Australia - When the City of Perth put out a tender to light the exterior of Perth Concert Hall, Concert & Corporate Productions (C&CP) knew they had a good chance of securing the tender thanks to their impressive work lighting the exterior of another Perth landmark - Burswood Resort. And win it they did, beating seven other companies.

The City of Perth wanted to create a performing arts precinct on the forecourt of the Concert Hall and, to make this area more attractive, wanted the façade of the Hall to be creatively illuminated. Whilst some of the tendering companies proposed gobos and other such projection work, C&CP decided on colour washing the columns to create depth. To achieve this, they needed a small exterior light source that was both bright and had full CMY colour mixing so they opted for the Martin Exterior 200, its anodized aluminium cover camouflaging the fixture

USA - Barco Media is pleased to announce that it has provided state-of-the-art display technology to the new Quiksilver Boardriders Club store in Times Square, located on the corner of 42nd Street and 7th Avenue in New York City. Quiksilver designs and manufactures a diverse line of products for young men and women catering to the surf, skate and snowboard riding lifestyle. Quiksilver brands offer a range of products including clothing, swimwear, accessories, eyewear and wetsuits.

Barco installed three of its DLite 10 LED displays above the entrance to the store. Each display measures 5' 11" high by 13' 3" wide and are used to show surf, skate, and snow video. All three displays are controlled by Barco's Signam!cs content management system, which allows Quiksilver to schedule the right message at the right time.

"The installation of our total display solution in

UK - The eighth annual CEDIA UK Expo will be held at the Brighton Centre between 24th and 26th June 2003. It will be the largest yet, hosting a wealth of new exhibitors from the security and lighting industries, as well as established leaders in the residential entertainment systems and home automation markets.

The seminar programme is expanding as well, and will see the introduction of CEDIA certification examinations for technicians and designers, developed by the UK Education Committee from a structure successfully employed in the US. The third element - manufacturer training - is integrated with the seminars to ensure that theory and practice are perfectly complemented. The largest CEDIA UK Expo to date will be improved by the introduction of extensive on-line registration in April 2003 and the services of an accommodation bureau (01273 292626).

Spearheading CEDIA's Profe

UK - As the exclusive UK distributor for Czech manufacturer - Cue, leaders in the design and manufacture of integrated multi-media remote control systems, beyerdynamic GB, has supplied Wentworth Golf Club with a sophisticated control system. Set in over 700 acres of beautiful rolling Surrey countryside, Wentworth is recognised as being much more than a Golf Club offering events and meetings facilities, a Health Club, Spa, and full banqueting for up to 280 guests.

As part of Wentworth’s first refurbishment phase, Legrand Electric Ltd specified the Cue lighting control system for its magnificent Ballroom, Hali-Burton room and The Masters room. Pivotal to the system design was the Assistant controller, specified by Legrand’s Mark Moody for its integrated control, aesthetics and competitive pricing.

Mark Moody explained: "We were introduced to CUE quite recently b

Ireland - Aquarius Sound & Lighting has been appointed as the exclusive distributor of Australian pro audio manufacturer ARX Systems’ products in Ireland. ARX’s managing director Colin Park told us: "We welcome Phil and Niall Connolly and his team at Aquarius to the ARX European Distribution Network. Phil Connolly and I wrapped up the distribution agreement at last month’s Frankfurt ProLight+Sound. They were excited by the new installation products we’ve been releasing over the past 12 months, and we’re certainly excited to have a company with the enthusiasm and reputation of Aquarius representing ARX in the growing Irish market."

Located just outside Dublin and now headed by managing director Niall Connolly, Aquarius Sound & Light was formed in the early 70s by Phil Connolly to service the then infant Irish nightclub and discotheque indus

UK - Marquee Audio is building up quite a reputation for kitting out municipal-owned, multi-purpose concert facilities in Hertfordshire. In the last few years they have provided cutting-edge sound systems for the Watersmeet in Rickmansworth and the Radlett Arts Centre. But it was their work at the high-profile Alban Arena in St. Albans that won them the recent contract to put a state-of-the-art system - based around new products from Tannoy and dbx - into the nearby Harpenden Public Halls.

As technical manager Dennis Paddison explained, both venues are administered by Leisure Connection Ltd on behalf of St Albans District Council. "Nevertheless Marquee still had to win a tender," reports Dennis. The old system in the 400-capacity halls, which were built in 1938, was well past its sell-by date. A trust was established when the major auditorium in the complex was renamed

Germany - German Music-TV Station,Viva and Sunday newspaper Bild am Sonntag, organized an event in Kiel's Atrium Disco-Club using the Station's Allen & Heath ML5000 console. 3000 guests were entertained with performances from famous German acts including the original German ‘Pop Idol’ bands, No Angels and BroSis and dance club legends, Scooter. Viva acquired the console through Allen & Heath's German distributor, ProAudio Marketing.

(Lee Baldock)

UK - Lighting designer Dave Smith and former LSD R&D chief Keith Owen have teamed up to form Specialz Limited. The company has been formed primarily to offer a one-off manufacturing service to set and lighting designers who cannot find the item they need ‘off the shelf’.

Dave Smith comments: "For some time I’ve felt that lighting and set designers need a dedicated company that can turn their ideas and concepts into a practical reality. With more rental companies concentrating on their core business, there is a need for a company that has the skills and expertise to design and build specialized items when designers call for innovation." Launched in early March, the company has already completed a refurbishment project for AFM lighting; six customized fittings for Placebo’s latest tour; and a set wiring project for Total Fabrications.

The compan

UK - Stage engineering and automation specialists Stage Technologies has received The Queen’s Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category. Originally introduced in 1996, The Queens Award for Enterprise is one of the most sought after accolades a UK business can achieve. Thousands of applicants from some of the most successful businesses in every industry apply for the award, but only a few achieve a high enough standard to warrant such an honour.

Mark Ager and John Hastie founded Stage Technologies in 1994 to develop and supply theatres and entertainment venues internationally with computer-controlled systems to move scenery and fly performers. In the nine years since its inception, it has gone from strength to strength, and now has an impressive list of clients based around the globe. Most recently, the company has supplied automation systems for the new Wal

Hong Kong - The tourism industry is one of the major pillars of Hong Kong’s economy, which is why its Government has initiated plans to upgrade the major tourism clusters of Hong Kong.

Sydney-based Laservision Macro-Media was commissioned by the Hong Kong Tourism Commission last August to draw up a harbour lighting report. The report was wide-ranging, and covered the architectural lighting of Hong Kong’s landmark buildings (as well as opportunities for regular lighting shows in Victoria Harbour), the inclusion of a night-time attraction, and an assessment of current lighting pollution. As a result of the report, the Hong Kong Tourism Commission promptly decided to showcase some of the lighting techniques to be employed under Laservision’s plan during the Chinese New Year holidays. China Light and Power agreed to offer sponsorship to ensure the trial became a r

Italy - Outline’s Doppia and Spectra enclosures were used recently for the Viareggio Carnival, one of the most famous and colourful Italian shows in the world, attended this year by over 100,000 people. Michele Brudaglio’s Sound Service rental firm, based in Pisa, fitted out a float - one of the most impressive - with the Outline sound system, achieving an enormous concentration of power and sound pressure in a small space, say Outline. The system consisted of Doppia and four Spectra enclosures, four Victor Live subwoofers and four Stackbass upper bass units, all powered by Series T digital power amps and controlled by Outline Genius 6 digital processors. Power came from a single power generator on the deck of the float.

(Lee Baldock)

UK - Stagetec has announced the introduction of a Reseller Advantage Programme, aimed at expanding the company’s reseller sales base. Stagetec is the exclusive UK importer and distributor for leading brands such as Compulite and LSC, and the scheme begins with dealers of these ranges.

The scheme will build on the company’s philosophy of after-sales service, and Stagetec will offer access to its reputation in these fields, plus the company’s considerable resources and expertise, as part of a value-added package to its resellers. Benefits of Stagetec’s Reseller Advantage Programme include the utilization of Stagetec’s engineers and programmers for product demonstrations and training, the supply of demo stock when available and use of the 24-hour Technical Support Line. Technical and creative advice and assistance will also be available from Stagetec v

UK - Students in the third and final year of their acting course at Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts recently performed a production of The Tempest at the Academy, under the direction of Debbie Seymour, head of Mountview’s Directing course.

The technical crew were students on the two-year fast-track BA Honours Degree in Technical Theatre, which is validated by Middlesex University. The production brings the action of Shakespeare’s play forward to the 1920s, using the period’s developments in the fields of quantum physics and genetics as the background for Prospero’s grasp of ‘magic’. It was also decided to use moving projection to visually characterize the ‘masque’ aspects of the play.

Mountview strives to give its students access to the latest technology, and this production has taken them to the leading edge of stage projectio

China - IIR Exhibitions and its joint partners, China Theatrical Equipment Association (CTEA) and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Beijing Sub-Council (CCPIT) have announced the postponement of CALM Expo 2003, which was due to take place in Beijing from 16-19 May 2003. The decision was made following requests from several exhibitors to postpone the exhibition to a later date in view of the SARS outbreak in China and in response to the new SARS statistics released from China over the weekend.

The organizers told us: "Our attendees’ health and safety is our utmost concern, therefore we have decided to postpone the event to a later date. We are currently looking at another suitable date as many exhibitors have indicated that . . . the exhibition is very important for their business." Details of the new dates will be confirmed in due course.

T

USA - SoundField and Soundelux have come together as the microphone ‘Dream Team’. Surround sound mic manufacturer and distributor, SoundField, have taken on worldwide distribution, excluding the USA, of the critically acclaimed Soundelux range of valve and FET microphones.

Hand-built in Hollywood, with an uncompromising commitment to quality and workmanship, Soundelux have developed a comprehensive range of professional grade microphones. Such models as their ELUX 251, E47, U99 and IFET 7 recreate the sound attributes of the sought after vintage classics.

Pieter Schillebeeckx, SoundField International Sales, stated: "The Soundelux products don’t compete with any of our models. Our own SoundField multi-capsule technology is aimed firmly at the stereo and surround sound market, particularly in Broadcast. Soundelux’s popularity with so many high profi

UK - Specialist AV company Blitz is supplying sound equipment for a new theatre production Jus' Like That! celebrating the life of comedian Tommy Cooper. It has just opened at The Garrick theatre in London's West End for an open-ended run. As the show contains many of Cooper's original routines, it was essential not only to select the right sound equipment, but also to ensure that it remained unobtrusive and did not overshadow the star of the show.

Mike Walker, sound designer, explained: "Initially we carried out some rehearsals without any vocal reinforcement with the intention of seeing if we could maintain the intimacy of a play. In order for the comedy routines to fully work we found the reinforcement was necessary. We reconfigured the speaker system and added two Sennheiser SK5012 radio mics."

The production has four musical numbers and the music was spec

UK - The Rosco ImagePro was recently used by Matt Veitch in a production of Ibsen’s play The Lady from the Sea - a play described by one of his contemporaries thus: "There is thrown over the whole play a glamour of romance, mystery, of landscape beauty." These are appealing words for a lighting designer, says Veitch. This particular production was lit for ArtsEd and directed by Christine Kimberley.

When asked why he chose the ImagePro, Veitch said: "The set designer had put together a design which was very austere, abstract and two-dimensional. I figured the lighting task fell into three categories. Firstly to create and reflect the environment of the play within this stage setting, secondly to create locations within this that would have their own identity and thirdly to provide the dramatic support the piece required.

"My choice of ImagePro c

Brazil - The Jordan Ford Formula 1 racing team’s first Grand Prix win of this season’s F1 championship was aided by driver Giancarlo Fisichella’s custom-designed earpiece created by in-ear monitor pioneers Garwood. Fisichella wears a specially shaped earpiece, developed by Garwood, that maximises the intelligibility of radio instructions given by Jordan Ford’s technicians. Garwood founder Chrys Lindop explains that a unique solution was required to the acoustical problems encountered while racing at 200mph (322kph) or more.

"The communications systems in the cars," he says, "are designed primarily with two factors in mind: intelligibility and reliability. The outcome of a race might hang on a driver hearing an instruction or warning clearly and being able to react instantly to it."

Garwood used its unique version of dual driver techn

UK - SSE recently supplied Irish PA company Alan Nolan & Sons with a substantial Nexo Geo-S system for Irish star Daniel O’Donnell’s sold-out show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. SSE’s relationship with Alan Nolan (who supply all of Daniel O’Donnell’s shows) goes back many years, and they have always turned to SSE to rent systems for Daniel at the RAH. In the past the systems have been Nexo Alpha. This was the first time that the super-compact Geo-S system has been specified.

According to SSE’s Emma Barwell, Nolans were very impressed by Geo-S when they came over in January for a demo of both Geo-S and the new Geo-T. "While they’d always been very happy with the performance of the Alpha system, it does have quite a rock and roll profile, but Daniel isn’t really a rock and roll act, so when they saw the Geo-S, they were de

UK - The recently downsized S Club are out on the road again, as part of a major UK arena tour. Working with production director Chris Vaughan of CV Productions, LSD/Fourth Phase is providing the lighting (Pete Barnes is again LD), Britannia Row the sound (including an EAW line array speaker system and flown subs) and XL Video the video equipment. The sets were designed by Hattie Spice and the set construction was a collaboration between Brilliant Stages, Total Fabrications and Hangman Backdrops, whilst the spectacular inflatable for the cave scene was built by Air Artists.

The tour features an integrated show performed by both S Club Juniors and Seniors, with the Juniors’ high-action set kick-starting the evening’s entertainment. The live camera mix is directed by Blue Leach, working with an XL team of five. Leach was also involved in creating most of the Seniors&r

UK - The Production Show has announced that over 100 free workshops will run throughout the three day show from 20th - 22nd May 2003, at the National Hall, Olympia. After the success of last year's workshops, attended by a record number of 2997 people, the show has introduced two new elements to its workshop offering.

This year will see the launch of the Video Editing workshops and Animation & VFX workshops - all free of charge. Over three days a series of professional training workshops will be run in partnership with Soho Editors. Manufacturers such as Apple, Media 100, Discreet, Softimage and Quantel will focus on how individuals can enhance both basic and advanced editing skills with specific sessions focused on producers and directors.

The Learning Zone and Work Zone is being run by Skillset working in partnership with BECTU, offering careers advice and information to th

Sweden / Denmark - PLASA Media is lending its support to two seminar sessions with leading lighting and production designer Marc Brickman. The seminars, organized by Masters of Light, will take place in Stockholm on 11 June and in Copenhagen on 12 June.

Brickman's credits over his 25 year career include Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, Bruce Springsteen, the Barcelona and Nagano Olympic Games Ceremonies, Steven Spielberg's 'AI' and the new 'Cat in the Hat' movie. Current projects include the new touring production of the Blue Man Group and Matchbox 20.

Masters of Light, in conjunction with PLASA Media, is offering a 15% discount to anyone registered on PLASA Media’s free weekly News Headlines mailing list. Anyone wishing to take advantage of this offer should register their interest by e-mailing news@plasa.org, from the same e-

Australia - Spanish loudspeaker manufacturer D.A.S. Audio's systems have been used in the refurbishment of two famous hotels in South Australia. Built in the early 1800s, the Lion and Royal Hotels conserve the elegance of the period while integrating the latest in sound reinforcement systems.

D.A.S. distributor for Australia, Magna Systems & Engineering, provided the numerous D.A.S systems for BSS Light & Sound, responsible for the installation of the products in two of the most historic and well-known hotels in the city of Adelaide. The recently-renovated Lion Hotel has installed D.A.S. Factor and Dynamics series products throughout.

At The Lion, while a modern glass and chrome bar complements the bluestone facade which is a landmark in North Adelaide, the barn-like drinking hall of the early 80s and the gloomy eating areas of the past have gone - replaced with a stylish rest

UK - DHA Design Services (a sister company to DHA Lighting) has emerged the winner in the Lighting Design Awards’ Public Buildings category, for its lighting design for the Imperial War Museum North in Manchester.

The judges for the Lighting Design Awards, organized by Lighting Equipment News magazine and the Institution of Lighting Engineers, noted that the lighting design within the Daniel Libeskind-designed building "had to transmit the necessary atmosphere - abstract light slashes punctuate the ceiling, while large objects such as armoured vehicles and a Harrier Jump Jet are modelled using theatrical projectors."

The winning design made extensive use of DHA Lighting gobos, both custom designs and stock gobos from the company’s standard range. "Gobos can have a magical effect," notes DHA Design’s Adam Grater, "and for the sections

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