France - In the picturesque setting of the Arenes de Nîmes, in the south of France, lighting designer Pierre Wendels shed light on the history of the city, in a visual spectacular specifically designed for the Roman amphitheatre. Les Nuits de Nemaus featured more than 200 professional actors, dancers and stuntmen and a plethora of effects; with lighting controlled by two ETC Eos consoles, with Philippe ‘Pilou’ Roy at the helm. Accustomed to major projects, Wendels created a poetic atmosphere by combining lighting and video content for the remarkable show. “If the team around me is confident, everyone is willing to take risks and that’s good for fostering creativity,” he says. “I try to connect with the audience through visual perception. My first consideration is the human experience; the method is only a tool.” For this project, Wendels relied o
Germany - Prolight + Sound Frankfurt is set to return from 26 to 29 April 2022, with emphasis on sustainability. With the Green Event Day on 27 April, the fair is offering for the first time a theme day all about the responsible use of natural resources. Companies and associations will present their green initiatives and underline that commitment to sustainability can also pay off economically. Among the players who have already declared their participation in PL+S 2022 are ADJ, Area Four Industries, Ayrton, B. & C. Speakers, Bosch Rexroth, Bütec, Cast, Chainmaster, Chauvet, Clay Paky, ComputerWorks, dBTechnologies, DTS, Elation, ETC, Eurotruss, FBT Elettronica, GLP, Highlite International, HOF Alutec, InEar, JB-Lighting, Kling & Freitag, König & Meyer, KS Audio, Kvant, L-Acoustics, Lawo, Layher, LEDitgo, Lightpower, Link, MA Lighting, Meyer Sound, Moveca
UK - PLASA and #WeMakeEvents have launched a survey to investigate how the live events sector is recovering with the easing of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey aims to draw a detailed picture of the events, entertainment and installations industries following 18 months of disruption. The results are hoped to provide an insight into the challenges still facing the industry and will be used as an evidence base to better inform lobbying. The surve contains questions about the supply of components and finished goods, the availability of skilled workers, and the year-on-year changes in terms of revenue and income. Once all the data is collated and analysed, a full report will be published on both the PLASA and #WeMakeEvents websites. From freelancers and sole traders to manufacturing companies and venues, all types of industry professionals are invited to ta
UK - The University of Bedfordshire, a multi-site academic facility including campuses in Bedford and Luton, recently upgraded three of their performance spaces with theatrical lighting control from Zero 88. “We had three different theatrical spaces in need of upgrades, and we wanted a consistent experience across all of them,” explained Jamie Spirito, technician / demonstrator at the University of Bedfordshire. “The smaller Luton Campus theatre needed a powerful, yet straightforward console. Our Bedford Campus Theatre and Studio Theatre needed a bit more refined control capabilities, but with the same product quality and ease of use. That’s why I went with Zero 88 control solutions.” Stage Electrics supplied the university with two Zero 88 consoles, a FLX for the 110-seat Luton Campus Theatre and a FLX S48 for the 125-seat Studio Theatre, both of which run t
Spain - The Elton John-Lee Hall coming of age musical Billy Elliot continues to be staged in theatres worldwide. Reflecting the deep sea of emotions that run through this story in light, requires a design that is not only colourful and aesthetically balanced, but also subtle and nuanced in its portrayal of different moods. Carlos Torrijos of Fábrica de Luz, and Juan Gomez-Cornejo provided that for a current production of the musical presented by Som Produce at the Nuevo Teatro Alcalá in Madrid and the Teatro Victòria in Barcelona. "Billy is a show more about colour temperature than colour itself," said Torrijos, when discussing the subtle and emotive lighting design. Helping him and Gomez-Cornejo achieve this balance in Barcelona were 52 Chauvet Professional Ovation E-910FC ellipsoidal fixtures supplied by Proyect Arte. For many of the musical se
South Korea - The National Theatre of Korea has upgraded its dimming control to a range of products from Strand to add functionality for its diverse range of luminaires. A recent remodelling of the multi-theatre complex saw a Strand EC21 Advanced Technology Dimmer Rack installed by Total Plus - the Vari-Lite and Strand distributor for Korea. Total Plus also deployed an EC21 Advanced Control Electronics Processor Assembly with Dual processor, an EC21 Dual 25A Powerthru Module 435us Dim/ND/Bypass, an EC21 Dual 25A 200us Single Pole module and a Dual 20A CD80SV Non-Dim C21-style module and housing. “The theatres use a mixture of LED fixtures and conventional halogen lamps, and the Strand dimming curve helps to streamline such diverse equipment efficiently,” says SH Koo, senior lighting designer of the National Theatre of Korea. “Strand's dimmer modules have wi
USA - Ayrton is playing a key part of The Doobie Brothers tour in celebration of their 50th anniversary, which will play to around 50 venues across the USA and Canada throughout 2021 and 2022. Solotech of Nashville supplied 17 Ayrton Khamsin LED profile fixtures for this tour which were chosen by the production design team at Darkroom Creative, Seth Jackson and Nathan Alves. The team wanted the Khamsin fixtures as part of their retro design which they use to summon up a 1980s vibe. “In celebration of the Doobie Brothers’ 50th anniversary, Darkroom Creative did a little celebration of our own,” explains Jackson. “We figured since the band was celebrating 50 years, and the concert lighting business is roughly the same age, we would give a nod to the guys that inspired us when we were getting started. The lighting rig, though completely LED, is reminiscent of the
Slovenia - Ljubljana Puppet Theatre (Lutkovno Gledališče Ljubljana) is famous for both puppet productions and live acting dramas, musicals, and other performance entertainments in and around its various spaces, which are also available for business events. The 200 capacity Saint Jacob’s (Šentjakobsko) Hall auditorium has recently re-opened after a complete eight-month renovation plan. This latest technical upgrade has included the installation of 16 new Robe T1 LED Profile moving lights in the Saint Jacob’s (Šentjakobsko) Hall. They join more recent Robe purchases across the venue’s other four performance spaces including The Tunnel which burrows into the hill beneath Ljubljana Castle and has 12 x CycFX8s which are used for lighting the long corridor audience areas. The 180-seat St Jacob’s Stage, the Main Stage, Small Stage and the Stage Under the Stars l
USA - The Next Step Forward is onAIR is an immersive global digital premiere site presenting virtual demos of the new IP65 and broadcast technologies from Chauvet Professional. Showcasing products that are ‘suited to shatter design barriers come rain, dust, heat, or snow’, The Next Step Forward IS onAIR can be accessed via www.chauvetprofessional.com/nextstepforward/ The interactive platform offers in-depth looks at the latest lighting solutions debuting in person at LDI, Las Vegas in November. Leading the way will be the series of soft light onAir IP Panels. Available in three models, all of which feature a 90+ CRI and equally impressive TM-30 score, this series is optimally suited for indoor or outdoor broadcast applications. Additional information on the o
Italy - Outline’s ET System now boasts more than 1,500 customers globally. In daily use by in a multitude of industry sectors, it is also found in universities and research institute. High-profile users include Apple, Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Intel, Lucasfilm, Dolby and MIT where it is used on a daily basis to measure everything from antennae, solar panels, hearing aids and smart devices to loudspeaker systems and transducers, mobile comms devices, microphones, domestic appliances and even medical equipment. Outline’s original concept of a high-precision, computer-controlled turntable capable of ‘placing significant loads with perfect accuracy in a measurement environment has now been developed further’, with the creation of two new models (the ET50-3D and ET250R2-3D) to suit different speed and load requirements. Both models feature a revolutionary n
UK - When asked to light a special video celebrating the launch of the new Lotus Emira sports car, lighting designer Nick Jevons reached for Astera Titan Tubes to create the desired effects. Nick was asked onboard by technical co-ordinators Anna Valley who were working for producers, Blueprint Partners. The filming was directed by Mark Anand and the location was at the Lotus factory and test facility in Norfolk, UK, and was divided into two sections. The first took place in a pop-up studio built in one of the factory spaces which was to get an assortment of amazing hero shots of the car. The action then shifted to the test track, where the vehicles were filmed in action and tearing up some tarmac as they were put through their paces! Nick specified four Astera Titan kits comprising eight tubes each - which were supplied by lighting rental company Lite Up togeth
USA - Magnum, a full-service entertainment technology company based in Atlanta, was asked to light the grand opening celebration of The Epicurean Atlanta, a culinary-themed hotel with a demonstration kitchen/theatre. To light the exterior of the hotel for the 23 September event, Magnum needed a powerful IP65-rated fixture that could project eye-catching effects while handling any weather condition and chose 24 Elation Proteus Maximus fixtures to get the job done. “We were presented with the challenge of making a unique and memorable experience for the grand opening of Epicurean, and Elation’s IP-rated Proteus Maximus fixtures were ideal for this situation,” said Taylor Chandler, project manager at Magnum. “The evening event was outdoors and the weather was questionable. We needed a powerful, bright fixture to light the hotel, and the Proteus Maximus gave us the
Japan - The recently renamed Tipstar Dome Chiba, formerly Chiba JPF Dome, hosted Japan’s first track cycling tournament in October where an array of Claypaky lighting fixtures played key roles. The PIST6 Championship was the first cycling competition in Japan to pursue both speed and entertainment in cycling. The new type of sporting event combined art, food and fashion while pitting top athletes from Japan and abroad against each other in a high-level competition to determine the world’s fastest cyclists. Tipstar Dome Chiba is an indoor velodrome located in Chiba City, Japan. It boasts a total area of more than 14,000sq.m, an international-standard 250m wooden racetrack and seating for about 2,000 spectators. The venue hosts not only cycling competitions but also e-sports, drone events and live music shows. Lighting designer Yuji Yokoi deployed 30 Claypaky X
USA - Head on Collision was not one of New Found Glory’s bigger hits, but the 2002 song lives on today, at least indirectly. A year after the metal track was released, a line from its chorus inspired the name of what would become one of this era’s most popular and influential bands, All Time Low. This would not be the last time that the quartet from Baltimore would draw a spark of inspiration from an outside musical source and infuse it with a new level of energy and meaning. Like a giant river fed by countless streams, All Time Low has fused a multitude of influences into a genre-smashing sound that is all their own. The diverse, far-reaching scope of their music is on full display on the current Sad Summer Festival/ Side Summer tour that the band is headlining. Visually reflecting their diverse sound is a multi-faceted production design by Jeff Mathews and
UK - The Curve in Leicester saw a welcome return to live audience performances with a run of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, a new production that is part of the venue’s socially distanced season. An eye-catching lighting design was created by Ben Cracknell for this in-the-round show directed by the theatre’s artistic director Nikolai Foster, featuring a talented cast including Lloyd Webber musical stars and a live band. Ben utilised some Robe T1 Profile moving lights for key lighting, which were rigged on two of six trussing pieces on an automation system. These started off almost on the floor looking like part of a pile of abandoned tech kit in a dusty old theatre, shuttered during the lockdowns – part of a minimalist production design by Colin Richmond. As the show kicked off and came alive, the cast pulled dust sheets off the piles of ‘discarded e
Europe - Prolights has introduced the Astra Wash7Pix IP, a new IP-rated moving-wash with the same features and characteristics as the newly released Astra Wash7Pix. The Astra Wash7Pix IP contains seven RGBW 40-Watt LED emitters, outputting upwards of 4,000 lumens,with a default 8,000K cool-white beam or 6,000K in studio mode. The fixture includes the same proprietary front lens and glass lighting rods as the indoor version and protected with a coating technology that helps increase the brightness, protecting lenses from surface scratches and adding anti-static properties to avoid dust deposits. The Astra Wash7Pix IP has a rugged and completely sealed chassis made of aluminium alloy, with internal components treated with an IP coating, guaranteeing an IP65 water and dust-tight design for lasting outdoor applications. Since it is completely sealed, the fixture doesn't r
Switzerland - Winkler Livecom AG has invested in a large number of the new, outdoor-compatible Fusion MBL 40 LED floodlights from GLP. The MBL 40 was largely developed following an original inquiry from Winkler Livecom, explains Ronald ‘Roni’ Huber, head of technical development at the Swiss company. “We were looking for an LED floodlight that corresponded to an HQI 400 spotlight in terms of brightness. In addition, the luminaire needed to be suitable for outdoor use (IP65), have a flexible colour temperature, be both manually operable and controllable via DMX and, of course, be attractively priced,” says Huber. “This combination was actually not available on the market at the beginning of 2019,” he continues. “We then approached some manufacturers informally with the idea of developing such a product – but the enthusiasm was limited. With Oliver Schwen
USA - After being idle because of the pandemic, Swedish metal stars Avatar were eager to return to touring with a bold, new look. The band’s long-time lighting designer Jimmy Olausson obliged by introducing an element of constructive chaos that reflected their bold sound. Aiding him in this undertaking on their North American tour was a rig that featured a collection of Chauvet Professional ÉPIX Strip, Rogue and COLORado fixtures owned by the band. In a bid to challenge traditional audience expectations, Olausson and the band designed the show to be expansive, unleashing more and more lights and video content as the show unfolds. Key to this gradual build up is the introduction of Olausson’s custom visual content, which are played via Resolume over 96 ÉPIX Strips, 48 of the units positioned upstage, while the remaining 48 equally divided between stage left and stage r
UK - A new Anolis Eminere LED lighting design by architectural lighting practice Pritchard Themis is gracing the front facades of Waltham Forest Town Hall in East London. The impressive Grade II listed building is the HQ of Waltham Forest London Borough Council, and the exterior lighting scheme was part of a substantial two-year refurbishment and upgrade project involving the whole building and its immediate environs. HawkinsBrown architects was appointed to transform the stripped classical style Town Hall opened in 1942 into an integrated modern workspace combined with a lively civic campus that would welcome staff, visitors, and residents to the heart of a thriving and diverse east London community. As part of that masterplan, HawkinsBrown tasked the Pritchard Themis team with crafting the exterior lighting. A stylish signature white illumination was
Egypt - The powerful output and rich colours of the VLZ range of luminaires from Vari-Lite were harnessed to light up Egypt’s treasured historic landmarks for a procession of 22 ancient Pharaohs through the streets of Cairo. The Golden Parade event, which showcased the mummified pharaohs as they were transported from the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to the National Museum of Egyptian Civilizations four miles away in al-Fustat, Old Cairo, was organised by The Ministry of Tourism and Antiques. The event’s technical production team approached Hamed Arafa of rental house Hi-Lights Group - a Vari-Lite and Strand distributor in Egypt - who proposed Vari-Lite VLZ Profile and VLZ Wash luminaries to bring light and colour to the visual spectacle. “Using Vari-Lite products for this culturally significant task was our only recommendation,” comments Hamed Arafa. “For t
USA - ADJ has announced the launch of its Mirage Q6 PAK wireless up-lighting system. Designed to cover all the requirements of lighting and event professionals, this all-in-one package features six IP65-rated, battery-powered and wirelessly controllable LED par fixtures along with a purpose-built charging road case. Together with long-life batteries and long-range wireless receivers, the fixtures offer a variety of features including an in-built anti-theft alarm system. Each individual Mirage Q IP fixture incorporates four 10W 4-in-1 RGBA colouring mixing LEDs, which combine to create a potent wash of coloured light with a concise 11-degree beam angle. By varying the intensity of the independent red, green, blue, and amber elements within each LED, the fixture is able to generate a wide variety of richly saturated colours. In addition to full colour mixing control, the unit
Europe - Ayrton has announced the arrival of Huracán LT, the latest in its range of long-throw fixtures designed specifically for stadium and arena use. Huracán LT generates an ultra-intense beam with the utmost precision and is ideal for creating the kind of choreography that is as graphic as it is breath-taking. Huracán LT can project over extreme distances, targeting a far-off subject with ‘nuance, finesse, power, and true precision’. A 225mm front lens forms part of the proprietary optical system of 13 lenses delivering a 15:1 zoom ratio and an impressive zoom range of 3.5 to 53°. A new, high-efficiency 1000W LED module delivers a record light output of 51,000 lumens at a colour temperature of 6700K, with a CRI greater than 70, and a factory-equipped, removable high-transmission diffusion filter erases the edge of the beam without changing its angle, ensur
USA/UK - The DALI Alliance has published two new technical guides that give more details about the DALI specifications for wireless and IP-based connectivity. One guide examines wireless lighting control with DALI gateways, whilst the other explores the DALI+ specification for providing DALI lighting control over wireless and IP-based networks. Both guides are available for free at www.dali-alliance.org/downloads. Based on the open global standard IEC 62386, DALI was originally built around wired networks, but has recently broadened its scope to encompass wireless applications. The two new guides set out different ways of using wireless connectivity for lighting control, giving designers the flexibility to match the control system to their specific requirements.
Canada - To bring a combination of hyper-realistic daylight looks and classic theatrical lighting to the production of Schmigadoon!, director of photography Todd Elyzen, lighting programmer Jason McKinnon and gaffer Bill Kassis deployed more than 200 Martin Professional MAC Encore Performance CLD fixtures supplied by Christie Lites. Schmigadoon! is a six-episode Apple TV+ streaming series based on the 1947 musical Brigadoon, starring Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key as a couple who find themselves transported into a golden-age musical. Set in an idyllic mountain village and full of dance numbers and homages to iconic musicals, Schmigadoon! required a combination of realistic daylight illumination and exaggerated theatrical lighting. Since much of the show was shot on elaborate sets with a 40ft-high, 360-degree blue screen for digital set exten
