Neal Allen, owner of Merlin PA, commented: "We were very impressed by the ease of setting up this high end multi-channel system and with the monitoring facilities that the WMS 4000 system offers for both RF and AF integrity. This was also the first time that the company used the AKG C420 headset mics and I was stunned by the quality and clarity of these units."
The AKG WMS 4000 systems are now available from stock and feature a true diversity receiver with metal case, 30 MHz wide UHF band with up to 1200 selectable frequencies, pilot tone data transmission for battery status monitoring and tone code squelch, PC interface for remote control and status monitoring, logic output for controlling external devices, backlit, programmable colour display and jog wheel for ease of use, Auto set-up, environmental scan and rehearsal functions for easy set-up.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
UK - Leading UK manufacturer, Trantec Systems, specialists in the design and supply of sophisticated Radio products, has sponsored talented Irish/London stand-up Comedian John Ryan, supplying him with their award-winning S3500 wireless microphone system. Ryan is making his debut at the 57th International Edinburgh Festival Fringe with two productions, Kids are Best and John Ryan Isn't Normal, which both run through the Festival from 3-25 August. Staged in the heart of the Fringe at the Pleasance Courtyard and The Edinburgh Comedy Room, he has been taking the critics by storm.
Already recognized across Europe as one of the most naturally funny men in Britain, he performs regularly in London's Comedy Store and major comedy venues nation-wide. Taking inspiration from his five-year-old daughter, he has cunningly undermined the adult focus at the Fringe by delivering a show for children. He aims to celebrate child-like enthusiasm and innocence though an hour of high-energy fun, laughter, participation and enjoyment.
This year's Fringe presents 21, 594 performances of 1, 541 shows by 668 companies, performed in 207 venues. Ryan commented: "It's fantastic to be up here, the atmosphere is simply electric! I'm relieved and gratified that both shows have been well received. As I concentrate on breaking barriers between the audience and myself, using Trantec's S3500 wireless lapel mic has liberated me. I have the freedom of movement that I need - I jump about a lot!. It's so light that I forget I'm wearing it. And its superb sound quality has made such a
UK - MTFX's Firedance system has proved very popular this year, with shows up and down the country accompanying many Firework Fantasia¹s and Classical Concerts. It can be used both in daylight and night time productions with extreme versatility. The standard system consists of 12 large jets of fire 8m high. Each jet is synchronized to a smpte track or other show system for millisecond accuracy, or the whole effect can be played live.
For safety reasons, each jet is intelligent enough to shut itself off should the pilot light be lost, thereby disabling that pod until a suitable ignition has been established. The materials used for the effect are completely non hazardous in their primary state, causing no problems with transportation or on site storage. MTFX completed in total over a thousand 'burns' of various sizes, without incident and with the material igniting every time (the company has over come the problems other systems have had with unreliable ignition). Each head can also be operated at an angle, enabling 8m jets of flame to be shot across the stage horizontally.
This year, productions have been so successful that MTFX have been rebooked for next year's events already.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
Germany - In the second weekend of August, the Museums Insel (museum island) in Berlin saw (or more accurately 'heard') the first appearance of Alcons Audio's 'The Ribbon' line array system. Its debut came at the museum's annual festival, which takes place on the museum island in Berlin, and features a range of concerts.
Götz Berge, owner of Lichtwerk Berlin who were responsible for the lighting and sound elements of the event, commented: "With a concert stage in the centre of Berlin, and especially in a cultural place like the Museums Insel, we've had to deal with a lot of specific requirements for the audio specification. A number of problems had to be addressed, including limited SPL leakage to surrounding buildings and the fact that SPL inside the adjacent Berliner Dom (Berlin Dome) had to be as low as 50dB. At the same time, sound pressure on the concert ground itself had to be up to concert standards. Additionally, the type of music, which featured numerous acoustic instruments, also required maximum sound quality and fidelity. Not an easy task, considering the numerous buildings' reflections around the concert ground.
In March this year we asked Alcons Audio if they could provide a solution. As the company was just starting up, I didn't expect a positive reaction, but Tom Back and his team took up the challenge to have the system ready by August. They've done an amazing job."
Philip de Haan and Jeroen Fortanier were the R&D engineers responsible for the development of the system. We've been looking at line array advances for quite a few years
Canada - In an effort to stave off the economic downturn suffered as a result of SARS, Toronto hosted the largest ticketed event in production history. Billed as 'Molson Canadian Rocks for Toronto', the show featured The Rolling Stones, topping a 15-act bill at a former air force base in the north end of 'the best behaved big city in the world'.
With only four weeks to put together a show for 450,000 people there was no opportunity for a learning curve, so Stones production director Jake Berry enlisted Fourth Phase's Toronto office to provide stage and audience lighting for the Stones, AC/DC, Rush, Guess Who, The Isley Brothers and ten other acts. Fourth Phase Toronto crew chief Scott Gross and his team of eight thus delivered a system comprising 200 Martin MAC 2000s and High End Studio Beams, plus 700 generics, and a staggering 90 Molefay 8-lites, spread across the 240' wide stage structure and 12 field towers.
Gross and Fourth Phase account manager Matt Stoody worked with Stones lighting designer Patrick Woodroffe and associate designer Adam Bassett, under the supervision of Fourth Phase's John Lobel and Nick Jackson, to ensure this one-time event went without a hitch.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - Autograph Sound Recording is using LLW LDS700 ribbon loudspeakers on a production of Stephen Sondheim's Pacific Overtures at the Donmar Warehouse. The musical, which continues Autograph's long relationship with the theatre, chronicles the arrival of an American expedition on the Japanese island of Nippon in 1853, changing its way of life forever.
"Pacific Overtures is a fantastic musical which requires subtle amplification," says Autograph sound designer Nick Lidster. "Choosing a loudspeaker system for this type of reinforcement, while providing the auditorium with even, 360-degree coverage is extremely difficult. These problems are made worse at the Donmar as it has no obvious loudspeaker rigging positions, and this particular production is unusual because it is performed in-the-round, with the stage in the centre of the theatre."
The Swedish-manufactured LDS700 loudspeaker is a 1400mm high box containing a continuous (1400mm long) ribbon loudspeaker designed to stack vertically to create a true 'line array' source. "As with all ribbon speakers, the LDS700 is slightly underpowered and this limits the types of show it can comfortably amplify," continues Lidster. "However it is much more robust and punchy than its predecessors. For old-style shows requiring minimal amplification it is perfect. We were able to put LLWs in each corner of the Donmar auditorium and have each column firing diagonally across the stage and into the opposite facing corners of the room. This allowed each seating block to face its own le
Australia - The first of the new MAC 250 Krypton moving lights to arrive in Australia were delivered in late July to Melbourne-based hire and production company, Resolution X. Supplied directly from the first production run at Martin's factory in Denmark, these first 52 MAC 250 Kryptons formed part of a package of more than 160 moving lights provided by Resolution X to television station HSV7 for the game show, Deal or No Deal.
The Krypton 250, which owes more of its design heritage to the MAC 2000 line than the previous generation of MAC 250s, is proving much faster, brighter and more flexible than its predecessors, say Resolution X. The company's managing director, Tim Hall, told PLASA Media that he is so impressed with the performance of the new fixtures that he is considering buying more of them when they become available.
(Lee Baldock)
USA - An amendment to the National Constitution Center's initial lighting plan replaced an expensive video projection system with a group of automated VL1000 ellipsoidal reflector spotlights from Vari*Lite. The rig is for Freedom Rising, a multi-media production that introduces visitors to the new Philadelphia museum. As the show begins, the audience is washed in a huge starfield created by custom-designed gobos in the VL1000 units.
When the lone actor takes centre stage in the in-the-round configuration, he is lit with a sharp beam of light from another VL1000 fixture. At that moment, a video begins on a 360° video screen that surrounds the audience. "It's a total immersion experience for the audience," explained production coordinator Kai Brothers. "By adding light, patterns and images directly onto the audience with the VL1000 fixtures, they become part of the show."
The design, created by scenic and lighting designer Jerome Sirlin, also includes a 30ft tall, five-sided projection scrim system (14ft in diameter), which drops into the space, encapsulating the performer. Sirlin selected Vari*Lite fixtures for the specific needs of the presentation, as they offered rotating gobo wheel, colour-mixing system, mechanical iris, automated four-blade shutter system, 19-36° zoom range (plus 70° super zoom capability) and a 1000W tungsten source.
"It was determined during the early stages of the project that the only fixture that could meet the requirements of the design team was the VL1000 ERS," said systems integrator Thomas Ca
UK - DPL Production Lighting in collaboration with laser and video specialists CMT, produced a spectacular mixed-media end to Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra's summer outdoor season, illuminating the skies in and around Meyrick Park in Bournemouth.
This was the biggest ever concert staged by the BSO, and saw them perform Carl Orff's Carmina Burana conducted by Neville Creed and accompanied by The Bournemouth Symphony Chorus. Over 6,000 people enjoyed the event, complete with full lighting, laser and video projections and over 150 pyro cues skilfully interwoven into the piece. DPL and CMT, together with Classic Fireworks and Skan PA, were asked onboard by the BSO's Anthony Brown.
DPL's Darren Parker led the lighting team. The company architecturally lit the production Horizon and coloured the trees behind the stage using 12 Martin MAC 2000s, two 7kW Xenon Space Cannons and 10 Studio Due City Colors. DPL also supplied four smoke machines, control was an Avolites Diamond 4 Elite console operated by Parker.
Ram and Gino Malocca managed video projection and lasers. The video was specially researched and produced by Roger Nell and CMT. It interpreted the music, rather than presenting literal images relating to the work, which is known for its explicit 'adult' content. Utilizing two Digital Projection 15SX machines, the images were beamed onto a pair of 30ft x 20ft screens. Sources were stored on two Doremi hard drives and two DVD players and mixed via a For-A component switcher. A static Sony DV camera onstage supplied a live feed of the orchestra. The t
Ireland - Irish PA company, Nolan Sound & Light, have purchased a Nexo GEO S Tangent Array System for use on the next leg of the Daniel O'Donnell tour in the UK. Proprietor Alan Nolan confirmed the order with Irish Nexo/Crown distributor Rea Sound after the Irish singing legend had been impressed with the system - particularly the large CD18 subs - when he performed through it in the States.
Nolan Sound & Light, his long-time PA provider, had earlier experienced the Nexo GEO S system closer to home when visiting Millennium Forum Theatre in Derry with another act, and played through Rea Sound's newly-supplied house system. Alan Nolan explained what had motivated him to make the investment. "Whenever I brought Daniel to the British mainland we always ended up sub-hiring the Nexo kit in - which simply wasn't cost-effective."
And so he ordered 32 GEO S805s and a pair of GEO S830s, reinforced at the bottom end by four (2 x 18) CD18s. Two NX241 dedicated system processors will control the system. The S805 and S830 are compact, high output full range loudspeakers that can be combined in horizontal or curved vertical arrays. To get maximum benefit from the system, in addition to the flying hardware, Nolan also purchased new groundstack frames (which accommodate eight boxes a side in situations where height restriction precludes flying). Finally, he purchased six Crown MA-3600VZ amplifiers to drive the system, packing 3,600W into a mere 3.5" of vertical rack space. All the equipment was supplied by UK distributors Fuzion plc.
Based in Castlepollard, Westm
UK - Entec Lighting is supplying equipment to the 10 week series of Saturday Lakeside Concerts at picturesque Kenwood House in Hampstead, north London. The high profile event is now in its 53rd year, and this is the second year Entec has been onboard for IMG Arts & Entertainment. The company was invited to tender for the Kenwood gig after working with IMG on the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, arena tour of 2001. The cabaret-style series of concerts varies considerably in content, from the likes of Bjorn Again to the Frank Sinatra touring show and several orchestras, as well as high profile international jazz artists like Diana Krall, whose show completely sold out.
Entec's head of lighting Adam Stevenson explains that they are supplying a basic rig consisting of 16 400W exterior sodium floods illuminating the white-clad inside of the stage, for those acts wanting absolutely no additional visuals apart from being clearly seen, the option favored by most orchestras. The entire lighting system is rigged directly onto the stage structure, and also - at the request of the client - concealed above a custom-made white inner skin, to be as invisible as possible, preserving the clean and uncomplicated lines of the stage.
For those wanting to jazz up their shows with extra light and colour, Entec offered two upgrade packages, standard and advanced. The standard option includes four MACs, Source Four profiles and half a dozen floor cans. The advanced option, enthusiastically embraced by Diana Krall's lighting designer Dale Lynch, includes Entec's Vari*Lite 2402s and 2202s
UK - Martin Professional is now Ministry of Sound's new technical partner in lighting. The newly installed Martin equipment in the Ministry of Sound in London follows successful installations in in Bangkok last year, making this a global partnership.
Ministry's grand reopening, which takes place on 21 August, will see the unveiling of the new lighting rig, which consists of the new Martin MAC 250 Krypton and MX-10. David Bradshaw, Ministry's head of production, is pleased with the move: "I'm delighted to be involved with Martin in this new, exciting partnership," he commented. The club will be showcasing some of Martin's newest gear, including the latest moving head luminaires, at the forthcoming PLASA Show in September.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - beyerdynamic (GB) has recently supplied Crawley-based Advanced Digital Solutions - an integrated systems provider - with its sophisticated MCW-D wireless digital conferencing system for use in the conference chambers of Southampton City Councils.
Southampton's Civic Centre contains all the local government administration departments, as well as a spectacular purpose-built conference chamber. Advanced Digital Solutions were contacted earlier in the year to propose a conference system that would be effective, aesthetic and fall within the budget set for the upgrade. Hardest of all was the caveat that the conference benches should not have cables or equipment fixed to them and that installation was to be non-invasive to preserve the integrity of the installed furniture.
Paul Langridge of Advanced Digital Solutions said: "This project was a natural choice for beyerdynamic's MCW-D wireless conference system. We have used the system in a few other council chambers and have been impressed by the products and the support given by the company's technical team. The systems have proved to be reliable and they interface with Crestron control system without a problem."
Two complete systems were purchased from beyerdynamic, adding up to a total of 58 MCW-D 1021 Delegates, two MCW-D 1023 Chairpersons and two Central Stations. Each station is wireless and completely stand-alone, with a speaker in the base, offering a fully distributed sound reinforcement system throughout the chamber, without the need for an additional PA system .The stations are stored in a fli
Greece - One of Greece's most popular artists, Yiannis Kotsiras, has performed with 110 moving lights run on a Flying Pig Systems Hog PC controller. Lighting designer George Tellos recently finished 45 open-air shows in Greece and Cyprus this summer using a Hog PC (with software version 3.3), a Playback and Programming Wing, and two DMX Hog widgets. High End Systems' Greek distributor, Telmaco, supplied the system.
George Tellos chose Hog PC for his control because of its convenience factor. "It is a great feeling to travel around the world with two small flightcases and have control at any system and any place," he says. "Hog PC works great, it's very easy to use and I can do a lot of things in the offline editor feature."
Tellos designed and programmed the show at the 'Lighting Design Wholehog & WYSIWYG Studio' in Athens, which is owned by Tellos and business partner Andreas Bellis. Tellos says he designed the show originally for High End Systems equipment, but there weren't enough fixtures available in Greece at the time the tour started.
However, changes are in store for the next legs of the tour. Come September, Tellos is replacing the 110 Martin fixtures with 25 HES x.Spot and Studio Spot 575s, and 16 Studio Color 575 automated luminaires. Replacing the Hog PC is a new Wholehog III, due to Tellos' new equipment purchase. Says Tellos: "I not only own a two-universe Hog PC system, but also a Wholehog III with single DP2000. Converting the programmed show from Hog PC to Wholehog III was a very simple process completed within 24 hours
UK - With just three weeks to go to PLASA, G-LEC Europe has signed an agreement with Fourth Phase London, for it to act as G-LEC's representative office in the UK. G-LEC Europe manufactures an innovative system of LED curtains utilizing clear rods to house the LEDs, the resulting transparency and low wind resistance making the system ideal for use in the theatre, as well as for concerts, corporate events and architectural use. Weighing just 10kg per square metre, the G-LEC LED curtain is also lightweight, so can be flown effortlessly.
Lars Wolf, managing director of G-LEC, told PLASA Media: "This business is about people - trust and confidence - and before appointing anyone I wanted to be sure they would be absolutely right for us. Having met Alan Thomson and his team, I know that with Fourth Phase London we will be doing great things in the UK." Thomson, the managing director of Fourth Phase London, added: "This is an interesting development for both our companies. Fourth Phase London already operates in the theatre, concert and corporate markets, and we believe that the G-LEC LED curtain represents an exciting and significant offering for our clients."
Fourth Phase London has set up dedicated telephone, fax and e-mail connections for the G-LEC London operation, and assigned project manager Alistair Smyth as the G-LEC contact. G-LEC London can be contacted at Unit 3 Beddington Cross, Beddington Farm Road, Croydon, Surrey CR0 4XH, UK. Tel: +44 (0)20 8665 8511.
The G-LEC LED system can be seen at PLASA on stand D40/D49.
(Ruth Rossington)