Events

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18 June 2025

UK - Polar recently returned to the Old Savoy Theatre in Northampton to stage Polar Expo, a day-long event where integrators, AV consultants, rental companies and sound engineers were able to see, hear, and explore the full Polar catalogue.

Previous Polar demo days, focused on specific brands, had proved to be a popular draw for a wide range of technology professionals, prompting the company to expand the formula to stage its largest such event to date. According to sales manager Andy Plunkett, who coordinated the event, the Savoy Theatre takeover was another valuable exercise in giving visitors a close-up, hands-on experience of the Polar portfolio:

“We showcased the entire portfolio across morning and afternoon sessions in the Theatre and adjoining Dore Suite. There’s just no substitute for hearing our high-performance loudspeaker ranges in a r

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17 June 2025

UK - The PLASA Awards for Innovation are back for 2025, and entries are officially open.  

Celebrating the most forward-thinking technology across lighting, audio, AV, staging, rigging and beyond, the awards recognise products that bring something genuinely new to the table, whether it’s a technical step forward, a sustainability breakthrough, or a clever commercial edge. 

Run in partnership with LSi, the awards are independently judged by a panel of experts who know what real innovation looks like. All shortlisted ent

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16 June 2025

UK - On 4 June, the Association of British Theatre Technicians hosted its Annual Awards after a busy first day of the ABTT Theatre Show at Alexandra Palace, London. This event is a cornerstone of the ABTT, dedicated to honouring outstanding contributions to the theatre and live events sector and recognises the achievements of those who are shaping the future of the industry.

Ted Moore, director at sponsors TAIT, said of the Awards: “TAIT is really proud to be here once again to sponsor the ABTT Awards, which I truly believe are the best award presentations anywhere in our industry. We wish all the nominees good luck and give congratulations to whoever the winners may be.”

The five Product Awards recognise the achievements of products which are substantially new to the market during the last 12 months and are available now for purchase, immediate

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12 June 2025

UK - Production Futures has announced that it will bring the curtain down on 2025 with its largest On Tour show to date. The event will take place at Production Park, Wakefield on Thursday 27 November and will promote employability, transferable skills, diversity, free training, and networking, as well as presenting paid work opportunities to newcomers across the live event and broadcast production industry.

Manufacturers, supply and production companies, venues and distributors will have representatives present at the event to provide advice, information and insights, and discuss specific job and training opportunities. As well as manufacturers and suppliers, Production Futures also works closely with a range of organisations, initiatives, education partners and associations, connecting employment and training opportunities to a diverse pool of tal

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12 June 2025

UK - The ABTT Theatre Show came alive at Alexandra Palace in London with the annual ABTT Awards hosted by the Association of British Theatre Technicians. This event showcases the contributions people in the industry have been making to theatre and live events.

Ted Moore, director at sponsor TAIT said of the Awards: “TAIT are really proud to be here once again to sponsor the ABTT Awards, which I truly believe are the best award presentations anywhere in our industry. We wish all the nominees good luck and give congratulations to whoever the winners may be.”

The highly sought after People Awards included the ABTT Technician of the Year, the ABTT Award for Emerging Excellence and the ABTT Cmyru Nick Bache Technician of the Year Award which all recognise the achievements of individuals both starting out and well-established in their backstage careers

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10 June 2025

UK - The second Profile Awards ceremony was held at the Alexandra Palace Theatre on 5 June 2025. Created and are coordinated by Durham and Jennie Marenghi in association with the ALPD, the ABTT and the STLD, the awards recognise lighting design excellence in theatre and TV in the UK.

The event was attended by 250 people and of those 150 were lighting designers or members of their lighting teams. The headline sponsor was Ayrton, with Ambersphere Solutions sponsoring the drinks reception, entry sponsors included ER Productions, Encore, Limelite and Sunbelt Rental Film and TV who also supplied the goody bags. The lighting for the event was kindly supplied by HS-Hire, the lasers by ER Productions and the lectern gifted by Encore.

In order of the presentations on the night, the Student Virtual Lighting Design Award sponsored by AC Entertainment Technologi

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09 June 2025

UK - PLASA Show 2025 is now open for free registrations. This September, the UK's market-leading trade event for live entertainment technology will set the stage for breakthrough products, big ideas, and invaluable industry connections. Celebrate entertainment technology and the people behind it at PLASA Show, returning to its home at Olympia, London from 7–9 September 2025.

Drawing 7,500+ professionals from across the global industry, the show offers unrivalled access to 250+ leading brands, an expert-led seminar programme, and hands-on experiences with next-generation technology.

Headline sponsored by Robe, PLASA Show 2025 features an expanded show floor filled with world-class manufacturers, distributors and service providers. Attendees can explore the latest tools and technologies for lighting, audio, AV, staging and rigging – all under one r

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05 June 2025

UK - Global Crowd Management Alliance (GCMA) has published Words Matter: The Language of Crowds, a new guide designed to improve how professionals and the public talk about crowds, especially during and after major incidents.

The guide defines key terms used in crowd safety work, highlights common misunderstandings, and offers clear distinctions between proactive crowd management and reactive crowd control. It addresses the media’s role in shaping public perception and calls for greater accuracy and care in the language used to describe crowd-related events.

“Terms like ‘panic’ and ‘stampede’ are often used within minutes of a tragedy,” said Anne Marie Chebib, chair of The United Kingdom Crowd Management Association, a founding partner of GCMA. “But these words are not only vague, they can mislead investigations, distort publ

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03 June 2025

France - Showlight 2025 made a triumphant return in May, revived and rejuvenated after an eight-year break, visiting the historic city of Dijon - appropriately for Showlight, one of France’s centres of art and gastronomy.

Hailed as the largest and most international Showlight to date, Showlight 2025 marked a welcome, and long-overdue, chance to converge once again and dedicate three whole days to talking about light.

“I sensed an enormous feeling of joy and relief that Showlight was not just back, but had if anything moved on. I am sure it was the most international Showlight I have experienced!” Bernie Davis, papers committee and technical manager.

The event exhibited a greater international presence with participants coming from all over the world, not just Europe but as far afield as America, Brazil and Aus

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02 June 2025

UK - PLASA Focus Leeds 2025 returned to the Royal Armouries on 13-14 May, drawing a vibrant cross-section of the live entertainment technology sector for two buzzing days of connection, innovation and learning.

This year’s show welcomed 2,852 professionals, an increase on the 2024 show. The quality of attendees continues to thrive, with 687 directors, owners, or chairs representing 16% of the audience. Significantly, when combining senior roles and those in sales, procurement and specification, nearly 40% of the professionals on site held final decision-making responsibility, underscoring the event’s commercial impact.

A broad spectrum of industry roles was represented, including sound and lighting engineers, technicians, production and tour managers, lighting designers, venue and operations staff, as well as consultants, buyers, lecturers, conte

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30 May 2025

UK - Follow-Me is inviting lighting industry professionals and venue owners to its inaugural open day at its new meeting and demo space at Underbelly Boulevard Soho. Scheduled for 17 June from 11:00 to 15:00, this special event will offer hands-on demonstrations of Follow-Me's performer tracking solutions, supported by SLX.

The open day takes place at Follow-Me's newly established demonstration facility within Underbelly Boulevard Soho, situated in London's bustling Soho district. This venue provides industry professionals with direct access to Follow-Me's remote follow-spot and performer tracking technology in a real-world environment.

Luke Edwards, designer relations liaison UK at Follow-Me, will lead the day's activities, offering personalised demonstrations, Q&A opportunities, and technical consultations. Visitors can explore Follow-Me's comp

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29 May 2025

Germany - The Digital Signage Summit (DSS) Europe concluded with a record of almost 500 delegates following three days of strategic insight and technologies at the Hilton Munich Airport, Germany. Organised by invidis in a joint venture with Integrated Systems Events (ISE), DSS Europe took place from 21-23 May, bringing together innovators and thought leaders to debut its new three-day format.

Florian Rotberg, conference chair and managing director of invidis consulting, reflected: “Over the past three days, DSS Europe 2025 has not only set a new benchmark for innovation and collaboration but has also highlighted the pressing challenges and future opportunities that our industry must address.

“From groundbreaking advancements in digital signage to meaningful conversations about sustainability and user engagement, this year’s summit has truly red

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27 May 2025

UK - The Profile Awards 2025 Television nominations have been released by the STLD and are now published on the TPA web page.

The TV section of The 2025 Profile Awards is judged by a panel consisting of theatre lighting designer Peter Small, TV lighting designer Martin Kempton, TV director Stephen Neil and chaired by STLD honorary secretary and lighting designer Stuart Gain. (https://profileawards.com/television-nominations-2025/)

The Profile Awards TV sponsors are:

@rosco_labs - TV Entertainment Series Award

@lightscontrolrigging - TV Entertainment One-Off Award

@chamsysltd - TV Drama Award

@elpelstree - TV Small studio Award

@cameo_light - TV Non Scripted Entertainment Award

@led_creative_limited - TV Continuing Drama Award

@

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27 May 2025

Glastonbury Time - The 1975, Neil Young and US pop star Olivia Rodrigo will headline this year’s Glastonbury Festival which opens on Wednesday. Rod Stewart will also be performing on Sunday afternoon in the ‘legend slot’, 23 years after his last appearance at the festival.

Other notable acts on the line-up include Charli XCX, Wolf Alice, The Libertines, Wet Leg, Biffy Clyro, Franz Ferdinand and The Prodigy. There will also be debut Glastonbury performances by Alanis Morisette, Noah Kahan, Gracie Abrams, Lola Young and Doechii.

Glastonbury is known for unpredictable weather so festival-goers are advised to pack for all conditions, including wellies, waterproof clothing and sun cream. There is also a list of prohibited items to ensure the safety and security of everyone on site. Banned items include - but are not limited to - fireworks,

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22 May 2025

South Africa - Following the recent announcement of Mediatech’s return in 2026, organisers have confirmed an important venue and date change. After close consultation with key industry stakeholders, the expo will now take place at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit and International Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg from 1-3 July 2026.

Mediatech Africa is the continent’s largest and most established trade show dedicated to professional audiovisual, broadcast, media, and live event technology. The show brings together industry professionals, technology providers, creatives, and decision-makers for three days of hands-on demos, networking, and innovation. It serves as a platform for both global brands and regional players to connect, collaborate, and explore the future of the industry.

Previously scheduled at Johannesburg Expo Centre, the move

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22 May 2025

USA - CEDIA Expo/Commercial Integrator Expo (CIX) returns to the Colorado Convention Centre in Denver, Colorado, from September 3-6, 2025.

With 300+ exhibitors displaying smart home, commercial integration, luxury audio, home theatre, lighting, outdoor living, energy management, security, Work From Home (WFH) and commercial AV technologies and solutions, the combined show promises a broad and compelling showcase of new technologies in addition to keynotes and panels on the most pressing tech-related issues of today. Exhibitors include ADI Global, Crestron, Harman Luxury Audio, Legrand AV, Lutron, Origin Acoustics, Nice, Samsung, Sonance, Sony, and more.

“The lines separating home and work are becoming increasingly blurred, requiring smarter and more flexible systems integration solutions,” said Jason McGraw, group vice-president for CEDIA Expo/CI

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20 May 2025

UK - Polar, supplier of key industry brands to the installation, MI, and professional audio markets has announced that it will demonstrate its full portfolio at the Old Savoy Theatre, Northampton on Wednesday 28 May.

Polar Expo, a day-long event for integrators, AV consultants, rental companies, sound engineers, and everyone passionate about technology, will present an opportunity to see, hear, and explore the full Polar catalogue.

Last year, Polar staged a series of successful demo days for specific brands, including one at the Old Savoy for Turbosound, which drew plaudits from the wide range of audio professionals in attendance. Convinced by the success of the format, which gives visitors a real-world, hands-on experience of products, Polar sales manager Andy Plunkett will host Polar Expo, the company’s largest demo day to date:

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16 May 2025

UK - The Theatre nominations for The Profile Awards 2025 have now been published on the TPA website. The Theatre section is judged by eight of the UK’s leading theatre, dance and opera critics chaired by David Benedict (Variety). Every single new production seen is automatically eligible for consideration and, as each judge may see around two hundred shows over the year, that is a significant amount of work that gets covered. (https://profileawards.com/theatre-nominations-2025/)

The Profile Awards Theatre Sponsors are:

@chauvet_pro  - Outstanding Achievement in Theatre Award

@elationlighting - Outstanding Achievement in Dance Award

@elctronictheatrecontrols - Outstanding Achievement in Opera Award

@fix8group - Outstandi

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14 May 2025

Germany - Digital Signage Summit Europe will take place on 21-23 May at Hilton Munich Airport with ChromeOS by Google as the headline sponsor. The event, organised by invidis in partnership with Integrated Systems Events (ISE), will also be supported by Lenovo as premium event partner, M-Cube as technology partner, along with several other notable brands.

DSS Europe 2025 is poised to include the largest speaker line-up to date, as well as enhanced features and a variety of new experiences aimed at promoting networking, knowledge-sharing, and innovation. 

New for 2025 the DSS Europe app, sponsored by Lenovo, is a major highlight of this year’s summit. The app features an advanced matchmaking engine that suggests meaningful connections between delegates, as well as between delegates and exhibitors, based on shared interests. Users can seaml

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13 May 2025

France - Robert Juliat is proud to welcome Showlight 2025 to France for the first time in its history as it opens its doors in Dijon from 19-22 May.

This global quadrennial networking event for lighting professionals is itinerant by nature, choosing a new country and a new venue at each outing. France has a rich tradition in the arts and lighting which Robert Juliat is thrilled to showcase on an international stage.

“As a company that has been at the heart of the lighting industry for over a century, Robert Juliat is honoured to be the headline sponsor of Showlight 2025,” says Robert Juliat’s third generation managing director, François Juliat. “Bringing this prestigious event to France, the home of our heritage, is a moment of immense pride for us. For over 100 years, Robert Juliat has been synonymous with excellence in li

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02 May 2025

France - The fantastic line-up for Showlight 2025’s speakers is now complete. We are excited to bring you over 30 speakers covering lighting topics from every discipline and every corner of the globe. Here’s the last group of speakers who’ll be coming to the Parc des Expositions, 19-22 May 2025. There’s something for everyone, so book your ticket now and join us in glorious Dijon!

Frédéric ‘Aldo’ Fayard

Light and laser for New Year’s Eve at Burj Khalifa

Founder of Concept K, Aldo Fayard has 30 years of global experience working on live tours, large-scale events, cinema and permanent installations. He will give us the lowdown on his stunning installation for the New Year’s Eve show in Dubai Downtown, which encompassed a combination of several permanent technologies mixed with a temporary ins

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30 April 2025

UK - The Profile Awards for Theatre and Television are once again to be held at the Alexandra Palace Theatre on the last day of the ABTT Show, which this year is Thursday 5 June.

Organised by Durham and Jennie Marenghi in association with the ABTT, the ALPD and the STLD, Ayrton returns as the event’s headline sponsor. Lucky winners are set to take home Patt 23M fixtures on stands, a miniature LED version of the Rank Strand Pattern 23 profile fixture with an engraved base.

The Theatre category of The Profile Awards is currently being judged by eight of the UK’s leading theatre, dance and opera critics, chaired by Variety’s David Benedict, and were not open to nominations.

The TV category is judged by a panel chaired by STLD honorary secretary Stuart Gain and comprising theatre LD Peter Small, TV LD Martin Kempton, and TV directo

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30 April 2025

India - Canadian manufacturer of professional audio solutions, Adamson, will be represented by local distributor StageMix at this year’s Palm Expo in Mumbai. Taking place between 29 and 31 May, Palm Expo is the leading professional audiovisual exhibition in India. StageMix will be responsible for the debut of Adamson’s new VGt series of large-format line array loudspeakers, the first member of the brand’s Vergence Group.

“India represents an exciting and fast-growing market for Adamson, and we are thrilled to introduce our VGt loudspeakers at Palm Expo,” confirms Pieter van Hoogdalem, business development strategist at Adamson. “StageMix will present a range of Adamson solutions, but the spotlight will be firmly on the VGt and its potential for large-scale live events and venues.”

VGt is a peak-performance large-format line array loudsp

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29 April 2025

UK - For the first time, PLASA Focus Leeds has launched an official mobile app, now available to download on both Apple and Android devices. Introduced following the success of the PLASA Show London app in 2024, which saw strong uptake among visitors, the new app is designed to maximise engagement and efficiency at the 2025 show.

Taking place at the Royal Armouries, Leeds on 13–14 May 2025, the event will once again welcome thousands of professionals working across live events, AV, lighting, audio, rigging, staging and more. The PLASA Focus Leeds app serves as a comprehensive, digital companion for navigating the show, enabling you to:

 - Access and print visitor badges directly from the app

 - Browse a full exhibitor and product list in advance

 - View the detailed seminar and workshop schedule

 - Use the inter