Riverside Studios add Martin MAC 101s

26 January 2011

UK - Riverside Studios, on the banks of the River Thames in Hammersmith, London, were looking for a suitable alternative to PARcans and scrollers, "something equating to an expensive show run hire," according to Ruari Cormack, technical director of the Riverside Studios Trust. They turned to Martin Professional's MAC 101 LED moving head luminaire.

"As a venue, we are aware of the need to cut costs and using LED technology lets us replace banks of lights to give a variety of colour palettes whilst using a fraction of the energy," states Cormack, whose role it is to liaise and co-ordinate all technical theatre matters for the venue's two theatre spaces, as well as any events in the cinema, gallery and café bar areas. "With our high turnover of productions, these units will give us greater flexibility to meet each show's demands."

Riverside Studios comprises a TV production studio, two theatres and a 200-seat independent cinema. It plays host to contemporary and international dramatic and dance performance, film, visual art exhibitions and television production. It also includes an art gallery and café bar & kitchen with a River Thames side terrace.

Riverside had the MAC 101s in place for a co-production with TΩte à TΩte Opera of the musical Salad Days, which premiered in early December and runs through 9 February. Playing in Studio 2, a 400-seat black box performance studio with a traverse layout stage, installation of the 101s took place during the fit up on the 6h December. The fixtures are located in banks along each side of the stage, providing full stage coverage with some placed to pick up specific areas of action at each end of the central area.

"In future, we are likely to use them as pipe end and front wash lights for most events and general productions, and as featured backlight for music events," adds Cormack. "They are so versatile we could use them most places."

Stage Electrics, with whom Riverside Studios has a longstanding relationship, supplied the Martin gear.

(Jim Evans)