UK - For the fourth year running, drapes and rigging specialist Blackout was appointed by Henley Festival's production team to supply an extensive amount of black drape and custom sewn starcloth for the 20th edition of The Henley Festival of Music and the Arts.
Staged on the banks of the Thames, the five-day Festival is recognized for fusing an eclectic mix of music and art and follows on from the legendary Henley Regatta. Comprising two main stages - the 'Floating Stage' where world class performances included Lesley Garret, Bryn Terfel, Sir Tim Rice and the 'Club Marquee', where artists included The Fine Young Cannibals and Mel C. Working closely with production manager Bob Caple, Blackout supplied all the blackout drapes and necessary rigging equipment to facilitate the dramatic set-design on the famous Floating Stage - a giant Edwin Shirley structure measuring 20m wide by 8.4m high.
Blackout suspended eight decorative rectangular metal panels from the roof of the structure. These were covered in ice-blue lilac casement with bold geometric designs to contrast against the magical galaxy-like effect of the enormous star cloth backdrop. Black wool-serge drapes provided a functional masking role at the sides of the structure, enhancing both aesthetics and acoustics of the Floating Stage.
Blackout's team, headed by crew chief Simon Ford, also helped transform the 'Bridge Bar' used at the Henley Regatta into the Club Marquee - an intimate performance space. Another massive starcloth was used for room infill and to mask the lighting rig's ground-support. This was
UK - A busy 2003 sees Fourth Phase expanding its project management team with the addition of Alistair Smyth as project manager, who joins from High End/Flying Pig, where for the past nine months he had been sales account manager for Central and Eastern Europe.
Previously a technical support engineer for the company for over two years, Alistair had also fulfilled the same role for two years at Vari-Lite. His technical knowledge and overseas experience will prove invaluable to Fourth Phase, as the company adds the Madrid production of We Will Rock You to its portfolio. Smyth will join the existing project management team of James Hall and Simon Harborow.
(Ruth Rossington)
USA - Baltimore's recent Artscape 2003 Festival of the Arts was a colourful event, utilizing High End Systems equipment to provide the creative palette. Cannon Stage Lighting supplied six Studio Spot 575 and eight Cyberlight Litho automated luminaires, and two Wholehog III lighting consoles for the weekend event.
George Cannon Jr, owner of Cannon Stage Lighting, commented: "We brought in two Hog III units. One was to be a backup only. Programmers Zach Edwards and Paul Rosinksy would switch back and forth laying out conventionals on one desk and intelligent lighting on the other."
Programmer Paul Rosinksy elaborates: "My reaction to the Hog III desk was very positive. The colour picker for all my colour-mixing Cyberlight and Studio Colors made things go so much faster. I also noticed that all the internal cues in the lights moved a good bit faster than on other desks. The tech support from High End was very helpful and understanding. All in all, I was very happy with this desk and am thinking of using it on a rock tour this fall."
(Lee Baldock)
Europe / N. America - Touring for the first time in five years, R.E.M. have again come up with an event both visually stunning and musically superb. R.E.M. lighting designer Willie Williams has created a spectacular visual experience on a stage that is awash with vibrant colours. The elaborate stage is highlighted with whimsical shapes created from EncapSulite fixtures, including the word 'LUV' as well as graphic panels featuring stylized portraits of the band's members.
UK - Slough-based lighting and sound sales company Stagetec, the UK distributor for Compulite and LSC lighting products will have a number of new products lined up for the PLASA Show this year, including the company's showpiece new product - Compulite's Vector family of lighting consoles. The Compulite Rave is also highlighted, as well as the Spark Top.
New from LSC is the Minim lighting desk, a budget-priced 12/24-channel memory desk, shown alongside their MaXim series of fader-based lighting consoles. Dimmers will include Compulite's powerful CompuRACK digital dimmer racks and their CompuDIM and MobileDIM modular racks. Dmmers from LSC include the iPRO installation dimmer range, the e1220 and the ePAK and ePRO ranges, plus their Delta power distribution units.
Stagetec can be found on stand E40.
(Lee Baldock)
Latvia - Latvia was in full swing from 26 June to 6 July, with the XXIII Latvian Song and Dance Festival 2003. The Song Festival, which lasts for 11 days, is held every five years and is incorporated into various venues - including the Skonto Stadium and Mezaparks Open Air Stadium. The event featured over 30,000 participants, 300 different choirs, more than 500 dance groups, 57 brass bands, three symphonic orchestras and one chamber orchestra as well as an art exhibition, parades, singing and dance performances. All equipment was provided by Company NA, the Vari*Lite dealer for Latvia.
Before the festival began, Company NA was on site to plan crew logistics, and to supply the lighting equipment from cables to control systems, to both the venues. Over 12,000 people gathered in the audience to listen to some of Latvia's famous rock and pop stars, plus rock band Time after Time. Lighting designer Maris Meness lit the stadium with six of the new Vari*Lite VL3000 spot luminaires, six VL3000 wash luminaires, 18 VL5 wash as well as 22 VL2000 spot luminaires. Conventional equipment included 32 Par 64 six-bars, 12 Par 64s with colour scrollers, eight 8-light DWE blinders, two Strong Super Trouper II followspots, two HES F-100 and two DF50 smoke machines, plus an MDG Atmosphere. It was all controlled by two Avolites Pearl consoles, and the crew chief for the event was Renars Haselshteins.
The final night saw the finale of the whole festival with arrangements of Latvian folksong, classical choral music, as well as newly composed works. Participants included mixed choirs of
USA - Chauvet has introduced the SF-4005 channel timer, a multi-tasking 2 or 4-channel timer/chaser designed to keep your lighting effects from exceeding their recommended duty cycle. Chase or sound-activated modes are also ideal for pin spots, Par cans and any other chase-able lights. A three-position switch controls timer, chase and sound-activation functions, while another switch lets you select two or four channels for timed control of up to four lighting effects.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - High End Systems (HES) has announced that it is to provide a Wholehog III console at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), in order to give students the opportunity to experience the latest in the Wholehog line of control products.
HES has been a sponsor of LIPA since its opening in 1996. Through the years, a wide variety of HES' products has been installed into the Paul McCartney Auditorium, named in honor of the performing arts school's famous founder and benefactor. Four years ago, HES founder and chairman, Lowell Fowler, presented LIPA with a Wholehog II console, which was installed in the school's High End Systems Studio. This will now be upgraded with the Wholehog III this summer, whose installation will be overseen by LIPA production manager Mike Brown and HES Europe's Phil Mercer.
LIPA's Ffounding principal and CEO, Mark Featherstone-Witty, was delighted by the news, and told us: "This is brilliant. High End's involvement with LIPA draws a lot of interest among students who are interested in studying either a degree in Theatre and Performance Technology or in Theatre and Performance Design. It is very important to us and to them to provide the opportunity to train on the very latest start-of-the-art equipment, so they are ready to tackle any type of lighting project in their professional careers."
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Enlightenment has recently supplied an ADB Vision 10 lighting control desk to the Marina Theatre in Lowestoft. The system comprises a 1024-channel Vision 10/ST with a Vision 10/RB back-up crate both running the company's ISIS software which provides total control of light, colour and movement through astate-of-the-art 32-bit multi-tasking Linux operating system.
Since its inception in 1997 Enlightenment has been fully committed to both the Vision 10 and Phoenix range of lighting control desks from ADB and has supplied the systems to numerous venues in the UK.
(Ruth Rossington)
USA - Gear-Source, the Florida-based lighting supply company set up by Marcel Fairbairn last autumn, has welcomed Cynthia Viteri to the position of Latin American business development. In this new role, Viteri is responsible for growth in Mexico and South America for both Gear-Source and AVR products.
At the same time, Gear-Source and AVR have announced that they have relocated to a new facility in Weston, Florida. The new contact address for the companies is: 1930-1 North Commerce Parkway, Weston, FL 33326, USA. Telephone: +1 (954) 389 8866, Fax: +1 (954) 389 5747. The toll-free number will remain the same: +1 (866) 669 GEAR.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - In recent months, Reading-based Martin's Lights have used Coemar ProSpot 250LX moving heads on a variety of events. LD Dom Smith used the fixtures on tours with Aqualung and The Cooper Temple Clause, while the units also lit Athlete's London show at the Astoria, run from the in-house Avo Sapphire 2000, with the Coemars patched into the desk along with the house lighting system.
ProSpot 250LX heads were also in action at the National Dancesports Championships at Crystal Palace, Summer Balls at the University of Westminster and Reading University, and also Supergrass at Reading University (LD Ali Bale).
Most recently the fixtures illuminated the Club WOMAD stage at the WOMAD Festival in Rivermead, Reading. This was a co-design between principal lighting designer Geoff Blindt of Mystic Lights and Martin Dudley of Martin's Lights, who was also charged with making the design work from a technical perspective. Six ProSpot 250LXs were suspended from a semi-circular upright truss onstage with the final two mounted on boxes on the stage. The entire show was run from an Avolites Pearl 2000, which runs most of Martin's Lights bigger events.
(Ruth Rossington)
USA - High End Systems (HES) has announced that John Wiseman has been promoted to the role of executive vice-president of business development. Formerly VP of worldwide sales, Wiseman will continue on at the company's Van Nuys, California office, with responsibilities for worldwide sales. HES CEO Frank Gordon comments: "This is a well-deserved promotion for John and an acknowledgment of his immeasurable contributions over the last few years to High End and Flying Pig Systems . . . we look to John to lead us into new markets as well as better servicing our existing designer and specifier base."
Meanwhile, at the company's HQ in Austin, Texas, returning HES veteran Grif Palmer has accepted the role of vice-president of Americas sales. Palmer reports to Wiseman and also manages sales operations. "There couldn't be a better time to return to High End," says Palmer. "The product line, along with the organizational structure that's been developed, positions us for a successful model to drive sales. HES has remained true to our mission, bringing new and industry-changing technology to our dealers and new market segments."
Two more former HES staffers have also returned to the company: Karen Bowler, a 14-year veteran of HES, is the new customer service manager. She returns having spent 18 months in sales with another lighting manufacturer. Bobby Brakefield joins the Customer Service Department as the rep for the Southeast and Northeast US and European territories. Brakefield was an HES inside sales rep for nine years, and has spent the last
UK - Robe UK, the UK distributor for the Czech Republic-based moving light manufacturer, has appointed Stuart Fenwick as business development manager. Fenwick brings a wealth of experience in the moving light world to the Robe UK team, having previously worked at Martin Professional for six years and, say the company, his lively management style is ideally suited to the pace and energy of the Robe UK team, headed by Ian Brown.
Fenwick has spent many years specializing in the nightclub and bar areas of the professional entertainment industry. At Robe UK, he will be working across all disciplines, including dealing with hire companies, corporate event producers and the retail industry. Ian Brown says: "It's great to have Stuart onboard, bringing more positive energy into the Robe UK equation, specially in time for PLASA!"
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Combining high-tech with low-tech: that was the approach taken by The Moving Light Company's Alex Murphy to produce a stunning display of lighting co-ordinated with pyrotechnics for the launch of the recent Bath International Music Festival.
Murphy and The Moving Light Company were working alongside pyrotechnic specialists Rocket Pyro, who were providing fireworks for the night. Murphy's challenge was not just to light Bath's famous Royal Crescent, but to co-ordinate the lighting with the fireworks in the sky above. To achieve this, he opted to use The Moving Light Company's StudioDue CityColor colour-changing exterior floodlights, which have proved hugely popular on all manner of projects since being added to the company's rental stock in 2002.
"Originally the plan was to use the CityColors just to light the central block of the Crescent, then use MAC 2000s to project onto the outer sections," Murphy explains. "However, during the focus we just kept pulling the units back and back until we ended up lighting the whole of the Crescent with just six CityColors - these still being bright enough because we were using MLC's 2500W units, rather than the standard 1800W unit."
The show was then programmed using a Flying Pig WholeHog II console, with an Artistic Licence Micro-Scope providing back-up. "All of the colour fades across the face of the royal crescent were co-ordinated to the firework display and fired from a golf course a couple of miles away," Alex Murphy explains. "I'd love to tell you it all used high-tech time-cod
Finland - FogScreen is a new system which offers an intriguing method for forming a high quality, physically penetrable dry fog display. The FogScreen, which has international patents pending, provides a highly unusual, 'floating' projection surface that people can walk through - and leaves no residue.
Dr Ismo Rakkolainen, co-inventor of the FogScreen, from Tampere University of Technology in Finland, says: "The fog is made of ordinary tap water with no chemicals or anything. Our patent does not comment on what particles are used, so any kinds of fog, smoke, or other particles can be used, but water is a safe, harmless, low-cost, and simple material to use. The device is suspended high above the audience, and it is also robustly built. The health and safety risks have been checked with many experts."
FogScreen Inc has been founded to develop, manufacture and market FogScreen, and is headed up by Mika Herpiö, who told us: "We are now especially looking for leading lighting and sound or special effects rental companies who would be interested in purchasing one or more units . . . as well as representatives abroad," says Herpiö.
(Lee Baldock)
UK - Max King and Jane Potts have joined the team at Leisuretec Distribution, in the newly created roles of accounts and administration managers. In addition to becoming the 'friendly faces' within the accounts department at the company, their roles will see them developing the administration processes to accommodate increasing levels of business growth - both in the short-term and in the future. Both King and Potts have over 30 years of accounts and customer service experience between them in various sectors, including logistics and manufacturing.
(Ruth Rossington)
UK / Australia - Rory Dempster, the distinguished British lighting designer, has been diagnosed as having mesothelioma - a lung cancer disease associated with exposure to asbestos fibres. Since 1992 he has lived in Australia - a country which is leading the research into asbestos-related diseases - and his case is being investigated by the New South Wales Dust Diseases Board. The Board has confirmed that, since the disease takes an average of 30 years to produce symptoms, he is certain not to have contracted it in Australia.
The Board's enquiries suggest that the cause of his contracting mesothelioma was his close contact with asbestos curtains and borders - commonly used to provide heat separation between lanterns and scenery in British theatres during the fifties, sixties and early seventies. "As an assistant electrician in various London theatres at that time, I remember regularly pushing my head past these asbestos borders to get close to the lanterns to change bulbs," explains Rory. "The borders were obviously a risk, as were the asbestos-based lantern insulation packing and cables in use then."
If this connection is proved and there are further cases among those who were working in UK theatre during this period, there may be a case for it being recognized as an industrial injury with consequent entitlement to Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit or other compensation.
Although extremely ill, Rory continues to work on lighting plans for revivals of two recent opera productions, which are due to be performed in the UK later in the yea
UK - Creative sound and lighting installer CP Sound has installed four of its new colour-changing etched glass LED lighting panels into Bar Square, a trendy new social space in Camberley, Surrey. Bar Square's independent owners wanted 'something special' when it came to backlighting the bar of their contemporarily designed venue, and CP's new product was the ideal solution.
The company has developed the fixture specially for a diversity of day and night applications. It's a screen encased in a custom aluminium extrusion, supplied as a 10mm thick panel, and capable of unobtrusive integration into any environment. Made from laser etched acrylic or glass material, it's side-lit by DMX controllable LED strips that criss-cross the light across the screen surface. When the light is caught in the etchings, a prism effect directs it evenly across the panel fascia.
The panels in Bar Square are etched with a square pattern, in keeping with the environmental theme. Being glass, the panels are an easy to keep clean and maintain surface, and if located in public areas they can be toughened.
(Ruth Rossington)
USA - Kurt Doemelt recently joined Nautilus Entertainment Design as an associate lighting designer, AutoCAD specialist and project manager for both the live production and facility design divisions of the company. He is a graduate of the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and was most recently assistant lighting director for The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, California.
Doemelt has a lot of experience having served as a lighting programmer for Princess Cruise Lines, a staff master electrician at The San Diego Repertory Theatre, a shipboard lighting technician and programmer for Carnival Cruise Lines, and a lighting designer for several San Diego theatres, including Asian American Repertory Theatre, New Village Arts, the Fritz Theatre, Euro Trash Productions, and McCaleb Dance.
NED principal consultant Jim Tetlow commented: "This year we are on track to design about 60 shows and exhibits, as well as all of our entertainment facility projects - which include five new cruise ships. Kurt has a broad range of experience and a strong mix of technical skills that will allow him to function well in both divisions. We are very lucky to have found someone with this diverse background who can hit the ground running."
(Ruth Rossington)
UK - It's all go for Bristol-based Stage Electrics with two of their eight branches moving to bigger and better premises. The company's London branch will begin construction of its new bespoke warehouse this month. The new 10,000sq.ft location on Long Lane will replace the Waterloo Road unit. As one of the largest suppliers of technical equipment to the West End and Touring theatre market, the new site will include a demonstrations area, dedicated hire inventory and an impressive range of consumables.
Stage Electrics Exeter is moving too, but not so soon. Having outgrown its Marsh Barton site, it will be relocating, 'just around the corner' to new premises in March next year. The 11,000sq.ft building will, in addition to housing the company's hire and sales kit, contain a custom-built demonstration area equipped with the latest lighting, audio, projection and control equipment.
In only two decades Stage Electrics has become a £20million company hiring, selling, installing and servicing technical theatrical equipment to the West End and theatres, schools and the corporate industries throughout Europe and the UK. Commenting on the company's continued growth, managing director David Whitehead told PLASA Media: "It's been a difficult year for the industry with outside influences affecting the marketplace. Stage Electrics have had a good year despite the downturn, and continue to invest in new equipment and premises to keep up with the latest technology and services required by our customers."
(Ruth Rossington)
USA - Since taking the new Vari*Lite Series 3000 luminaires to the bottom of the ocean floor is not recommended, Broadway lighting designer Ken Billington did the next best thing - and used 17 of the VL3000 spot fixtures to create the illusion of aquatic acrobatics for 'Odyssea', which recently opened at Sea World in Orlando. The 25-minute show features aerial acts, contortionists, trampoline acts and a variety of other performers. All the movement is choreographed to give the impression that the performance is taking place underwater.
Billington needed an automated lighting package with a colour system to pull off the illusion. The VL3000 Spot luminaires allow him to create "water" to light the air and scenery. "Most of the activity is supposed to take place underwater," he explained. "So it was a challenge to be able to get water ripples that could change colour and be bright enough. The Vari*Lite fixtures are used for everything - gobo and template washes, scenery and effects. They aren't used specifically for lighting the performers, but rather for creating the atmosphere."
The proscenium opening at the Nautilus Theatre was brought down to a width of 60ft for the show, and the stage is approximately 70ft deep. Some of the VL3000 Spot luminaires are hung as far as 130ft away from the stage, and the overhead units are at 30ft. With a multitude of scenic elements and painted drops, it was critical that Billington had the appropriate equipment to light the enormous space. Vari*Lite dealer LSD/Fourth Phase provided the lights for perm
UK - The Victorian magnificence of Glasgow's City Chambers is one of nine important landmarks being spotlighted in the latest phase of the council's £2.6m lighting strategy. The three-year plan, launched in March last year, has already gone a long way towards achieving the council's aim of showcasing Glasgow to the world as a beautiful and vibrant 24-hour city.
A sophisticated combination of light fittings spectacularly illuminates the grand façade and sides of the City Chambers' original 1880s West Building which dominates George Square. Other newly illuminated structures include the George V Bridge over the Clyde, the main Killermont Street entrance of Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, St George's Tron Church in Nelson Mandela Place, the historic Tron Steeple in Trongate, and Drumchapel Water Tower.
The city's lighting strategy is being driven forward by council leader, Charles Gordon. He explains: "Glasgow is renowned for its architecture and everyone should be able to see its beautiful buildings at any time of day - especially my own place of work, the City Chambers. Use of the latest techniques and technology to light up our buildings, bridges and other landmarks, not only makes people feel better about their city, it also raises the city's profile as a popular destination for British and foreign visitors."
In a separate initiative, the City Council intends to spend £85m over the next 10 years to replace all of its 67,000 lighting columns. These will feature white light as opposed to the traditional orange light. Pilot schemes in the city have shown
Belgium - Last Monday King Albert II of Belgium celebrated 10 years of reign with a big outdoor party in Brussels. The event was a huge success; according to the Brussels police more than 45,000 people attended the concerts. On the stage, which was situated in front of the monumental Palace of Justice, 100 Xilver Droplet moving LED luminaires lit the musicians.
The Droplets were placed everywhere on stage between the orchestra and on the catwalk. ETC Source Fours along with VL2Cs, VL5s and VL2200s from Vari-lite, lit the rest of the stage. With the unique Xilver color-combining system (16 million colors) the tiny Droplets could easily match every color from the other fixtures on stage.
On stage, Xilver also placed 12 red LED blinders, made up of 96 Luxeon LEDs, each saturated the stage with red light and strobed extremely fast during the final Dance event of the Kings celebrations.
Belgium lighting designer Koert Vermeulen created the lighting design for both the stage and for the facia of the Palace of Justice. Olivier Demoustier from EML operated the stage show; whilst Michel Suk operated the architectural lighting. EML supplied most of the lighting for the stage and architecture.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
UK - Pearce Hire, specialist lighting and temporary power supplier, provided its services for the Forestry Commission tour this June. The tour, now in its third year, took in five forests (Sherwood Forest, Thetford Forest, Bedgebury Pinetum, Dalby Forest and Dellamere Forest) across the country, for a series of concerts involving Status Quo, Jools Holland, Level 42, the Beach Boys, the Wonder Stuff and Motorhead.
Pearce Hire have been involved with the tour since it began in 2001, supplying the lighting equipment, generators and power distribution systems. Shaun Pearce and the team from Pearce Hire worked closely with David Barrow, production manager for the Forestry Commission and event organizer Mike Taylor, to pull the project together. For this year's event, Pearce provided 20 generators allocated across the five sites, as well as a lighting rig for each stage and site-wide lighting.
Shaun Pearce, owner of Pearce Hire, commented: "The forestry tour is a great set of gigs to work on as it is intimate and relaxed for the audience. The forests supply a dramatic backdrop for the stage and the sites have proved easy to work on over the last three years. These relaxed summer concerts are becoming increasingly popular, appealing to all ages." The tours are a platform from which the Forestry Commission can introduce new audiences to its conservation work, for which it recently won a World Wildlife Fund Award. There are plans to expand the tour next year to include two additional sites.
(Ruth Rossington)