Lighting

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27 November 2024

France - The closing ceremony of the 2024 WorldSkills Competition was staged in the 60,000-capacity Parc Olympique Lyonnais (OL Stadium) at the Eurexpo complex, Lyon, with Paris-based creative agency Concept K providing full scenography, lighting design, laser effects, video and art direction plus show calling.

Concept K’s artistic director Frédéric ‘Aldo’ Fayard was the closing ceremony’s show director, working closely on the lighting side with Theo Cannone who programmed and took on a lighting DoP role, ensuring that everything worked on camera for the broadcast and livestream channels.

The lighting specification included 72 iForte LTX and 150 MegaPointe moving lights among other fixtures, chosen for their power and versatility.

The Concept K team collaborated closely with event production company La Franco European Image

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27 November 2024

UK - The spectacular new production of the musical Mary Poppins is currently embarking on a UK and Ireland tour. Presented by Cameron Mackintosh and Disney Theatrical Group, this record-breaking show recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and continues to dazzle audiences on a nightly basis. Starring Stefanie Jones and Jack Chambers as Mary Poppins and Bert, it features a lighting design by Hugh Vanstone who approached White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, to supply his touring lighting rig; with the company having also supplied the show’s first UK tour back in 2008.

As lighting designer, Vanstone finds himself returning to the show once again, having first lit a West End run five years ago. He comments: “When I first became involved in 2019 at the Prince Edward Theatre, it was in a ‘revival schedule’ so I had to tailor my ambitio

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27 November 2024

Germany - St. Laurentius Church in Westerwiehe has unveiled a new lighting installation that enhances the spiritual experience with adaptable and dynamic illumination. This transformation, coined ‘Lichterkirche’, integrates advanced Prolights technologies to redefine how visitors engage with the sacred space.

After a year-long renovation, the church now features a state-of-the-art media system by MediaKi, enabling visitors to control personalised lighting and soundscapes via a touchscreen terminal. Spearheaded by Schröder & Partner engineering firm, the project harnesses Prolights' LED fixtures to create effects that range from serene to celebratory.

Key Prolights products deployed in this project include ArcPod 15Q LED floodlights for vibrant sidewall and ceiling washes and ArcPod 27Q LED floodlights illuminating the altar dome.

Arc

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27 November 2024

USA - Elation invites lighting professionals to Experience Tomorrow at Booth 2224 at LDI in Las Vegas, where visitors can ‘embark on a journey through lighting’s next frontier’. Elation is providing an immersive booth experience that will transport them to a retro-futuristic spaceport lounge of discovery – ‘a gateway to new worlds where visitors can explore Elation’s latest advancements in professional lighting’.

The spaceport-styled booth balances cutting-edge technology with mid-century aesthetics, evoking an era when excitement for the future was at its peak. Elation product experts will be on hand to help visitors explore Elation’s latest technologies via immersive product demonstrations while ‘an otherworldly light show will dazzle every hour’.

The latest innovations across the Proteus, Fuze, KL, Pulse, Limelight, S

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26 November 2024

Egypt - 64 Digital Projection Titan 37000 WUXGA laser projectors were at the heart of a 3D projection mapping show, which took place on 26 October at the newly constructed New Administrative Capital Stadium in Egypt.

Located 30 miles east of Cairo, the stadium, aimed to be the centrepiece of the Olympic City, is the largest sports arena in Egypt and the second largest in Africa, seating 93,940 spectators.

For the show, HiLights Group installed an edge-to-edge 3D projection technique that integrated the stadium's floor and walls, into a cohesive display. “The immersive visuals, achieved through meticulous planning and cutting-edge technology, brought a 3D experience to life in a way that had never been attempted in the region,” says Yara Mahran, senior digital marketing specialist at HiLights Group.

The project aimed to create an unforgett

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26 November 2024

Italy - Dancing with the Stars is one of the most popular shows on Italian television. Each performance is meticulously planned to deliver not only the dancers’ routines but also a remarkable visual experience for the audience, complete with stunning sets, lighting effects, and graphics. This year, to make the atmosphere even more magical, the production chose to use Ayrton Cobra fixtures, provided by Emmedue s.r.l., which played a key role in creating the scenic effects.

A total of 30 Ayrton Cobra laser-sourced fixtures were strategically placed to ensure impactful lighting and to create evocative atmospheres. The layout was carefully planned: 10 Cobra were positioned on the platforms to the right and left of the main LED wall, eight were placed on crossbars to create angled lighting effects and sharp, distinct silhouettes, six were mounted on th

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26 November 2024

Germany - The 30th anniversary of Prolight + Sound is all about fresh impetus. From 8 to 11 April 2025, the expo will present a newly designed and expanded area for theatre and stage technology that combines four central aspects: exhibition, education, knowledge transfer and networking. Visitors can expect an inspiring platform for exchange between generations and industry experts, as well as a comprehensive range of innovative products and services.

An integral part of the concept is the ‘Theatre College’, which offers expert knowledge on relevant topics with high-quality, bilingual seminars and workshops – realised in collaboration with leading industry associations. The new Theatre Stage is the centrepiece, where presentations and the Theatre Talk invites exhibitors and the trade audience to exchange ideas. The Networking Area, with daily events and

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25 November 2024

UK - The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) has announced the launch of three new MA degree courses in technical theatre, with courses in Theatre Costume, Stage Management, and Performance Lighting Design commencing in September 2025.

These MA programmes aim to bridge the skills gap in the industry by training the next generation of technical theatre professionals in highly specialised areas essential to live performance. Each new course has been developed in response to the evolving demands of the industry, underscoring RADA’s commitment to equip the sector with supported technical specialists through in-depth and hands-on training.

The MA in Performance Lighting Design will enable students to have a sustained and lifelong career as lighting designers. Students will examine what it means to use lighting as a powerful creative tool for storytelli

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25 November 2024

USA - Floridian hard rockers Creed reunited and hit the road for their first tour in 11 years, creating a maelstrom of energy and momentum so successful that it propelled their music back into the Billboard charts, together with this year’s new Summer of 99, and Are You Ready? tours, which were among the fastest selling rock shows in the USA.

The production design was created by Mathias Kuhn and included 80 Robe moving lights and LED fixtures – 36 MegaPointes, 30 BMFL Spots, four BMFL FollowSpots, 10 Footsie2 LED footlights and four RoboSpot remote follow systems – all supplied by Bandit Lites out of Nashville.

The initial summer tour played a mix of arenas, theatres and amphitheatres with 10K to 36K capacities and the most recent leg stepped up to arenas, including Madison Square Garden, which were all completely sol

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25 November 2024

USA - The building at 2103 Lyon Street, Houston, had a very good run. Home to Moncrief Lenoir Manufacturing, it turned out an impressive array of metal fabrications for eight decades, until it closed in the 1990s.

Today, the venerable structure has come alive again, only instead of producing metal products, it’s creating shiny new vistas of imagination for guests as the home of Meow Wolf’s Radio Tave.

Occupying over 25,000 sq.ft. of the former warehouse, Radio Tave, which is Meow Wolf’s fifth permanent exhibit in the USA, opened on Halloween. Like its four predecessors, the newest Meow Wolf site ‘immerses visitors in a fantastical, mind-expanding universe formed through the fusion of imaginative scenic art, engrossing sound, and transformative lighting’, which in the case of Radio Tave, was created by Chris Werner

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25 November 2024

USA - Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Integrity Lighting has invested in Ayrton Cobra2 laser source luminaires for its production and rental inventory. ACT Entertainment is the exclusive distributor of Ayrton lighting in North America.

“The Cobras are our first Ayrton fixtures and they won’t be our last,” says lead lighting designer, Joshua K. Hall. “When ACT demo’d several Ayrton fixtures, we were so impressed by the Cobras that we couldn’t not buy them. Their versatility as a searchlight and a great hybrid light on stage is great for us.”

Hall likes “the smoothness of the overall beam – no hot spot, very even throughout” and Cobra’s IP65 rating, which is “absolutely essential for any kind of weather, and we get it all.”

Lighting designer and marketing director, Carter Nance, notes that the fixture’s “CMY mixing system gi

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25 November 2024

USA - The Obsidian Control Systems team will highlight the Onyx platform at a dedicated booth (#2243) designed to offer hands-on demonstrations, showcase the latest products, and provide expert insights into how Onyx can elevate professional lighting control for a wide range of productions.

“At this year’s LDI, we’re showcasing products in an interactive, purpose-built environment, and creating an experience where attendees can directly engage with Onyx tools,” commented Obsidian sales manager John Lopez. “We welcome everyone to get hands-on, ask questions, and meet our newest team members, Daniel Boerner and Edward Smith. Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, we invite you to stop by for a talk and a hands-on demo.”

The booth provides more space to highlight the Onyx platform with an expansive video wall simulating a large-

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22 November 2024

APAC - Naostage, creator of automatic, beaconless 3D tracking solutions for live events and immersive experiences, has announced three new distributors in the APAC region. These strategic partnerships with Novatech, in Australia, ArcSource in Hong Kong and EZpro in mainland China, cater for the growing demand for Naostage’s tracking solution, K System.

In Australia, Naostage will be represented by Novatech Creative Event Technology, a family-owned event production company based in Adelaide, South Australia, focusing on providing innovative, creative turnkey solutions for events of all sizes, while offering a one-stop shop for event organisers and promoters. The partnership with Naostage sees Novatech become the exclusive distributor for Naostage in Australia, where it will focus on introducing artists, event producers, and production and performing arts co

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22 November 2024

Switzerland - For the third year running, AudioRent Clair has provided 360° production services to Basel Tattoo, a celebration of music entertainment featuring classical and traditional musicians performing around the city's 400-year-old cultural centre, Kaserne Basel.

The multifaceted event is a major supra-regional spectacle, with the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) recognising it as the official tattoo of Switzerland. This year, talent from Europe, Asia, North America, Africa and Australia played for live audiences of up to 72,000 and were broadcast across national TV and radio stations in Switzerland for 450,000 viewers.

AudioRent's head of production, Reinhard Hoehn, begins: "The pressure to deliver a high-end production such as this in the Swiss market requires a 360° approach; streamlining complicated technic

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22 November 2024

USA - Brazilian metal band Sepultura announced it was embarking on its final tour with an accompanying live album that will feature 40 different songs from 40 different cities. Bandit Lites partnered with lighting designer Mike Scherer to outfit the North American leg of the parting tour.

“We are so excited to announce the North American concerts of the Celebrating Life Through Death farewell tour," shared long-time guitarist Andreas Kisser. "We are having a blast doing these shows and celebrating 40 years of history.” 

Following their founding in 1984, Sepultura positioned themselves as one of the most influential and successful metal bands, pioneering both the thrash metal and death metal genres.

“It was truly an honour to work with Mike Scherer,” said Bandit Lites client representative Ty Veneziano. “He and tour manager

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22 November 2024

China - Christie 4K10-HS 1DLP laser projectors deliver clarity and vivid colours at the new flying theatre attraction at Hetou Old Street scenic area in Tangshan, Hebei province. This captivating experience takes visitors on an aerial journey through northern China’s sites, including the ancient Great Wall, the breathtaking Shanhaiguan Pass, and the historic Chengde Mountain Resort.  

Known as Flyover Hebei, this 5D dome theatre combines stunning visuals with 7.2-channel surround sound, six-axis mechanical seats, synchronised motion effects and sensory elements like wind and mist, fully immersing audiences in the experience of soaring above Hebei’s majestic landscapes. By highlighting 20 landmarks and attractions across 11 cities, this multi-sensory adventure offers ‘an unforgettable flight through the province’s rich heritage and natural beauty’

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21 November 2024

USA - Megan Thee Stallion’s Hot Girl Summer Tour shined brighter thanks to The Playground Design Collective’s innovative use of Elation’s Artiste Monet profile luminaire. As the Grammy-winner’s first headlining tour and The Playground’s inaugural collaboration with her, the production dazzled audiences across North America and Europe, bringing her signature energy to life with visually striking stage designs.

The Playground handled design and creative direction as one of the year’s hottest touring shows. The show featured production designers Sooner Routhier and Trevor Ahlstrand, and creative and show designer Curtis Adams. Dane Kick took on the lighting programmer and director role, while Jason Giaffo served as a lighting programmer. Fuse Technical Group was the lighting and video vendor for the tour.

The Playground team created

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21 November 2024

Europe - The Chiaroscuro style of art, first popularised in the Baroque era by painters like Caravaggio, blends two polar opposites – light and darkness, to amplify the evocate power of each.

Hayden Borgars is deploying this technique to reflect the complex, and sometimes raw, conflicted sound of Californian metal band The Ghost Inside, on the six-nation European leg of their current Searching For Solace tour.

Weaving his way through the elusive, shadowy border area that separates light from darkness, Borgars is creating mysterious, captivating looks that reveal parts of the set, while leaving others cloaked in shadows. The net result of this approach draws attention more closely to the stage and deepens the connection between the audience band members.

“Having used a Chiaroscuro lighting style with other bands in the past to add

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20 November 2024

Europe - ETC has announced that Matrix Sales will now serve as the official dealer in Denmark following the successful acquisition of long-term ETC partner Atendi A/S’s Protech division.

Matrix Sales – a leading distributor of professional lighting, stage equipment, audio and AV across Danish market – brings extensive experience in the Danish entertainment industry and will provide access to an even larger segment of the market for Atendi A/S.

Atendi A/S’s Protech division includes the activities of the company’s theatre, event and architectural lighting department with employees Søren Jørgensen, Hans Henrik Schmidt, and Henrik Sundahl continuing their work now as part of Matrix Sales.

Matrix Sales will have direct access to a wide range of ETC’s products, allowing them to meet the growing demand of ETC solutions across the regi

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20 November 2024

Saudi Arabia - When lighting and stage designer Steve Wary was charged with creating the look for the opening ceremony of the Saudi Games 2024, he chose 50 Claypaky Skylos fixtures to help the event get off to a dynamic start.

Held 3-17 October, the Saudi Games were the third edition of the largest national sporting event staged annually in the Kingdom.  More than 9,000 athletes competed in 52 sports.

The opening ceremony took place not in a traditional stadium but in the existing Boulevard City area of Riyadh, where all the infrastructure needed to be built, created and organised. The location presented a great opportunity to use the LED screens already present on the buildings, which served as the backdrop for a centrally positioned stage big enough to host the impressive parade of athletes captured for broadcast by two drones.  

The game

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20 November 2024

Europe - Lighting, entertainment and cruise ship specialist Tony Perez has taken on a new position as global sales director in Robe’s Maritime division, stepping up from the business development manager role that he has held since 2022.

The cruise industry sector of Robe’s business has expanded exponentially during Tony’s tenure, a combination of his experience and first-hand knowledge of the sector, hard work and being able to offer a raft of flexible Robe and Anolis lighting products to meet exacting standards.

The agility and comprehensive nature of Robe’s worldwide distribution network has also been a vital factor in this success, resulting in several high profile maritime projects including with MSC’s World class vessels, CCL’s Sun Princess class ships and other Carnival Cruise Line brands, RCCL’s Icon of the Seas class, various Di

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20 November 2024

Germany - When Aki Bosse sings about dreaming, living, loving and despairing, it often sounds surprisingly happy and danceable. Übers Traumen (About Dreaming) is also the name of his latest album, for which he undertook a major arena tour in Germany in 2024. Lighting designer Rico Münzer has been lighting Bosse (and his band of the same name) since 2018.

For the current tour design, no fewer than 200 GLP fixtures combine to create a special look. In total, the designer specified 86 GLP KNV Arc, 76 JDC Line 1000, 24 impression X5 Wash and 14 JDC1 in a structure to fill the stage space.

The KNV Arc and JDC Line 1000 were in the design from the beginning, without which the intended look would not have been possible, as Münzer explains: “At the beginning of the design process I had the idea of working with circles. Initially I planned this

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19 November 2024

UK - Starring seven-time BAFTA Award-winner Steve Coogan, Dr. Strangelove is the first theatrical adaptation of Stanley Kubrick’s comedy masterpiece. Written by Armando Iannucci and directed by Sean Foley, it tells the story of a US general who decides to go rogue and declare a nuclear attack on Russia; who, he discovers, have a Doomsday machine capable of destroying the world.

The show features a lighting design by Olivier Award-winning Jessica Hung Han Yun who approached White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, to supply her lighting rig.

Prior to its run at the Noel Coward Theatre, there was much anticipation leading up to the opening of Dr Strangelove; largely due to the cult status of the film. “I had in fact watched the film many years ago and remembered enjoying it and the lighting specifically,” says Hung Han Yun

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19 November 2024

Slovakia - Steel Arena in Košice is one of the most important multifunctional halls in Slovakia. It has twice hosted the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships and is the home venue of the hockey club HC Košice, nine-time Slovak champion and holder of two Czechoslovak titles, which plays in the highest Slovak hockey league, the TIPOS Extraliga.

As part of a comprehensive reconstruction of the ice rink lighting, eight Ayrton Domino Profiles – supplied by Pro Music, s.r.o., Ayrton’s exclusive representative for the Czech Republic and Slovakia – were installed as effects lighting by Pro Music’s long-time business partner Marcel Filko and his technical team from ma.cz.

Four Domino Profiles were rigged on a circular overhead video truss, and another four on the structure above the ice surface, two above each goal, from where the incumbent team make