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16 April 2025

Europe - During the 30th edition of Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt, Highlite International presented a wide range of new and updated products across its brands: Showtec, Infinity, DAP, DMT, Showgear, and Wentex. Visitors were treated to product premieres, hands-on demos, and an immersive showcase powered by the latest in lighting, audio, and rigging solutions.

From Showtec there were many new products and additions to existing series. The Xpression 2000S Spot, the 2000B Beam, and the 2000W WashBeam were on debut. They feature extensive matching colours, effects and controls to create a unified lighting experience across the series and offer customisable programmes for unique stand-alone experiences.

IP Pixelstrip is a versatile system of IP65-rated LED bars, controlled by a dedicated controller – with convenient coupling hardware for creating 3D set

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15 April 2025

Europe - UK-based media control specialist Hive has appointed Cast as its official distributor in Germany, expanding its footprint in central Europe. The partnership draws on Cast’s trusted reputation, technical expertise and long-standing presence in the entertainment technology sector.

Based in Hagen, Germany, Cast (cast C.Adolph & RST Distribution GmbH) is a leading distributor of lighting, stage and media technology. The company works closely with lighting designers, technical directors, planners and creatives across theatre, corporate events, studios, architainment, cruise ships, trade fairs and convention centres. Cast supports both fixed installations and touring projects, offering a comprehensive portfolio for system integrators and live event professionals.

Cast will offer Hive’s full product range, built around the award-winning Bee

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15 April 2025

Europe - KLSTR, a developer of advanced technology for the entertainment and live events sector, announced at Prolight + Sound 2025 a strategic partnership with Ayrton, an international leader in innovative lighting solutions.

Through this partnership, selected new and upcoming Ayrton lighting fixtures will come standard with integrated KLSTR technology. Customers will benefit from seamless integration, more efficient operation, and significantly enhanced lighting experiences. Additionally, KLSTR offers full retrofit support for existing Ayrton models, allowing older fixtures to benefit from the latest technological advancements.

The agreement was reached at the Lab of Tomorrow innovation hub in Boom, Belgium, underlining both companies’ shared commitment to advancing technology and collaboration within the entertainment industry.

Roel Aper

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15 April 2025

Netherlands - M&S Showtechniek is a lively, ambitious and fast-growing full production – lighting, rigging, audio and video – and rental company based in Amersfoort, The Netherlands, run by Pim Muller and Jeroen van der Stap.

They started the company in 2011 while still at high school and formalised the structure as soon as they graduated, deciding to target the delivery of quality events wanting an imaginative approach and quality production values. From the outset, they kept ploughing profits into new and innovative equipment, a policy that soon led them to Robe moving lights.

The first Robes to join the M&S inventory were 24 x LEDBeam 150s in 2017. At this stage, M&S Showtechniek was among the first companies in the Netherlands to invest in these handy and powerful little moving lights, which have been a popular and successful prod

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15 April 2025

Lebanon - Located at the Sawary Beach Resort in Lebanon, Île Beach Bar is an upscale cocktail bar and lounge that blends a relaxed beachfront ambiance with an energetic nightlife scene, a popular destination resort on the Batroun Coastal Road.

Martin Audio’s Lebanese distributor Technosound was brought in to deliver a high-quality audio solution to complement this luxurious setting at the 500-cap venue. As a long-time friend of Technosound’s Charbel Fahed, Île Beach Bar owner, Abdo Obeid, had complete confidence in the latter’s ability to design and implement a state-of-the-art sound system, based on his track record.

In turn, Charbel says: “Abdo owns several top-tier clubs in Lebanon; his commitment to quality and innovation is reflected in every aspect of the venue.”

However, the project was not without its challenges, as Charbe

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15 April 2025

UK - Newcastle University’s Stephenson Building is a multi-use facility designed to support engineering and science disciplines. With its sprawling multi-level atrium, the building offers an open and dynamic space for presentations, collaborative learning, and events. However, this architectural marvel came with an audio challenge – ensuring 100% intelligibility across its expansive, reverberant environment.

To address this challenge, Newcastle University partnered with CUK Group to implement a bespoke Renkus-Heinz public address solution. The result has been transformative, enabling clear, impactful sound that enhances every experience within the space.

“The atrium is a large, reverberant, open learning space used for multiple events that required intelligibility across the entire area,” explains Mark Bromfield, director of system solutions

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15 April 2025

France - Since 2005 La Cartonnerie has served as a vital cultural cornerstone of Reims' contemporary music scene. Now, with an upgrade to an L-Acoustics eco-friendly L Series system with inherent cardioid technology, the venue which hosts up to 120 concerts annually has written a new chapter in its musical journey.

This significant enhancement to the venue's Great Hall, which has welcomed artists such as Justice, Christine and the Queens, and Stromae, marks a milestone in La Cartonnerie's commitment to maintaining its renowned acoustic performance standards.

La Cartonnerie's 4,000 m² complex houses three distinct performance spaces: the expansive 1,200-capacity Great Hall, an intimate 350-seat Club, and the versatile Floor - a warm-up area that doubles as a bar and restaurant. Beyond concerts, it supports musicians through residency programmes and d

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15 April 2025

Argentina - Two of Argentina’s most respected artists, Abel Pintos and Luciano Pereyra, joined forces for an epic series of concerts, with an extra four dates added due to huge demand. Staged in Luna Park Stadium, Buenos Aires, the concerts were performed ‘in the round’ and at their core were two DiGiCo consoles - a Quantum 338 at front of house and a DiGiCo SD10 at the monitor position.

Luna Park is a historic venue and occupies a special place in the hearts and minds of Argentinians. It was built in 1932 on the site of the Luna Park open-air street-fair and, with a capacity of 8,500, has hosted some of Argentina’s most memorable events ever since.

The coming together of two of the country’s most popular singer-songwriters meant the residency would be both popular and high profile, so the equipment specified by rental company Buenos Aires

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15 April 2025

UK - Love GOSH, the annual fundraising event developed by Great Ormand Street Hospital charity, GOSH, has raised over £3.2m over the course of three appeals and is currently working towards a state-of-the-art Children's Cancer Centre. At the heart of its vital donation activities are philanthropic events which help the world-renowned children's healthcare facility to gather supporters through live entertainment.

Keen to assist this incredibly worthy cause, Britannia Row Productions client Duran Duran performed at the charity's winter event. More recently, Britannia Row returned for another evening of fundraising endeavours at The Peninsula London, a high-end hotel in the heart of Belgravia, where singers Pixie Lott and Sophie Ellis-Bextor performed, alongside a set from DJ Sigala.

Working on behalf of corporate production specialists Metro Productio

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15 April 2025

Netherlands - Dakota Theater, one of The Hague’s eight cultural anchors and a vibrant artistic hub of the Dutch city, has taken a significant step into the future with the installation of a cutting-edge LED lighting system by Elation. The upgrade marks a major improvement in functionality, creative flexibility, and energy efficiency, providing enhanced creative possibilities for designers and a richer visual experience for audiences.

As one of the key cultural venues in The Hague, Dakota Theater hosts an array of artistic productions, from experimental theatre and festivals to film screenings, musical performances, workshops, and presentations. With a 184-seat theatre, 64-seat movie theatre, and an affiliated school, the venue required a modern lighting system that could meet the diverse demands of its programming.

Recognising the need for an upgra

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15 April 2025

Brazil - Located in Penha, Santa Caterina, Beto Carrero World is the largest theme park in South America. Amongst its many attractions is the big, bright and colourful Madagascar Circus Show, a musical extravaganza themed on the third in the children’s film series Madagascar, in which the characters dance and perform circus stunts.

Over 30 artists work to create this energy-filled spectacle against a backdrop of 120sq.m of LED screens. With a show of this size and vividness, a powerful followspot was needed to deliver enough emphasis and delineation for the amazing performers and their acts. Bring on the dancing Robert Juliat Arthur followspot, an 800W LED powerhouse which answered all the challenges the flamboyant circus show could throw at it.

Two of the Arthur 1014 models - in the first ever installation for Brazil - were suppl

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15 April 2025

USA - City Theatrical has released a new update to its DMXcat app, version 2.1.0.9.0.0, which includes the Flicker Finder function in the DMX Tester app, among other enhancements, when connected to City Theatrical’s DMXcat-E test tool device.

DMXcat-E users can start using these new features by updating their DMXcat smartphone app from the App Store or Google Play (requires Apple iOS 13+ or Android OS 6.0+, 64-bit). As outlined in City Theatrical’s DMXcat-E Quick Start Guide, the DMX Tester app allows the DMXcat-E and DMXcat devices to Analyze DMX, View Levels, and perform the Flicker Finder function.

The Flicker Finder function allows the user to find the source of any DMX Flicker on the DMX universe by setting levels and noting if any levels have changed. Flicker Finder allows you to take a snapshot of the slot levels of an incoming un

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15 April 2025

The Next Act - Streaming services, skills shortages, and the rise of artificial intelligence are causing the UK’s creative industries to lag behind their global competitors, a new report has claimed. To catch up, the report recommends that the sector at large “be prepared for the rapid AI transformation”, stream its content to wider audiences and provide more technical courses for younger students.

Entitled The Next Act: A Vision for the UK’s Creative Future, the report is released by Boston Consulting Group’s (BCG) Centre for Growth. It draws on interviews with sector leaders and a survey of 523 UK creative industry professionals. It finds the UK’s creative industries’ global status to be at an “inflection point”, at risk of being “quickly outpaced” by countries including France and South Korea, despite their high quality.

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14 April 2025

Germany - The world of events is changing – it is becoming smarter, more immersive, and greener than ever. Prolight + Sound 2025 demonstrated how the industry is actively shaping this change – with innovative products, interdisciplinary know-how, and practical applications. Over 23,000 trade visitors from 108 countries used the 30th anniversary of the show to gain fresh inspiration for their work and make new contacts.

Technology was brought to life in all areas – from intelligent lighting and sound solutions to automated camera systems and sustainable concepts for energy-efficient events. 491 exhibitors plus numerous well-known brands presented their innovations and solutions for tomorrow.

Prolight + Sound 2025 welcomed visitors from all over the world. For example, from Europe, especially from the Netherlands, France, Italy and Spain; from Ea

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14 April 2025

USA - New York-based Group One Limited, the US distributor for a number of the pro audio and lighting industries’ best-known brands, reports that it has added Plus Four Marketing to its independent manufacturer’s representative network. Matt Larson, Group One vice-president, professional audio products, made the announcement at NAB 2025.

Headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, Plus Four Marketing is under the direction of principal Joe Mathews, son of the late James ‘Jimmy’ Mathews who founded the firm more than 40 years ago. Effective immediately, Plus Four has been retained by Group One to facilitate sales and support for the DiGiCo, Fourier Audio, KLANG, MC2, Sound Devices, and XTA lines throughout Northern California, Nevada (outside of Las Vegas), Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska.

“Plus Four is an exceptional second-ge

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14 April 2025

Norway - Jonas Vikanes Alfhei’s entertainment industry career spans 15 years, and during that time he has worked with many high-profile artists. As project manager and sound engineer for Norwegian full-service production company Showlab, he tours with various acts mixing front-of-house and monitors. After hearing good things about KLANG from his peers and experiencing demonstrations, he orchestrated Showlab’s investment in the KLANG:vokal system, purchased from Norwegian distributor, Scandec Systemer.

In October 2024, Ramón headlined the 10,000-plus seater Oslo Spektrum Arena. Normally, monitors would be looked after from the FOH position by Espen Husby, but due to the size of the show, it was decided that Alfhei would supply monitor mixes position using the KLANG:vokal system. With guest musicians, artists and playback being added to the arena date, th

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14 April 2025

China - Over 50 Christie 1DLP laser projectors have redefined the cultural tourism experience in Hubei province with Ballad of Chu, an immersive theatrical performance that blends history and technology. As China’s first indoor immersive performance themed around Jingchu culture, this large-scale production sets a new standard for integrating projection technology into heritage-based attractions.

Located in Mulan Everbright Town, the home of folk heroine Hua Mulan, Ballad of Chu brings to life the rich heritage of Jingchu culture through visual effects and immersive storytelling. The 14,000sq.m venue comprises multiple performance spaces, including the third-floor theatre, the second-floor Zhaojun Goes to the Frontier performance, and the Battle of Red Cliffs projection zone. Jianye Display played a pivotal role in the p

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14 April 2025

UK - Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has offered his support for Production Futures’ forthcoming On Tour event at the city’s AO Arena.

The free-of-charge event which takes place on 28 April is set to attract a wide range of young people from across the North West of England, and promotes employability, transferable skills, diversity, free training, networking, and paid work opportunities to newcomers across the live event and broadcast production industry.

This will be Production Futures’ second visit to the AO Arena following last year’s successful event which was attended by a host of world-leading manufacturers, supply and production companies, venues and distributors.

Andy Burnham, who also visited last year’s event, comments: “Greater Manchester has a proud history of creativity and innovation in live events an

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14 April 2025

USA - As part of the company's continued product line expansion, with a focus on the mid-market of the professional entertainment lighting industry, ADJ has introduced two new DMX-over-Ethernet nodes.

Both units feature RJ45 Ethernet input and output ports and are compatible with standard DMX512, including RDM, as well as the Art-Net and sACN protocols. They can be used with both line voltage and Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) systems as well as DHCP or static IP addressing. A convenient 1.7” LCD display screen on the front panel of each model allows intuitive configuration via a menu interface navigated using a rotary push-to-select control. In addition, the devices can also be configured remotely via a web browser interface and feature LED indicators for each socket that signal data transmission activity.

The devices also feature a programmable memory

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14 April 2025

USA - City Theatrical founder Gary Fails has been recognised as the recipient of ESTA’s 2025 Lifetime Technical Achievement Award. This award was presented by ESTA executive director Erin Grabe at ESTA’s AGM at the Hilton Columbus Downtown Hotel in Columbus, Ohio. The event was scheduled two hours before doors opened at Columbus Convention Center for the first day of the USITT Annual Conference & Stage Expo 2025.

“I am truly humbled to be selected for this award, and it makes me reflect on my 53-year career in entertainment lighting,” said Gary Fails. “When I decided to go into manufacturing, we signed up for the ESTA membership, marketed to their member lists, and the ESTA dealer members became City Theatrical distributors, which City Theatrical still does business with today.

“I have a lot of respect for what Erin Grabe and