the lighting design is based on a multifunctional setup that can light every scenario that might happen on the stage (photo: Stephan Floeren)
Qatar - The Mall of Qatar is a shopping centre that opened in December 2016 in Doha, Qatar. The mall, which is the equivalent size of 50 football pitches with over 500 stores, is the nation’s largest mall. It also features mall-wide live entertainment with a professional live theatre and 360 degree acts and shows performed on a multi-lift rotating stage.
For the stage’s lighting control, one grandMA2 light, one grandMA2 replay unit, one MA onPC command wing, one MA VPU plus MK2 (Video Processing Unit), four MA Network Switches, two MA NPUs (Network Processing Units), 12 x MA 2Port Nodes and two MA 4Port Nodes are used. The technical design was completed by LichtUnit GmbH with Stephan Floeren as lighting designer, assistant LD Udo Rath and operator Desimir Skoracz.
Floeren explained the product choice: "As reliability and easy show control was crucial, MA Lighting was our first choice. Especially because the video content is integrated into the lighting showfile which makes the work a lot easier for the operator. And, of course, MA was chosen because of its overall networking and control features.
“The ‘main shows’ are a mixture of dance, live artist and music and were programmed in our LichtUnit studio with the use of a grandMA2 light, an MA VPU and an MA NPU. The shows are time-coded and each last between 35 and 45 minutes. Because detailed preparation was needed, on site we only had to make small amendments.
“The biggest challenge was that the show takes place on a 360° stage with audience positions on three different levels. The task was to make it incredible to watch for every spectator in the house! And naturally each actor / artist has to been seen clearly from every seat, so it was sometimes a demanding exercise to set the lights for them.
“All in all, the lighting design is based on a multifunctional setup that can light every scenario that might happen on the stage. So, we had to deal with musical performance, theatrical production, the genres of music and dance as well as kids shows and the requirements of TV,” concluded Floeren.
Premium Projects, Berlin, was the customer for the project. The lighting equipment was delivered and installed by AVT, Dubai.
(Jim Evans)

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