UAE - SGM Lighting and TechnoPro have agreed a new distribution deal that takes the relationship which the two companies have enjoyed for many years to a new level. SGM's CEO Peter Johansen and TechnoPro founder and chief executive Nabil Bourgeili confirmed an agreement to extend the brand's territorial representation far beyond the UAE, during the PALME Middle East show in Dubai this month.

Under the new ownership of Danish entrepreneur Johansen, the former Italian lighting company is now focusing exclusively on LED fixtures. In fact the launch of next generation LED effects into the

Finland - During the darkest days of winter, Helsinki brightens the nights in an event called Lux Helsinki. This year's event featured a series of architectural lighting installations and fine art performances around town designed to enchant the eye and illuminate the soul.

Lighting consoles from High End Systems, a Barco company, were in command of one of Helsinki's most visible landmarks - the Olympic Stadium Tower - which was transformed into a light installation called the Variant Spectrum.

Lighting designer Jukka Huitila of Sun Effects created the spectrum of colour usin

UK - GDS and Gloucestershire-based Chinnick Theatre Services (CTS) recently commissioned a complete re-fit of the Bacon Theatre's house light system.

The Bacon Theatre sits in the grounds of Dean Close School in Cheltenham. Built in 1991 it owes its name to Mr Christopher Bacon, former headmaster of the independent School. Mr Bacon fundraised tirelessly to build the Bacon Theatre which is used as a resource by Dean Close School pupils as well as hosting the best of professional touring theatre, live music, dance, film and accommodating local talented youth, community groups and charit

USA - Andrew Lloyd Webber and Time Rice's Evita has returned to Broadway for the first time in 30 years, in a new production directed by Michael Grandage, choreographed by Rob Ashford, designed by Christopher Oram with lighting by Tony- and Olivier-award winning lighting designer Neil Austin - who received both Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for the show's lighting.

To keep track of that lighting as it was created and then what for what looks certain to be a long, successful run, Austin and his team turned to FocusTrack to document the lighting rig, and to Spot

UK / France - Entec continued its supply of full production to a string of high profile shows for major international superstars with Japanese rockers L'Arc-en-Ciel.

Entec provided lighting, rigging, sound equipment, and crew, plus site and local co-ordination services for shows at Le Zenith in Paris and Indigo at the O2 Arena in London, and arranged pyrotechnics, video, trucking and buses.

L'Arc-en-Ciel, formed in 1991, have sold over 13m albums and 16m singles and are completing a monumental world tour celebrating 20 years at the very top of Japanese pop / rock.

Entec's project

USA - Chauvet SlimPAR Pro Tri wash lights uplight the obstacle courses used in the filming of G4's and NBC's American Ninja Warrior. The television show, billed as the "world's most difficult and action-packed obstacle course competition series", gives everyday men and women from across the country the opportunity to compete for glory, the 'American Ninja Warrior' title and a cash prize.

Lighting designer Adam Biggs and lighting director Ed Motts use 225 Chauvet SlimPAR Pro Tri wash lights, supplied by Felix Lighting, during the Southwest Region finals, held on the hi

The Netherlands - Royal Philips Electronics has announced the 200th licensee to sign up to its LED luminaire and retrofit bulb licensing program. Paulmann Light GmbH has gained access to Philips' portfolio of patented LED technologies and solutions offered in the licensing program. The announcement marks a significant milestone in the Philips LED luminaire licensing program, enabling and fostering the industry's growth in its transition from conventional lamps to energy efficient LED-based lighting solutions.

Arian Duijvestijn, senior vice-president of Philips Intellectual Property &

UK - Stage Electrics has announced the expansion of its senior management team with the appointment of a new managing director. This move further strengthens the senior leadership team with Dan Aldridge taking up the post of managing director. Dan has been involved in the company for over six years, both as operations director and most recently as a non-executive director. Founder and majority shareholder of Stage Electrics, David Whitehead, will continue in the role of chairman.

David Whitehead comments: "For many years I have fulfilled the role of both Chairman and Managing Dir

USA - Robert Juliat (RJ) has announced that Alan Keen has joined its American team. Keen joins RJ with more than 20 years experience in design, sales, and management within the theatrical lighting industry, and will be responsible for strengthening relationships with current dealers, specifiers and end-users, while actively identifying and establishing new opportunities and relationships.

Fred Lindauer, Robert Juliat USA managing director, states, "I am thrilled that Alan is part of our team. He shares my desire to provide prompt and enthusiastic customer support and I am confide

Australia - Anolis ArcPad 48 LED fixtures are internally lighting artist Stuart Green's gleaming and Droplet sculpture, a 6m tall 3m wide stainless steel work which has been installed on the corner of Furzer and Worgon Streets in the Phillip Woden district of Canberra, Australia.

Perth based Green was commissioned to create Droplet by the ACT (Australian Capital Territory) Government. Its elegant curved and pleated shell - in the shape of a massive water droplet - is made from laser cut 316 marine grade stainless steel, and it has a quirky 10 degree tilt.

The idea is t

Norway - The monumental Oslo Opera House is home to the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet and a frequent venue for a variety of shows, concerts, and official functions. The huge 38,500 m2 (414,000 sq ft) building contains 1,100 rooms and features three world-class stages. The imposing main stage rivals the world's largest opera houses and incorporates under-stage machinery with load-bearing steel structures of gigantic proportions.

This environment is particularly challenging for radio systems and was until LumenRadio's CRMX technology arrived on the scene a white spot on the Opera Ho

UK - Black Light reports that it is now offering the first Avolites Sapphire Touch lighting desk for hire in the UK. This just-launched product is not the only new addition to the company's extensive hire list, which, thanks to recent extensive investment, boasts a wide range of cutting edge technology such as the energy efficient range of LED lighting from Robe.

"The Sapphire Touch is a really great piece of kit," says Calder Sibbald, Black Light's Head of Hires and Events. "It offers real flexibility, a fantastic user interface and new pixel mapping. We're really exci

Germany - A Jands Vista T2 is at the heart of the lighting control system at Friedrichsbau Varieté in Stuttgart, one of the most popular and influential variety show stages in Germany.

With a vibrant history dating back to the end of the 19th century, the theatre was re-opened in 1994 on its original site, which had been destroyed in World War II.

Friedrichsbau Varieté stages four of its own well known productions each year, featuring internationally acclaimed artists as well as new talents.

Awash with colour and dynamics, an eclectic mix of circus and performance sk

South Africa - An upgrade to 10 Perspex pillars on the outside perimeter of the Vodadome at Vodacom, Midrand, was recently carried out by DWR Distribution. The fairly simple install has resulted in a major facelift for the venue.

Some years ago the pillars, each about 6m high, were supplied and erected by Just Sets. They were originally fitted with fluorescent tubing and the new idea was to convert to RGB LED technology. The units now have DMX control, which means the lighting operator within the venue is able to take control of the outside pillar lights and incorporate them into his

USA - Clay Paky Sharpy fixtures, from Las Vegas-based Morpheus Lights, are giving Bruce Springsteen's Wrecking Ball World Tour a new look.

The tour kicked off in the US this spring in support of The Boss's 17th studio album, Wrecking Ball. Springsteen's lighting designer Jeff Ravitz selected 16 Sharpy fixtures for his inventory after having seen them last fall.

"In putting Bruce's tour together I thought the Sharpys would be an excellent replacement for the lights we were using inside the set platforms to push through," he explains. "I thought they'd be

UK - With a heritage in effects projection development dating back to 1970, OPTI Kinetics has retained its iconic 'Solar' prefix to mark the launch of its first LED-based device.

Back in the golden era of disco the Solar 250 became probably the best known effects projector in the world. The company subsequently embraced the various evolutionary stages of lamp technology and has this month announced the OPTI Solar LED, in its customary white chassis.

Boasting light output of over 650 lumens from a 40W LED module, along with a high colour temperature for truer colour projection and im

UK - The Royal Shakespeare Company's production of Matilda - The Musical began life at the Company's Stratford-Upon-Avon venue, the Courtyard Theatre, to rave reviews and sell-out audiences. Having transferred to London's Cambridge Theatre in November 2011, the production has continued its success, last month sweeping the boards at the Olivier Awards when it broke records and took home seven of the prestigious awards.

As well as the awards for best new musical; best actress in a musical (presented jointly to the four actresses in the title role) and best actor in a mu

China - Wireless Solution Sweden AB will be exhibiting at PALM EXPO in Beijing with new products and new improvements to their W-DMX product line.

PALM EXPO, held 24-27 May 2012 at the New China International Exhibition Centre in Beijing is China's largest and most established technology event for the entertainment, pro audio and light, music, trussing and staging, installation and AV industry.

Wireless Solution will officially launch the new G4S, a completely new software platform that is prepared for future hardware functions as well as many new features and updated functions. W-D

Philippines - Clay Paky has appointed RMB Lights and Sounds as its distributor in the Philippines. Serving the theatrical and television industry for 12 years, RMB is a wholesale provider of specialty lamps throughout the Philippines.

"By working alongside RMB, I am certain that Clay Paky will become an increasingly visible brand in the Philippine market and surrounding regions," said Massimo Bolandrina, Clay Paky sales manager for the region. "This relationship has come about as the result of RMB's regular use of Clay Paky products on a number of high profile projects

UK - The Voice which is a multinational singing competition reality show started in the Netherlands as The Voice of Holland in 2010. Since then many countries have adapted the format and began airing their own national versions adding some major competition to shows like Idols and The X-Factor.

The Voice UK is currently towards the end of it first season which began its 11-week run in March 2012 on the BBC.

The lighting for The Voice UK is controlled exclusively by six Compulite Vector consoles - three working live on the show, and due to th

Italy - Tiziano Ferro's latest tour set out from Mantua in April, stopping off at the sports halls in Italy's main towns. An elegant lighting design created by show designer Francesco De Cave featured Coemar's newly-release Infinity Spot XL. Lighting is provided by Agorà.

Coemar's new 1500W version of the swivel spots is the result of the joint effort of the Coemar technical team and feedback from Francesco De Cave.

Francesco De Cave explains, "I'm delighted I chose Infinity Spot XL. The gobos we have had custom made, the new colour palettes and powerful high-quality light are

Australia - The Memorial Hall complex at Caulfield Grammar School's Wheelers Hill Campus provides a 560-seat memorial hall, function room and chapel.

Essentially a proscenium theatre with a full fly system and a hydraulic lift, the Memorial Hall is used for a wide variety of productions including concerts and assemblies.

Memorial Hall manager Brad Dart began to consider a new console and reports, "We considered various options but everything steered us towards the ETC Ion console. Over the past couple of years we've had to hire one in from Clearlight Shows for designers and as

UK - Stage Electrics has announced their appointment as an authorised dealer for Philips Vari-Lite. With a number of orders already placed for supply to theatres in the UK, the appointment has taken off with a flying start.

Anna Western, sales director at Stage Electrics said, "We currently have Philips Vari-Lite units in our rental stock and have equipment on a whole range of shows including Singin' in the Rain in the West End and on the UK tour of Phantom of the Opera. As an authorised dealer of Philips Vari-Lite, Stage Electrics is able to demonstrate and specify

Canada - Rapper and pop singer-songwriter Pitbull, a Billboard Latin Music Award winner, has been playing to packed houses on his PlanetPit World Tour 2012 where Clay Paky Sharpy fixtures are in tune with the artist's vibe.

The tour recently concluded a cross-Canada run, will be heading for Europe shortly and plans to return to the US in the fall. Lighting designer Justin Geiger of Florida-based Impulse Creative Group designed a tiered rig with video in the centre for the Canadian dates. Impulse Creative Group consists of a design team with experience in live concerts, corporate event

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