UK - Russia came to London on 15 January 2005 when Trafalgar Square London hosted the Russian Winter Festival - a feast of music, theatre and street entertainment to mark the 'Old New Year' according to the old calendar of the Orthodox Church. The show opened with speeches from Russian and London dignitaries including Ken Livingstone, watched by an 18,000-plus audience.

Produced by Greenwich & Docklands Festivals, the eight-hour show embraced cultural song and dance from across Russia to mainstream rock and pop acts. The Alexandrov Military Choir performed with 75 members on stage, its first UK appearance since 1967.

John Radford, Technical Project Manger for Stage Electrics Production Services, worked closely with production manager Colin Nightingale to supply technical event production including provision of staging, lighting, sound, site distribution and LED screen and cameras. The lighting operator was Simon Baker, production technician from Stage Electrics' London branch, while front of house and monitors were managed by Richard Sharratt and Chris Vass respectively.

The lighting rig included Martin MAC600s, City Colors, Robert Juliet Ivanhoe followspots and Par Bars with an Avolites Pearl in control. Sound was in the hands of an EAW KF850 and SB1000 rig with a Yamaha PM5D at FOH and monitors operated from a Soundcraft Series 5.

"It was a very successful show and we rose to the challenge of working to the tight timescales; the get-in for the event took place on Friday 14th and the square was clear again within four hours of the performers leaving the stage," said Radford.

(Mike Lethby)


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