USA - Mary Lou Figley is retiring from Stageco US at the end of this year. Mary Lou has successfully led Stageco US for over 31 years. During her 31+ years of service with the company, Mary Lou was instrumental in the success and establishment of Stageco US in Colorado Springs, Colorado and the satellite office in Manheim, Pennsylvania.
“It was essential for Mary Lou to find a replacement whom she felt could take over the reins and help grow the US marketplace,” says Stageco. “During that search, the leadership team and Mary Lou selected Micah Catterson.
Micah is an e

USA - PRG (Production Resource Group) has appointed Ariane Coldiron as senior vice president, corporate events. Coldiron will head the corporate events division, reporting directly to PRG CEO Stephan Paridaen.
Coldiron was most recently SVP, brand experience at Freeman where she worked for nearly a decade. As SVP, she drove the company’s highly successful agency business, developing and implementing go-to-market and long-term strategies while managing a large and complex portfolio of accounts including industry giants like Google, SalesForce, Sage, and HP. She also held tenures

USA - Offering increased thickness and weight capacities, ADJ has upgraded the selection of safety cables available as part of its Accu-Cable range. With a focus on strength, reliability, and value, the new safety cables are designed to offer ‘complete peace of mind for all professional lighting and production applications’. The TÜV approved range features three different weigh loading options, which all share the same robust and practical design.
Safety cables are an essential component of any entertainment technology installation, which ensure protection for equipment and p

South Africa - CS Productionz, a company that specialises in conferences, corporate productions and exclusive events, has expanded its equipment inventory to accommodate its busy schedule.
With offices in both Durban and Johannesburg, the company recently made an investment in Prolyte StageDex and a Beavis II 32A 3-Phase Distro from DWR Distribution.
Clyde Shunmugam initially founded the technical supply company back in 2009 in Durban, and the opportunity to continuously meet new people and to learn from other industry professionals to fine tune his own service, has kept hi

Australia - The SRS Group and Showtools International have announced their mutual partnership has been extended to grant Showtools International exclusivity to distribute all SRS Group brands including the SRS Rigging range of products for Australia.
"Having established the SRS Power and SRS Lighting brands as reliable and affordable products for the Australian market over the last two years, it was a logical step to include SRS Rigging so we are able to distribute and promote the entire SRS Group portfolio from under one banner," comments Showtools International managing director

Spain - ETC distributor Stonex selected ETC stage machinery and lighting to complete the Lekuona Fabrika Cultural Centre in northern Spain. Prodigy P2 hoists, QuickTouch+ controls as well as ETC luminaires were selected for the project.
Based in Errenteria near the north coast of Spain, the Lekuona Fabrika is a multifunctional cultural venue which frequently hosts exhibitions, festivals, productions and more. The venue is a 613m² open-plan flexible space that can be divided into three rooms offering up to six different configurations using movable walls and retractable seating bl

Europe - Showgear, an all-round supplier of stage essentials, expendables and accessories, has introduced its biodegradable confetti, ‘transforming celebrations into eco-conscious experiences’.
In a world where sustainability is paramount, Showgear’s new biodegradable confetti allows revellers to celebrate with a clear conscience and to elevate their events while minimising their environmental footprint.
The new biodegradable confetti proudly carries the respected TÜV OK-biodegradable SOIL certification, assuring users that it will completely decompose in the soil,

Europe - The new ByB Boost your Booth System from HOF is designed for exhibition booth construction, showrooms as well as stores or shops with high demands on appearance and flexibility.
The assembly of the ByB Boost your Booth System is ‘very easy and fast and can be done by two people’.
Lighting technology and other equipment such as screens or advertising banners can be positioned flexibly and precisely.
The ByB Boost your Booth system offers space-saving transportation. An exhibition booth of 5x5m, for example, can be easily transported in an estate car.

The Netherlands - Cisco Live 2023 took place in the Amsterdam RAI from earlier this year. Thearent, a company that specialises in the rental and sale of materials for professional purposes, transformed an area of the RAI for the event using Wentex Se Frame Modules.
Cisco Live is an event for IT professionals that focuses on education and training. With various topics being covered over the course of five days, it was necessary to have a number of different areas available for participants. Using a total of 5500 Wentex Set Frame Modules, Thearent transformed a single, large area o

UK - In step with the welcome return of the British summer, PLASA Show made a triumphant return to the Grand Hall of Olympia London from 3-5 September, spanning a third more floor space with a striking 28% increase in visitors.
Lee House, operations director for Ambersphere Solutions, says: “I was struck by a sense of nostalgia and excitement - PLASA Show has made a triumphant return! The hall was bustling with a diverse array of exhibitors and, most importantly, visitors who were eager to engage in meaningful conversations about their technological needs for the present and fut

Europe - HOF has introduced the Monobloq rigging system where all the user needs is a single fix cable plus Monobloq to create the hanging point. The patented system allows a cable adjustment in seconds and the installation of up to eight bridles per hour with two technicians.
With the Monobloq system, less cable stock is needed, and cable adjustments can be done in seconds. HOF offers two different Monobloq bodies: one for 8mm steel ropes and one for and 10 mm steel ropes. To operate with each of these diameters, the corresponding pressure wedge must be used. In both cases the i

USA - Cody James created the lighting and production design for Yellowcard’s current Ocean Avenue 20th Anniversary Tour.
“This design was built on two main ideas,” said James. “I wanted to have no blank space, but at the same time I didn’t want the stage to feel cluttered. Also, I wanted the whole thing to have an almost organic feel, something that felt natural and didn’t take away from the band playing their first shows in seven years.”
Anyone who sees the famed punk rockers on their current tour, which includes stops at Petco Park, Denver’s Levitt P

UK - Howard Eaton was the proud recipient of the 2023 Gottelier Award. Nominated and voted for by his industry peers, Howard collected the award from PLASA MD, Peter Heath and chair, Adam Blaxhill at a special ceremony at this year’s PLASA Show.
Named in memory of Tony Gottelier, the renowned industry innovator and commentator, the award recognises individuals or teams of people who have made long-term contributions to the advancement of entertainment, presentation or installation technology.
Howard, of Howard Eaton Lighting Ltd (HELL), is a serial problem solver well-kno

Saudi Arabia - Fully established as a legal entity in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, global crewing specialist Showforce, a division of the Spendlove Group, has announced ambitious plans for expansion in the country. The company has opened an office in Riyadh with business development manager Zachariah Smith relocating to spearhead the operation.
Initially accompanied by experienced members of the Middle East operations team, Smith will lead the charge in bolstering local crew numbers, growing its talent pool and securing new clients.
The office will deal with all enquiries a

UK - The winners of this year’s PLASA Awards for Innovation were announced last night at PLASA Show at Olympia London. The awards, run in association with LSi magazine, are respected industry-wide for celebrating future-focussed technology that improves safety, efficiency and performance through new methods and materials.
40 products were entered this year, with the judges ultimately awarding eight products, including one highly coveted Gold Award. This year’s judging team comprised 12 independent technical specialists from a wide array of backg

UK - Le Mark Group is celebrating its fortieth anniversary. It all began in September 1983 in the kitchen and garage of the family home in Alconbury, supplying a range of self-adhesive tapes to the Arts Entertainment TV and Movie industry. The company was run by Stuart and his ex-wife Linda Gibbons as joint MDs.
The company grew and evolved, moving several times until finally settling in their current location at Houghton Hill Industries.
By the 1990s the product range had grown to include custom, and award-winning products, such as their much sought after dance floors. The

USA - Lighting and rigging company, TSL has prioritised increasing and improving the stock of rigging supplies within their inventory this year.
New investments which have already arrived are the EXE Rise D8 + 350kg and 500kg Chain Hoists, with the EXE Rise D8 + 1000kg and 2000kg LV Single Fall Chain Hoists on their way. These hoists are the most up to date and comply with European regulations.
TSL’s new 2000kg hoists boast a single chain (single fall) configuration, which means they are a lot bigger and more powerful but the main benefit is that the chain can be used wit

USA - ESTA has announced a team of nine ETCP recognised trainers as the recipients of the Frank Stewart Volunteer of the Year Award for service in both 2022 and 2023:
Bennett Brian (Reed Rigging, Inc.), Tyler DeLong (DeLong Rigging Solutions), Brent "Mickey" Henry (ETC), Shane Kelly (DePaul University), Rebecca Knipfer (ETC), Ed Leahy (The Chicago Flyhouse, Inc.), Verda Beth Martell (DLR Group), Tracy Nunnally (Vertigo), and Patrick Stewart (ETC), whose father is the award's namesake. These trainers tirelessly volunteered around their busy schedules to plan, design, and deliver a

UK - PLASA Show once again returns to Olympia London to showcase the future of live entertainment technology. From 3-5 September, the expanded show will set the stage for 239 brands, 112 educational sessions, and the meeting of thousands of industry professionals. Free tickets are available until 31 August, after which the price will increase to £15, then £20 on the door.
Lighting professionals can look forward to meeting Artistic Licence, Astera, Ayrton, Ch

Lithuania - HOF has announced that it has appointed Baltic Production Service BPS as a distribution partner for Lithuania. BPS is a leading stage & light company in Lithuania, offering a variety of services to its clients including light design, stage design solutions, rigging, event services and equipment rental.
Povilas Leckas, CEO at Baltic Production Service BPS says: “Our credo is efficiency, experience and passion for what we do. We like HOF because we see it as a creative company that cares about the market and its needs. As a production company, we are keen to bring

UK - House of Oz is a platform to showcase the depth and breadth of Australian talent from the emerging to the veteran, in a venue with a distinctly Australian flavour. Born at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2022 as part of the UK/Australia Season, House of Oz featured a diverse programme spanning genres and generations, and in its inaugural year, won an award for Best Fringe Venue.
More than just four walls, House of Oz provides the production, marketing and PR support for Australians to showcase their work.
For the 2023 event, Skywalker Gibbon, a giant inflatable gibbon

UAE - Seaworld at Yas Island Abu Dhabi is the region’s first Marine Life Theme Park. It is also the first facility in the MENA region to achieve Global Human certification (the international brand of American Human, which is the world’s largest certifier of animal welfare). The new attraction was delivered by ALEC Engineering & Contracting LLC and opened its doors to the public in May 2023.
Unusual Rigging was brought on board by ALEC and subcontractors ASU and Holovis to handle the various rigging installations around the park, ensuring that the equipment and design solut

UK - When Audio Light Systems was contracted as specialist theatre systems installation contractors, to deliver The Studio at Pitlochry Festival Theatre, Doughty Engineering was the supplier of choice for the facility panels and production light boxes that the venue would need.
The Studio - a home for new expressive art, opened its doors earlier this summer - more than 40 years after it was originally planned. Although a smaller performance place was part of the original 1970’s design of the site at Port-Na-Craig, financial restrictions meant that this particular ambition could

UK - A Serious Stages Supanova provided the colourful focal point for Brighton’s Fabulosa Pride in Preston Park, with over 150 LGBTQ+ artists entertaining 60,000 fans, 5-6 August, 2023.
Widely acknowledged as the country’s most popular Pride event, Serious Stages supported the organisers of this year 50th Brighton Pride anniversary weekend. The Black Eyed Peas, Zara Larson, Steps and Melanie C were amongst the artists appearing on the 22m Arch Supernova stage, complete with front-of-stage thrust allowing the stars to get up close to the sparkling audience.
Two goalposts

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