UK - Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena hosted the first Tropic skincare in-person ‘Glammies’ event to be staged since the pandemic. Attended by 4,200 Tropic ‘Glambassadors’, product launches were combined with aspirational and motivational speeches, recognition segments and an evening gala Awards, plus full entertainment including live music from the 20-piece Symphonic Ibiza orchestra. Central Presentations Ltd (CPL) supplied a full production package – lighting, audio, video, screens, rigging and staging – working for producers, Pandora Events. Two days of build and two days of rehearsals preceded the one-day event, with CPLs team of around 40 led by Lee Gruszeckyj. CPL created the production design from initial sketches to full supply and delivery. Being the first Glammies post-Covid, it was all about creating a big spectacle with lots of vibrance and
France - The Théâtre du Châtelet, an arts and cultural landmark venue in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, designed by Jean-Antoine-Gabriel Davioud and completed in 1862, re-opened to the public in 2019 after several years of extensive renovation work. The theatre has recently re-opened again post pandemic. Forty Robe T1 Profile moving lights are now part of the lighting rig at the 2500-capacity theatre which has regained its youthful appearance with a complete backstage electrical and scenographic re-fit that has seen ageing sound and lighting equipment replaced by modern technology meeting the venue’s contemporary requirements. Initially, 36 x T1 Profiles were supplied to the venue by Robe France to replace the old non-automatic projectors in front of and above the stage. There was an urgent need for lighting that would improve the whole experience for audience
Germany - With the new S Series, Cameo is expanding its product portfolio with IP65-certified LED soft panels for outdoor use in the areas of TV/film, events, livestreams, and more. The starting point is the S4 IP model which, thanks to its colour rendering, puts people and objects in the limelight with a natural, diffuse light. In combination with the wide range of accessories available from the market launch, the Cameo S Series is aimed at lighting technicians, illuminators and content producers looking for versatile professional softlights with sophisticated handling and control options. The compact S4 IP is based on 544 single SMD LEDs per colour (RGBWW) arranged in a cluster of four. In combination with the integrated calibration chip, the S4 IP has extremely natural colour rendering (CRI 95, TLCI 91) as well as exceptional coverage of the extended Rec. 2020 colour spac
South Africa - It was a celebration of talent at the fourth edition of the DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards held at Time Square’s SunBet Arena in Tshwane after a two-year interval due to the pandemic. The event coincided with the lifting of all COVID-19 regulations in South Africa, allowing local celebrities and delegates to feel a sense of freedom as they attended the broadcast event produced by Don’t Look Down with technical by AV Unlimited and Visual Frontier appointed for lighting design. The DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards honours those working in television, radio, music, sports and comedy, as voted by viewers living in South Africa. The show opened with a cameo appearance by Leanne Manas, was hosted by Lawrence Maleka and included performances by artists including Tuks Senganga, Boohle, Pabi Cooper, Kamo Mphela and Zakes Bantwini. “What I love abo
Belgium - Girl band K3 are back on the road performing to their enthusiastic young fanbase, complete with a tightly choreographed show produced by Studio 100 and lighting designed by Jeroen Opsteyn from creative outfit Painting with Light (PWL) who worked closely with choreographer, Tommy Gryson. Wanting to keep the focus firmly on the performers, a minimalist ‘bare stage’ production concept was developed without video but with a big emphasis on lighting to provide the visual atmospherics including a kinetic essence that flowed throughout the performance with the dance movements. This was delivered by Opsteyn with a carefully chosen rig that includes 40 x Robe Tetra2 moving LED batten fixtures that play a key role in the lighting design, which, together with a series of smartly designed props and costumes and the tight choreography, help bring the stage alive with
USA - Canacopia is a one-day festival sponsored by Forty8 Live!, dedicated to the appreciation of adult canned beverages. Taking place on 10 September, non-stop musical performances were held throughout the day, culminating in a headline performance from Grammy winner, Zedd. Creative BackStage worked with Zedd’s team to build a rig for the mainstage, which featured 112 Chauvet Professional fixtures. The dynamic lightshow supporting the headliner’s performance was designed by Zedd’s LD Steven Hernandez. John Garberson of Creative BackStage spent months working with Forty8 Live! and the Zedd team to bring the event to life. Garberson had a clear vision in mind when putting together the rig - it had to be bright enough to create bold looks during daylight hours for opening acts, which included Evening Elephants and The Brook & The Buff, and intense enough to s
USA - Vari-Lite has announced the Neo X15 and Neo X5, a family of high-performance lighting consoles designed for mixed-use facilities such as performing arts centres, stadiums and arenas, houses of worship, studios, schools; and more. “Large format entertainment lighting consoles are typically either focused on theatrical lighting or live event lighting, but traditionally not both,” explains Jon Hole, global product manager, Vari-Lite Controls at Signify. “However, many facilities are multifunctional and need the capabilities of a premium console that works for all the different types of events and user experience levels in the space. X Series consoles offer a feature-rich, customisable platform that is perfect for both theatrical and live event lighting - at a price point that won’t take up the entire upgrade budget.” The new X15 is Vari-Lite’s flagship,
Slovenia - The venue known today as Dom kulture Kamnik (DKK), located to the north of Ljubljana in Slovenia, was built in 1953 as part of the Kamnik Chemical Industry. Constructed by the workers themselves, DKK was designed to be a cultural entertainment centre to serve the local community. Although the main stage incorporated hoists, the venue was primarily used as a movie theatre until it temporarily closed its doors in 1991. With the idea of revitalizing live performances came the decision to renovate the building. Over the past two decades, a variety of improvements have been made, including the recent installation of a stage machinery system from ETC Rigging, comprising Prodigy P2 hoists, Helix cable management, a ColorSource Raceway prewired power and data distribution system, and a QuickTouch Preset controller. “Back in 2017, we were at DKK installing an ETC C
UK Specialist consultancy 3LR Lighting has appointed Stuart West as business development manager for lighting, control and software. West brings more than 25 years of entertainment production experience to the role, having enjoyed a varied career in technical theatre production, venue management and building operations. Founded in 2019 by Matt Lloyd, 3LR is an architectural and broadcast lighting consultancy which works closely with ETC, Rosco and other leading professional lighting brands and provides expert advice on lighting in TV and film studios, auditoriums, cruise ships and public spaces. Lloyd says: “I’ve known Stuart for a very long time, and he has such a varied and unique skillset that the chance to bring him into 3LR was simply too good to miss. He has so much to offer our clients.” West’s interest in lighting began in a childhood surrounded by ent
Sweden - Claypaky reports that its Xtylos Aqua fixture was honoured with the Innovation Award at LLB Expo 2022 in Stockholm. LLB Expo is the largest Nordic meeting place for professionals in audio, lighting, video and AV technology. The fair is held every other year and attracts more than 3,000 visitors; this year it took place at the Stockholm International Fairs exhibition centre. The coveted Prize for Innovation was awarded to Xtylos Aqua, a small form factor, IP66-rated fixture powered by Claypaky’s proprietary RGB laser source. It offers the same effects and features as the popular original Xtylos while being able to withstand harsh conditions and the elements thanks to its marine-grade C5-M protection. Since the introduction of the Xtylos fixture, Claypaky has been focused on developing pioneering technologies that offer new ways to motivate designers to reach
South Africa - The Saturday Showdown is South Africa’s newest and hottest prime-time TV sports games show. Lighting designer Ryan Lombard was delighted to be asked onboard and he seized the opportunity to use Robe moving lights, including MegaPointes which were a new investment for rental specialist and lighting supplier, Blond Productions. The show, recorded at Urban Brew Studio 10 in Johannesburg, and produced by Red Pepper Productions for broadcaster Mzansi Magic, is a hi-energy action-packed sport-themed entertainment game show with big prize money. Ryan took Michael Gill’s set design as the show’s visual blueprint as he started to think about lighting. The two have worked collaboratively on several recent TV projects and enjoy a great synergy and creative language. Ryan assessed the Showdown environment which included a ‘studio’ area where
USA - After 122 shows over four years, rock band Kansas wrapped up the Point of Know Return Anniversary Tour. With fans still clamouring for the show to carry on, the band embarked on a tour celebrating their classic hits with a lighting system designed by Scott Pearson and provided by Bandit Lites. With nine gold albums, three multi-platinum albums and six decades of touring, Kansas is one of the more formidable rock bands consistently touring. “During COVID-19, I personally have become very close to several members of the Kansas entourage, especially Phillip Ehart and JR Rees,” said Bandit Lites chair, Michael T. Strickland. “We bonded in the early days and have stayed in constant communication for over two years. There is not a finer, more talented organization that Kansas. Their involvement and work on COVID-19 relief was second to none and we all ow
South Africa - Jazz as Heritage was the theme of this year’s jazz festival held in Johannesburg in partnership with UJ Arts & Culture, The Wits School of Arts’ Cultural Policy and Management and The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Creative Arts on 2 and 3 September. DWR Distribution was a sponsor of the event which was hosted at UJ and featured a line-up including old-school jazz and diga dancers to performances by Zoë Modiga, Abbey Cindi and Muneyi, workshops and a panel discussion. “The jazz at UJ concert is a biennial event,” explains Thato Maroga, production manager at UJ Arts & Culture. “We are inspired by the reality that jazz music is a multi-generational cultural experience. Here people from all walks of life and cultural and racial backgrounds can gather in one space and enjoy it. This year’s programme was truly a representati
USA - Patrick Dierson and The Activity have been involved in the Made In America Festival in Philadelphia since 2014 and this year turned to Elation Professional Proteus, Protron and Smarty luminaires as key elements of a lighting package supplied by 4Wall. “Our goal is always to provide as many of the various lighting tools that guest LDs expect to find at modern festivals so that we can ensure that the cloning of their existing shows are as seamless as possible,” commented Patrick Dierson of The Activity. “We also have to take into account the proper design placement of all of the elements so that the design has various layers and fills the overall visual space, not just for the attendees but also for the live stream’s camera shots.” The Activity provided the overall production design, lighting directors for all stages, project manager, art director, and t
USA - Xytech has launched its new Media Operations Platform for content producers across media, broadcast and technology companies. With new executive leadership and strategic direction, Xytech’s Media Operations Platform provides ‘one command centre for all media, broadcast and production teams to create and deliver content, orchestrate people, resources and facilities, and plan logistics on time, on schedule and on budget.’ With the explosion of content creation across both traditional and non-traditional media organisations, there’s an accelerated need for media teams to have a single platform to manage all the people, equipment and assets required for production. The Xytech Media Operations Platform provides the most comprehensive set of solutions to address each entities’ specific business needs, while also maintaining the ability to integrate natively with an
Belgium - Toyota Motor Europe has had plenty of developments to share with customers and the media of late thanks to its impressive array of recently introduced hybrid and electric vehicles. Now, with the opening of its Brand Experience Centre in Brussels, it also has a sleek and engaging new platform for highlighting these innovations. Located in a former workshop that has been transformed into a contemporary auditorium complex, the new facility features an event space/theatre, studio, and Sky Lab meeting rooms. Auvicom, which has been a major AV supplier to Toyota Europe for over two decades, was responsible for the design and equipment installation at the new centre in consultation with the D-Side Group event agency. The facility’s 400m2 events space is fully equipped to stage press conferences, product launches and other live happenings, including recording and l
The Netherlands - Indie rock stalwarts Kensington have been widely praised by critics for bringing layers of added dimensions to their music without sacrificing any of its immediate power to engage emotionally. For six days this September, the quartet from Utrecht were supported by a light and video show that reflected the multi-faceted appeal of their songs. The intricate and tightly coordinated show turned the 17,000-capacity Ziggo Dome into an immersive 3D galaxy of images that flowed in perfect harmony to the music being produced on stage. At the centre of it all was a massive 800m² ‘tree’ made of blow-through and solid LED panels that worked cohesively with intense, fast-moving displays of light. Like the entire production, the mesmerizing video-and-light combination was the product of intense collaboration, as well as some seamless integration between two Ch
Denmark - Lighting designer Sune Verdier used Astera Titan Tubes and AX3 LightDrops as practical and imaginative tools and vital components of his striking lighting scheme for a revival of the popular Danish musical, Elsk Mig i Nat (Love Me Tonight), which was produced by the One and Only Musical Teater company. The show features a full-tilt string of Danish chart-topping hits from the 1980s, and first premiered in 2009. This completely new production of the show was directed by Tomas Agerholm with scenography by Benjamin La Cour. It launched at the Scandic Falconer venue in Copenhagen and then played at the Music Theatre Holstebro and at Vejle Music Theatre over three months. Sune – known for his design style and flair – has worked with Tomas and Benjamin on other projects, and they asked him onboard to light this show. It was a fun show that
USA - Jon Pardi’s Ain’t Always The Cowboy tour features a towering lighting rig, industrial influenced riser, and scenic design. Chris Reade, KYVA’s lighting designer, credits Jay Ballinger, the company’s set designer with turning their client’s vision into reality. “Jay and Jon really came together on this,” said Reade. “The idea was to project strength through masculine steel beams and rugged structural elements.” Reade designed a potent Elite Multimedia supplied lighting rig that featured 190 Chauvet Professional fixtures to accentuate and enlarge the evocative set design. “The lighting architecture is boxy to be consistent with the set; and there are some angles that make it feel larger overall,” he said. “Jay's overall concept changed within our process, but we wanted to have a “wall of light” within the set. We have contrast bet
Columbia - German lighting designer Dennis Feichtner was delighted that the Robe moving lights specified on his production lighting plot were available at each show on a recent Latin American tour with black metal gurus, Emperor. The band, spearheaded the Norwegian inspired second wave of the genre in the 1990s, and now reform occasionally for special performances and festivals playing hits from their three seminal albums of that era. These are always sold out. A loyal cult following of dedicated fans worldwide are renowned for their enthusiasm and nowhere was that more evident than in Latin America. Dennis enjoys the theatrical and dramatic potential of black metal was very excited to land in the LD ‘hot seat’ for Emperor earlier in 2021. The Latam shows were the first gigs of the year for the band, the first time Emperor had played the territory outside of
Belgium - As the city of Antwerp’s main library, the Permeke Library (Bibliotheek Permeke) has a curious story to tell. A striking glass cube construction, the library sits on what was the site of Oscar Permeke’s Ford garage, which was one of the first Ford dealerships in the world and a name that has long been associated with the city. In 1982, the garage was closed permanently before re-opening its doors again in April 2005 as the public library. Open seven days a week and visited by approximately 2,200 people daily, this September saw the installation of a Leyard Luminate Pro Outdoor Series (LPO) LED screen, replacing the library’s original system of printed posters that alerted its users to its activities. As well as a wide range of books, comics, CDs, DVDs, music scores, audio stories, newspapers and magazines, the Permeke Library is also a cultural meeting
South Africa - It was with slight trepidation that the organisers of the Hilton Arts Festival opened the event on Friday, 23 September in KwaZulu Natal, South Africa. After a two-year COVID-19 gap, the depressed economy, the hazardous N3 highway between Durban and Hilton and severely reduced sponsorship, it was a risky decision to take. However, driven by the sure knowledge that the arts are one of the most vital parts of a balanced society and a happy people, they forged ahead. “With the weather playing ball (no wind, no rain) crafters and visual artists had a steady flow of visitors all weekend,” said Sue Clarence, the founder of Hilton Arts Festival. “All productions were well supported, with several selling out. The community of performers, visual artists and crafters who, over the years, have become a firm part of the success of the festival, were overwhelming in
UK frame:work is a brand-new community event series conceptualised by four key live entertainment production experts: Laura Frank, Luke Malcolm, Soren West and Elliott Dunwody, who have a collective career experience spanning decades across multiple sectors. The first event will take place at central London’s multipurpose tech venue, CodeNode on 3 - 4 November. For frame:work:london, the team has partnered with Bild Studios, a creative house of media technologists who are pioneering the next generation of visual experiences, in order to present the two-day conference to the industry. The event will host conversations around the unique challenges of creating video for physical spaces, live performance and virtual worlds. Laura Frank, frame:work co-founder, who began her own career as a touring lighting programmer for Madonna and David Bowie before moving into t
Europe - Ayrton has announced the release of Huracán Wash, its first wash type fixtures designed around a Fresnel lens. Designed for rapid scene changes, Huracán Wash is a formidable partner offering efficiency and reliability. A precision machine that provides total confidence for the most demanding users. Available in three 1000W LED sources (S, ST and TC) to suit a myriad of applications, Huracán Wash has a zoom range of 6.2° - 75° and is designed around a 13-element zoom lens system, equipped with an entirely new Fresnel lens. This lens’ optical structure is specially developed for use with framing shutter blades, and with geometric gobos or ovalisation lenses, allowing it to operate with subtlety and excellence, free from the usual constraints. A subtle progressive diffusion system allows the diffusion level to be adapted according to the application
