Lighting

Details

18 December 2024

Austria - 80 of Robe’s most powerful moving light fixtures – iBolt, iForte and iForte LTX – were used to great effect for a lighting scheme designed by Thomas Maier from event production company NoiseGate Eventtechnik to illuminate a special performance show celebrating the completion of the 305m-wide Danube Valley suspension bridge – Donautalbrücke – in Linz, Austria.

NoiseGate was working for event creative agency Brandmood who produced the show for its end client, ASFINAG Bau Management, the organisation that manages the country’s nationwide autobahns system. The artistic director was Beda Percht.

The steel-reinforced concrete composite bridge is part of a new four-lane western bypass on the A26 autobahn spanning the Danube, railroad tracks and two main roads while circumnavigating the city of Linz. Its main cables are 500m long, and

Details

18 December 2024

UK - At the Annual Lighting Lunch held on Monday 16 December, the Association for Lighting Production and Design (the ALPD) awarded four new fellowships to Peter Hunter, Steve Huttly, Nick Peel and Alan Luxford.

Introducing the new fellows, chair of the ALPD, Johanna Town, said: “This year our ALPD fellowships go to four very dedicated lighting individuals, who have spent a lifetime’s career in our amazing industry.”

Peter Hunter: After training at LAMDA Hunter spent a season at Chichester, before moving to the Redgrave Theatre, Farnham, where he rose to become chief electrician. In 1980 he moved to Salisbury Playhouse as lighting designer and chief electrician. Now retired, he continues to be generous with his time, knowledge and support of the next generation.

Steve Huttly: Huttly started his career i

Details

18 December 2024

Germany - The 21st season of the talent show Deutschland Sucht Den Superstar (DSDS) recently reached its finale with victory for Christian Jährig. At the same time, 24 of GLP’s new Creos fixtures enjoyed one of their first-ever TV appearances.

The production design of the long-running TV hit was once again developed by DK Design. Sebastian Huwig created the lighting design and planning for the finale on behalf of David Kreileman.

The new LED washlights, with fast, motorised tilt, were used together with other spotlights as a second light level on rolling risers, so that new lighting atmospheres could be created for each act. The modifications took place during the filming.

This time, the team chose not to use the option of seamlessly combining several Creos into huge LED bars, using the integrated connector system. Explai

Details

18 December 2024

Belgium - The Royal Conservatory of Antwerp has upgraded its lighting infrastructure with a Unity solution from LSC Control Systems, drawing on the experience of its partner facility – and one of Europe’s leading performing arts venues – De Singel.

Undertaking a full renovation of its Zwarte Zaal (Black Hall) – including new grid, cabling, patch racks, audio, data, video and lighting – led by main construction contractor Co-Ps, the Royal Conservatory insisted on quality, reliability and safety. To achieve this with new lighting infrastructure, they turned to De Singel, expert consultant Roadtech Services, and the technology of LSC Control Systems.

It was way back in 2018 that De Singel installed a Unity system from LSC in its main auditorium. At the time, the busy venue was having difficulty dealing with large amounts of varying types of li

Details

17 December 2024

Europe - The Showlight Student Sponsorship deadline is approaching. Applications close on Friday 31 January 2025. The scheme is open to students and recent graduates of lighting for the performing arts, events, broadcast, film and architecture.

Successful applicants enjoy free-of-charge entry to Showlight 2025, with access to the full Programme of Papers, admission to the exhibition of major lighting equipment manufacturers, networking opportunities during the daily breaks and lunch, as well as a place at one of the Company Dinners on the Tuesday evening and the Conference Dinner on Wednesday evening. Around 30 places are available but spaces are filling up fast.

Former Showlight student participant and presenter of Sweeney Todd – A Site Specific Experience, Amy Mae Smith, comments: “Showlight is an inspiring few days where you

Details

17 December 2024

USA - GLP chose to reduce the footprint of its booth at this year’s LDI expo in Las Vegas, freeing up budget that was reinvested into their lavish 30th anniversary party at the luxury Venetian Resort, attended by over 2,000 guests.

The Venetian’s Atomic Saloon Show provided a perfect showcase to launch the new aptly named Mad Maxx, an IP65 LED fat-beam fixture which is designed mainly, but not only, as a SkyBeam fixture.

Aside from the razzmatazz, back at the Convention Center GLP’s rationale in significantly reducing its booth size was based on close scrutiny of its environmental footprint.

Construction of all stand furniture, plinths and podests was with 100% reusability in mind. Explains director of marketing, Uli Steinle: “All are specially built road cases that will feature on every road show and exhibition in the US, go

Details

17 December 2024

Denmark - In the autumn of 2023, Det Musiske Hus, a notable cultural venue in the northern Danish city of Frederikshavn, initiated a project to improve its conventional front and house lighting systems.

Seeking to enhance both the technical capabilities and the overall atmosphere of the space, the venue opted to install Fuze Profile automated framing moving heads and Fuze Pendant downlights, both cutting-edge luminaires from Elation that offer a full-colour spectrum and high CRI.

The upgrade, driven by the need for improved safety, greater flexibility, and expanded creative lighting possibilities for its diverse events, comes as Det Musiske Hus celebrates 20 years as a multifunctional event space. The venue’s largest hall hosts concerts, theatre performances, stand-up shows, business meetings, and conferences for seated and standing audiences of up

Details

17 December 2024

USA - Robert Juliat is delighted to report a highly successful appearance at LDI, Las Vegas 2024. Partnering with ACT Entertainment, its exclusive distributor for North America and Canada, Robert Juliat showcased its range of LED lighting solutions.

Robert Juliat’s latest LED followspots took centre stage, offering versatile solutions for venues of all sizes. Demonstrated on-site were the Sully 10.5-22.5° (115W LED) for smaller spaces, the Tristan 7-14.5° (825W LED) for mid-sized venues, and the Arthur LT 4-10° (800W LED) for large-scale applications, each delivering exceptional performance and versatility.

The Tristan followspot proved particularly popular. With its compact body and powerful 825W LED engine, Tristan rivals the performance of traditional 1800W MSR followspots, making it an attractive solution. A highlight of this innovative mode

Details

16 December 2024

Spain - Italian digital artist Quayola’s Creative Keynote presentation on 5 February at 15.30 will give ISE visitors insights into his projects, including the mesmerising Arborescent projection mapping experience on Casa Batlló, which takes place on 1 and 2 February as the next edition of ISE kicks off in Barcelona.

Celebrated for his pioneering fusion of technology and art, Quayola will also present his artwork Promenade on Tuesday, 4 February at 18.30, on the Fira de Barcelona Gran Via’s award-winning south access welcome screen, providing both the citizens of Barcelona and ISE visitors with another chance to witness his creative talents in action.

“In Arborescent, I aimed to identify, catalogue, and digitally reconstruct a variety of tree species. I am interested in studying their growth systems and understanding

Details

16 December 2024

USA - At The Caverns, part of an 8,000ft underground cave passage located a little over 80 miles south of Nashville, designers like Justin Casey have to contend with a lack of level surfaces.

"Nothing there is level," Casey, owner of Helm Projects said of the venue. "That's the first challenge. We have done so many shows at this place, so we know it takes some time and thought to come up with a design that's right for it – but once you do, it's well worth it."

Casey and his team recently created a stunning design for electronica star LSDream's two-day Rave Cave event at the Cavern that played off the venue's intricately craggy features to create looks that flowed seamlessly with the captivating vibe of the performances on stage.

Helping Casey and his team realise this vision inside the 1,500-capacity space (aka The Big Mouth Cave)

Details

16 December 2024

The Netherlands - After over a decade of excavation, preparation, and research, five dinosaurs are now on display together for the first time at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden. Among them is the majestic herbivore Triceratops, renowned for its large frill and three horns – a true icon of the dinosaur era.

This exhibition has been brought to life through a lighting design by Tom Verheijen, with equipment and custom solutions provided by Lichtpunt Theatertechniek.

To illuminate the dinosaurs and their surroundings, various Prolights fixtures were used, including the EclProfile FWTU and EclMini CC, which were instrumental in creating a visually stunning experience. These fixtures were supplied by FullAVL Distribution, Prolights distributor for the Netherlands.

The EclMini CC fixtures, with their compact design and refined optics,

Details

13 December 2024

UAE - Avolites announces a change in partnership in the Middle East, which will see the UK-based lighting and visual control manufacturer distributed and serviced by Robe Middle East as of 1 January 2025.

Service and support throughout all Middle Eastern countries will be managed via the considerable resources, experience and organisational infrastructure of Robe Middle East, headed by managing director Elie Battah and his talented team.

It will give Avolites investors, users, and customers in the area access to the Robe Middle East Technical Centre, which will become the hub for Avolites sales, tech support, repairs and returns plus an active schedule of Avolites training opportunities and initiatives currently being developed.

Avolites’ MD Paul Wong thanks Procom Middle East for their “incredible” work that has delivered and supported

Details

13 December 2024

UK - The £100k Funding Campaign for 2030 Outdoor Event Sector’s Climate Transition Plan has hit 75%. Wide support from across the sector has secured production of the Show Must Go On Sector Transition Plan, which will set ambitious climate plans for 2030 for the festival and live outdoor events industry.

Chris Johnson, Vision: 2025 chair, states: “The working group is delighted by the widespread support from an industry struggling against the economic backdrop in 2024. This is an acknowledgement that now is the time to show leadership and ambition in taking action, meeting the urgent challenge of climate breakdown, and coming together as an industry to chart a clear path.”

Vision:2025 is working with the AIF and other industry organisations to raise the final 25% to reach the £100k target. The remaining funds will underpin the promot

Details

13 December 2024

UK - After another year of ‘inspiring and groundbreaking entries’, the ABTT’s Stephen Joseph Committee faced a challenge in selecting the 2024 Award winner, which honours innovative and inclusive theatre excellence.

Named in tribute to leading post-war British theatre pioneer and founding ABTT member, the Stephen Joseph Award celebrates the bold ways in which theatre practitioners push boundaries in using theatre space and forging close, creative connections between performers and audiences.

After a lively and passionate discussion about the submissions, the judging panel reached a unanimous decision: the 2024 ABTT Stephen Joseph Award goes to Frozen Light, a Norwich-based company that is revolutionising multi-sensory theatre for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Presented at the ABTT Christmas Party, Bob Milli

Details

13 December 2024

Italy - The organisers of Afterlife invited fans to embark on “a captivating sensory journey and unique immersive experience” when promoting their show at the Snai Hippodrome in San Siro, Milan.

The one-day techno event delivered a multi-sensory mix of music and visuals that enveloped fans in a transformative blend of sensations.

Afterlife’s creator Tale of Us performed at the event and was joined by a line-up that featured Mind Against, Massano and Olympe as well as two performances alternating on stage by Anyma introducing Genesys, and Mrak introducing We Don't Follow. These DJ sets captivated with the telling of intimate and visionary travel stories of the musicians behind the decks.

Supporting the DJ performances and endowing them with even greater mind-expanding power was an audio and visual prod

Details

13 December 2024

USA - Elation capped off a successful 2024 LDI Show by winning the Product Innovation Award for Paragon, the company’s new flagship series of intelligent lights for entertainment.

Toby Velazquez, ADJ Group global CEO, comments: “We would like to take this moment to commend the incredible efforts of our engineering and R&D teams, along with everyone involved in the development of what we believe is the finest moving head series Elation has ever produced. The creation of Paragon stands as a testament to their dedication, technical brilliance, and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

At the centre of Elation’s Experience Tomorrow booth, Paragon captivated attendees throughout the show and featured in the company’s crowd-pleasing hourly light show.

“From the very beginning, this project was guided by a singular focus: to

Details

12 December 2024

UK - This year, at the ABTT Members' Christmas Party on Friday 6 December, the Association of British Theatre Technicians, with the support of ETC and LW Theatres, honoured four of its members by awarding them Honorary Membership and Fellowship for their extraordinary work.

ABTT co-chairs Mig Burgess and David Evans kicked off the afternoon at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, welcoming the crowd and sharing the exciting news that this year, more members than ever would be celebrated. The Awards began by announcing that there were “two exceptional individuals whose contributions to the Association have been nothing short of extraordinary. This prestigious recognition of Honorary Membership is reserved only for those who have truly excelled in advancing the ABTT’s charitable goals – and these two individuals have certainly done just that.”

The first

Details

12 December 2024

Japan - Kadokawa Daiei Studio Co, a video and film production studio based in Tokyo, has unveiled its new facility, No.C Stage. This virtual production studio now features Brompton 4K Tessera SX40 LED processors and Tessera XD 10G distribution units powering Sony Crystal LED VERONA, marking a significant investment in advanced LED display technology.

These enhancements are designed to elevate the studio’s capabilities in in-camera visual effects (VFX), enabling the creation of immersive, high-quality virtual environments for films, commercials, and other creative projects.

Kadokawa Daiei Studio, part of the Kadakawa Group, has consistently been at the forefront of innovation, blending cutting-edge technology with traditional art production expertise. The studio is set to install a Sony Crystal LED Verona LED wall, measuring 15m wide by five metres

Details

11 December 2024

UK - After another successful year of ideas being entered, the ABTT Virtual Ideas Platform had the tough job of choosing a winner for the 2024 Idea of the Year Award.

Set up as collaboration between the ABTT and Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the Virtual Ideas Platform serves as an informal introduction service between independent creative innovators and commercial developers behind the sectors’ leading brands, products and services.

Following a stimulating debate about the submissions, the judging panel came to the unanimous decision to present the ABTT Virtual Ideas Platform 2024 Award to Steve Macluskie, lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and Toby Cass, third year production technology and management student for their innovative product Beam Strap which is a lightweight beam clamp derivative, designed to take the hassle and

Details

11 December 2024

UK - Lady Gaga can always be counted on to set a singularly flamboyant fashion bar. The singer certainly didn’t disappoint when she appeared with co-star Joaquin Phoenix at the London premiere of the Warner Bros. film Joker: Folie à Deux.

Wearing a scarlet satin faille Celine gown paired with a matching bold-shouldered bolero jacket, accented by a 20-karat Tiffany brooch and sporting crystal tear drop jewellery under her right eye, the singer-actress captured widespread media attention for her appearance.

While the media focused on the star’s impressive fashion statement, the team at Milton Keynes-based Impact Productions Services (IPS) were impressed by how vivid the images displayed on the Chauvet Professional REM 3IP panels they installed looked in the press coverage of the event.

IPS used the bright, 3.9mm pitch video panels

Details

11 December 2024

UK - The Rose Theatre Kingston, the largest producing theatre in south-west London, has become the first performing arts venue in the UK to install Martin’s MAC Viper XIP, adding 30 fixtures to its house rig and replacing the theatre’s previous MAC Encores as its principal moving-head fixture.

Emma Sayers, head of lighting & stage at the theatre, first encountered the MAC Viper XIP at a private demonstration at the 2023 PLASA Show. After a direct comparison with the older MAC Encores, she was impressed by the superior performance of the new fixtures. “The colours are so much more saturated, and it does pastel colours nicely too. And because you can do the high contrast colours and the subtle colours it works for what we do here,” Emma says. "It was ticking all of the boxes."

The fixture's ability to handle both bold, high-contrast colours

Details

10 December 2024

UK - Taking place at The Vaults beneath Waterloo Station, Rhythm and Ruse offered theatregoers an immersive night of magic, music and revelry. Harkening back to the prohibition era, the show took place in a ‘Speakeasy’ and allowed audiences to experience astounding close-up illusions from mere inches away, live music from a four-piece jazz band, a secret society of magicians devised by immersive theatre experts as well as food and drink across the evening.

The show featured a lighting design by up-and-coming designer Skylar Turnbull Hurd, with this being her first time lighting a show of this scale and with a full LX team. With its reputation for both supporting young lighting designers, as well as supplying immersive theatrical productions, White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, was called upon to provide the show’s lighting fixtures.

Details

10 December 2024

UK - The Last Dinner Party is a British indie rock band formed in 2021 and fronted by lead singer Abigail Morris. Promoting their new album, Prelude to Ecstasy, the band has just completed a two-month UK and EU tour with a theatrical set, and lighting design by award-winning LD, Ed Warren.

Key to Warren’s design were Ayrton Rivale Profiles and Kyalami laser-sourced spots, compact units which fit well into the touring rig. Warren used seven Rivale Profile and 12 Kyalami on the stage floor behind the band and 27 Rivale Profile and 24 Kyalami spread across three overhead trusses.

“For our spots we needed something with a nice wide zoom and smooth colour mixing as the main spots of the show,” says Warren. “The Rivale Profiles met these criteria very well. We used the floor spots to backlight the band and predominantly Abi, the lead singe

Details

10 December 2024

Ukraine - The Anniversary Concert of Onuka, accompanied by the renowned Naoni Orchestra, took place at the majestic October Palace in Kyiv, celebrating a decade of Oouka's career.

Astra Wash19Pix fixtures by Prolights, supplied by Complex-V, were utilised, delivering lighting that highlighted the orchestra and created a dynamic visual experience. Compactly positioned among the orchestra, the fixtures seamlessly enhanced the ambiance of the event. Additionally, the outer pixel ring of the Astra Wash19Pix was used to craft dramatic visuals that perfectly blended with the structure and rhythm of the show.

The lighting design was led by the creative duo Vasilii Tonkonog and David Vasilenko, while the production was expertly managed by Franz Audio. Together, their collaboration brought an immersive and visually stunning environment to life, complementing