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14 March 2016

Video director and XL crew chief was Ruary MacPhie and the medium of video played an important role in the show’s look, a creative collusion between Peter Barnes’ lighting and set design and Kim Gavin’s overall artistic direction. XL supplied four Sony D35 cameras for live camera playback - two in the pit on a track-and-dolly system, one at FOH and the fourth, hand-held onstage. Realtime show action captured by these was primarily beamed onto two soft screens either side of stage. The main onstage screen consisted of 40sq.m of Unitek 25mm pixel pitch LED, located upstage centre, supplied direct to the production by GL UK. It split to form an entrance/exit

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14 March 2016

In a ballot of BECTU members throughout London’s commercial theatreland, 71% voted in favour of the offer. Members are now set for a further pay rise in October 2002, worth 4%, or inflation plus 1%, whichever is greater. The two-stage offer put to members was tabled by employers, the Society of West End Theatres, in response to an earlier ballot in which 96% of union members in the sector had voted in favour of industrial action. "This is a significant first step in the union’s campaign to end low pay among theatre workers," BECTU organizer Mark David-Gray told us. Originally, the employers had tabled a pay rise of only 1.6%, prompting a determined campaign by BECTU to fight low pay in the West End. Since then its membership in theatreland has increased by more than 30%.

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14 March 2016

The HRS system will allow graphics, pre-recorded video sequences, live action shots and scenic backdrops for the show to be displayed on a giant LED screen measuring 10.2m x 4.8m. Blitz brokered the deal for production company Lighthouse to obtain the LED screen, which cost £1million and was shipped over from Hong Kong. It is made of LVP1010C Quarter Bin LED panels and divides into eight separate smaller screens. Four of these operate at floor level on individually powered, steerable trucks. Another four are flown using an automated motionsyst

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14 March 2016

Vertigo’s Full Monty team was led by the unflappable Ken Mehmed. The team worked closely with master carpenter Micky Murray and production managers Stuart Crosbie and Simon Marlow for producers Sacha Brookes. Vertigo used 40 Lodestar motors to rig the flown elements of the set, designed by John Arnone. These were dead hung in the theatre’s roof once positioned correctly in a very precise operation. A substantial proportion of the stage scenery is flown, so the PoW grid is very tightly packed with flats and set pieces, and the rigging had to be spot on. One of the more

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14 March 2016

The new product line, which is planned for launch in the second half of this year, will enable Color Kinetics’ full spectrum colour and lighting effects to be incorporated into any décor through an array of Targetti’s fixtures. Besides aesthetic benefits, LEDs offer a host of practical advantages over conventional light sources that make them an extremely energy efficient, long-lasting, low maintenance and versatile

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14 March 2016

This latest acquisition of stock occurred when L'Acoustics closed its own UK rental operation at the beginning of the year, offering the current UK partnerships first choice to buy their surplus systems. Delta Sound, a leading sound service provider for the corporate events market, leapt at the chance to expand their V-DOSC stock further, not only to support their own needs, but that of other rental companies too.

One such association is with SSE Hire Ltd, the Birmingham-based hire company, who recently ut

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14 March 2016

This year, security was tightened following the tragic death of 16-year-old Jessica Michalik last year: organizers West & Lees made changes to audience safety provisions and introduced volunteer safety teams, increased audience lighting and erected a new, alcohol-free, D barricade area (from Mojo Barriers) in front of the main stages. The audience was given free water bottles and sun-block, and crowd surfing was banned. "We also carefully considered the time certain bands take to the stage," explained Matt Dougherty, one of three production managers on the tour. &q

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14 March 2016

Due to the wide variety of products that they have distributed, for more than 30 years now, SISME Co. have become specialists in managing permanent installation projects, alongside their more regular sales activities. Claudio Bugari, SISME’s president, says: "We can efficiently support all the technical demands of our customers; with two general support engineers, and a full-time technician we provide a fast and efficient in-house repairing service."

Outside the company, SISME has a sales force of 11 independent representatives covering the whole Italian territo

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14 March 2016

The Cadac name has an unrivalled reputation for audio performance, reliability and engineering excellence. The company's comprehensive line-up of consoles highlights its specialist focus on sound reinforcement and location recording - the R-Type touring console and the M-Type monitor board are complemented by the J-Type and F-Type live production consoles. In additon, the 5.1 C-Type location recording console offers the pure pa

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14 March 2016

(Ruth Rossington)

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14 March 2016

If you are one of those winners, you will find a rare etched gold-wrapped Source Four inside your box, along with a special Certificate of Authenticity signed by ETC’s entire Source Four luminaire assembly crew. Just return the luminaire to ETC and you will receive the real grand prize - a collection of ETC’s Source Fours including a 5° Source Four, a 10° Source Four, a classic Source Four with lens tubes for every angle, a Source Four PAR EA and PAR MCM, a Source Four P

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14 March 2016

Previously the scam has involved close relatives meeting untimely deaths, but not before they’ve managed to siphon off large amounts of government money. However, useful as this formula has been in the past, it seems the tactics have now changed. In a recent letter to a PLASA member from Abba & Abba Trade Distribution Industry, the company’s Frederick Moore has asked to see price lists on the basis that he is looking to place an order for nine 40’ container loads of product. The financing, he claims, will come from money diverted from under the noses of the Nigerian government.

As so often in the past, PLASA members are being targeted heavily and we have taken numerous

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14 March 2016

Instruments on Luth's rig include Martin MAC 600s, MAC 2000s, Martin Atomic strobes, plus a bunch of Pars and 8-Lite blinders. He runs the show from a WholeHog II desk with an extender wing. Before it kicked off, he took full advantage of Bandit's pre-programming facilities, spending four days getting ahead of the game in the warehouse in Nashville. The initial System of a Down lighting rig came out of Nashville, with the European leg of the tour supplied by Bandit's UK office. It's the fir

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14 March 2016

The event, attended by over 1,200 VIPs, including the world’s press, sponsors, special guests and Renault employees, was staged in Renault’s massive Technocentre in Guyancourt, near Paris.

UK production agency Sprout turned to drapes and materials specialist Blackout Triple E’s Paris subsidiary to assist in the realisation of its design for the launch, with Blackout France’s Dominic Peissel in the role of technical manager for the launch and Fabrice Le Floch overseeing the rigging aspects of the installation.

Peissel’s first logistical challenge was to overcome the sheer size and construction of the Technocentre. As rigging had never been hung from the 30m high

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14 March 2016

The company has recently supported the Radiation series of youth events at Christ Church, Lye, where it handled the lighting design, arranged the technical elements and managed the get-in and get-out. Equipment for the event included Martin MX 1s, NJD Datamoons, Rainbow Colour Scrollers, DHA Animation Units, Strand SLs, ETC Source 4 ParNels and an Arc Line Strobe. Conventional lighting was controlled by a Zero 88 Elara Lighting desk with the intelligent lights run through a ShowCAD system.

Each year, Rage offers an opportunity for young people to work alongside professionals on three productions. The company is looking for people in the industry to help develop its work by either donating equipment or expertise. To find

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14 March 2016

Dana Roun, the program director for show production at Full Sail, explains the decision making process: "We required a console representing the current and future industry standards. Out of the major players there were a few stand-outs . . . You have to try to predict future trends and what may happen in the next few years. Look at the life span of a piece of gear. Some equipment could be prevalent in the industry now, however perhaps it’s in the last stages of a long successful run . . . There’s another consideration to think of too. I always try to consider who you’re de

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14 March 2016

For the Asian Games project, PCM will supply eight special motorized Beta winches. These will be utilized to raise and lower the Games’ Flame and base unit into position during the forthcoming event at Pusan, South Korea. Each winch has been designed to VBG8 standard and IP54 standard and features overload protection and low voltage control. All winches will be synchronized for the Games, to run together at an operating speed of 12 metres per minute.

At the Garrick Theatre in Litchfield, PCM will supply and install a new 20-set, four line, manual counterweight system, plus associated stage equipment and motorized lighting bars. The whole contract is being managed by Interse

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14 March 2016

Stand bookings are currently at 82%, with top names such as Vari-Lite, Sennheiser, Martin Professional, Denon, BSS Audio and Total Fabrication already booked. The show pulls in over 13,000 visitors from the UK and abroad each year, having become the main marketplace for the £11billion entertainment technology industry.

"The show is evolving continually," commented Saint, "and one of the key trends emerging is the growing number of manufacturers choosing to exhibit in their own right, rather than rely solely on representation through distributors. In addition, many long-standing exhibitors, including Numark, Peavey, S

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14 March 2016

Over 20 Virtual Reality images allow you to walk around facilities like Sony Music’s premier European recording facility, the uniquely decorated Strongroom studios and the Cinerama Theatre in Seattle, designed by consultant Neil Grant to deliver "the richest motion-picture surround experie

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14 March 2016

"As we continue to expand our line of Vari*Lite automated lighting products, this partnership will allow end users to acquire the best lighting equipment on the market with low up-front costs,"said Clay Powers, president and COO of Vari-Lite Inc. "Through FX Financial, Vari-Lite customers can have predictable and manageable fixed monthly payments."

Vari-Lite selected FX Financial because the financing company focuses exclusively on the entertainment industry, bringing with it years of experience with the equipment and its use. Current FX F

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14 March 2016

Stéphane Gramondo, L-Acoustics’ permanent installation project manager, was in charge of evaluating the needs for this specific attraction at the Puy du Fou. He explains: "We opted for four clusters of three dV-DOSC which were integrated into the columns and tables of the scenery. The clusters were located at a slightly higher point than the actors and animals’ locations during the show, thereby allowing a very even sound pressure level within the arena."

Four SB218 subwoofers were also installed into the columns, with dV-DOSC clusters situated on top. Three dV-DOSC and four EX112 loudspeakers plus 2 SB115 were dedicated to the Governor’s rostrum and thr

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14 March 2016

The company supplied a 50sq.m 25mm high brightness display at Putney Bridge and an auxiliary 10sq.m, 15mm LED mini mobile rig, anchored at Furnival Gardens in Hammersmith - a popular meeting place for supporters of both crews. Contracted by sponsors Aberdeen Asset Management, Screenco worked through event organizer and production manager, Dominic Reed.

Commented Screenco’s project manager Steve Purkess: "We have been providing a turnkey package for the Boat Race since Aberdeen Asset Management became involved four years ago, and

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14 March 2016

As part of the show’s huge technical set-up, Electrosonic Systems was commissioned to design a system which would reliably retain 35mm film clips produced for the Storm show, and display them on three screens. Crucial to the system was ease of operation in conjunction with live actors, musicians and dancers. Two of the screens are Saco LED (12ft wide x 9ft high and 8ft wide x 6ft high). The third is a Stewart screen 3

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14 March 2016

Alan Ayckbourn will be leading two full days of rehearsal, technical and playwriting workshops, giving a unique opportunity to work with the acclaimed playwright and director. John Godber, artistic director of Hull Truck Theatre, will be joining the school (subject to availability) to offer his own perspective on writing, directing and running a theatre company.

The Stephen Joseph Theatre School features a busy programme of workshops, discussions and lectures concentrated on Alan Ayckbourn and his work in the round. It is hoped that Gwenda Hughes