Lighting

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11 December 2024

UK - The Rose Theatre Kingston, the largest producing theatre in south-west London, has become the first performing arts venue in the UK to install Martin’s MAC Viper XIP, adding 30 fixtures to its house rig and replacing the theatre’s previous MAC Encores as its principal moving-head fixture.

Emma Sayers, head of lighting & stage at the theatre, first encountered the MAC Viper XIP at a private demonstration at the 2023 PLASA Show. After a direct comparison with the older MAC Encores, she was impressed by the superior performance of the new fixtures. “The colours are so much more saturated, and it does pastel colours nicely too. And because you can do the high contrast colours and the subtle colours it works for what we do here,” Emma says. "It was ticking all of the boxes."

The fixture's ability to handle both bold, high-contrast colours

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10 December 2024

UK - Taking place at The Vaults beneath Waterloo Station, Rhythm and Ruse offered theatregoers an immersive night of magic, music and revelry. Harkening back to the prohibition era, the show took place in a ‘Speakeasy’ and allowed audiences to experience astounding close-up illusions from mere inches away, live music from a four-piece jazz band, a secret society of magicians devised by immersive theatre experts as well as food and drink across the evening.

The show featured a lighting design by up-and-coming designer Skylar Turnbull Hurd, with this being her first time lighting a show of this scale and with a full LX team. With its reputation for both supporting young lighting designers, as well as supplying immersive theatrical productions, White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, was called upon to provide the show’s lighting fixtures.

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10 December 2024

UK - The Last Dinner Party is a British indie rock band formed in 2021 and fronted by lead singer Abigail Morris. Promoting their new album, Prelude to Ecstasy, the band has just completed a two-month UK and EU tour with a theatrical set, and lighting design by award-winning LD, Ed Warren.

Key to Warren’s design were Ayrton Rivale Profiles and Kyalami laser-sourced spots, compact units which fit well into the touring rig. Warren used seven Rivale Profile and 12 Kyalami on the stage floor behind the band and 27 Rivale Profile and 24 Kyalami spread across three overhead trusses.

“For our spots we needed something with a nice wide zoom and smooth colour mixing as the main spots of the show,” says Warren. “The Rivale Profiles met these criteria very well. We used the floor spots to backlight the band and predominantly Abi, the lead singe

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10 December 2024

Ukraine - The Anniversary Concert of Onuka, accompanied by the renowned Naoni Orchestra, took place at the majestic October Palace in Kyiv, celebrating a decade of Oouka's career.

Astra Wash19Pix fixtures by Prolights, supplied by Complex-V, were utilised, delivering lighting that highlighted the orchestra and created a dynamic visual experience. Compactly positioned among the orchestra, the fixtures seamlessly enhanced the ambiance of the event. Additionally, the outer pixel ring of the Astra Wash19Pix was used to craft dramatic visuals that perfectly blended with the structure and rhythm of the show.

The lighting design was led by the creative duo Vasilii Tonkonog and David Vasilenko, while the production was expertly managed by Franz Audio. Together, their collaboration brought an immersive and visually stunning environment to life, complementing

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10 December 2024

UK - Sarner International has announced its appointment by East Staffordshire Borough Council to lead the initial visitor experience design stages for the ambitious Brewery Heritage & Social History Experience in Burton-upon-Trent.

This new immersive visitor attraction aims to celebrate Burton-upon-Trent’s pivotal role in brewing history and revitalise its standing as the home of IPA. Blending advanced technology, engaging storytelling, and interactive elements, the experience will reveal the art and science of brewing beer while highlighting Burton’s historical role as a global leader in beer production and the social fabric that shaped the town.

Through a sensory journey into Burton’s brewing heritage, visitors are introduced to the concept of Burton’s naturally mineral-rich water and immersed in the tale of the ‘waters of life’. Th

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10 December 2024

UK - Avolites has announced the release of Prism Early Access, the latest edition of its popular media software. Prism Early Access (E.A.) edition can be downloaded for free via the Avolites website and becomes operational when used in conjunction with an AVOKey. The full Prism ONE paid licence release is currently scheduled for Spring 2025, when the Early Access edition of Prism will be superseded.

Prism is a specialised software application developed by Avolites, principally for lighting designers, tailored for media playback and designed specifically for the live events and entertainment industry. Prism (E.A.) edition introduces multiple banks and layers that can be controlled via Prism's UI and/or via Avolites lighting control application Titan which utilises the Synergy layer control.

Prism is composed of two parts – the server and the UI. The

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09 December 2024

Hungary - Lightware Visual Engineering has detailed its comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) approach. These efforts reflect the company's dedication to integrating sustainability into all aspects of its operations.

Lightware has acknowledged the impact of its activities on the environment, society, and the economy and is committed to embedding sustainability into its business strategy. The company emphasises that the values embodied in its products and services are the foundation of its success.

To ensure the longevity of its products, Lightware has implemented comprehensive testing protocols, robust engineering processes, and ongoing after-sales services such as technical support. A guideline highlights how sustainability aspects are integrated into product design, addressing factors like energy efficiency, IT security, accessi

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09 December 2024

USA - Country music group Midland has taken to the road for the Get Lucky Tour with a lighting system provided by long-time vendor, Bandit Lites. The Grammy-nominated group (comprised of Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson and Cam Duddy) recently released their fourth studio album Barely Blue to critical acclaim.

“It’s a whole new tour, whole new look, whole new set, whole new lighting setup and stage plot,” Carson told a Rio Rancho reporter. “It’s just fun to rebuild the set list and the whole, kind of, live experience when you have a new album. You can kind of integrate that into it, but it’s going to be the same Midland energy and entertainment, so it’ll be a fun night of honkey-tonkin’.”

Inspired by the retro rigs seen on various tours, Cam Duddy (bassist for Midland and creative director) sought a PAR can look. Working

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09 December 2024

USA - As part of Elation’s Experience Tomorrow campaign at LDI 2024, Elation is introducing a new immersive digital campaign experience at www.elation.global. The interactive experience showcases the company’s product series and technologies, including the new Paragon and Rebel series, through interactive storytelling and dynamic product demonstrations.

Framed as a gateway to new creative realms, the digital experience offers an immersive exploration of the future of lighting design featuring Elation product series, including Obsidian Control Systems and Magmatic atmospheric effects.

Complementing Elation’s in-person presence at Booth #2224, the digital campaign experience underscores Elation’s LDI theme of discovery, inviting lighting professionals to

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09 December 2024

USA - ChamSys is introducing three new products that have been engineered to put more choices directly in the hands of lighting professionals. Debuting at the company’s LDI Booth #1653, the ChamSys MagicQ Compact Wing and GeNetix TouchScene are loaded with features that ‘take flexibility to new heights, helping users excel in a variety of settings’.

A simple, portable solution, the MagicQ Compact Wing offers 20 playbacks – 10 fader and 10 executor. Each section can page through multiple playbacks via its own Next and Previous page buttons. All the playbacks feature a large full-colour display with the legends located directly above each playback. The 10 playback Faders feature Flash, Go and Select (via its Touch display), while the 10 space-saving Executor playbacks employ a Select and Execute button for each playback.

Adding to its impressiv

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06 December 2024

UK - Production Futures’ next On Tour event will take place at the Roundhouse, London, on Tuesday 4 March 2025.

The free-of-charge event will promote employability, transferable skills, diversity, free training and networking, and will present paid work opportunities to newcomers across the live event and broadcast production industry.

Visitors to the show will enjoy a packed schedule, which includes special guests, talks and panels, while industry workshops will offer young visitors the chance to engage in a wide range of activities, from preparing to be job-ready with industry-oriented CVs, to hands-on exploration of lighting programming, CAD, audio engineering, as well as getting under the skin of music production, virtual production and event production planning.

Hannah Eakins, CEO at Production Futures comments: “We’re abs

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06 December 2024

The Netherlands - Next Venue recently completed an impressive lighting installation in the entrance hall of the Midden Nederland Hallen in Barneveld, welcoming every visitor with an ambience perfectly suited to the ongoing event.

While the venue is currently hosting the acclaimed 40-45 musical, which attracts large numbers of visitors every weekend, the setup is a permanent enhancement to its multifunctional spaces, ensuring a seamless blend of ambience and functionality.

The venue's entrance greenhouse, formerly part of Floriade 2022, is now a 6,000 m² foyer with a blend of natural light, elegant fixtures, and energy-efficient solutions. The installation includes 100 Infinity Raccoon Junior P7/4 fixtures, each fitted with a 40° filter, strategically mounted in the trusswork of the glass atrium. These high-performance fixtures provide exce

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06 December 2024

Romania - Cuget Liber Media Group has unveiled the newly renovated Club SNC in Constanța, transforming a historic building into a modern venue for media, cultural, and professional events. Now home to the Cuget Liber daily and online newspaper, Sursa de Sănătate (Source of Wellness), and Antena 3 Constanța TV channel, the venue has become a hub that combines modern functionality with advanced technology.

To meet the high standards of this space, Prolights, in partnership with its Romanian distributor SC ARA Events Solutions, delivered a lighting system tailored to Club SNC's needs. Audiovision, the project integrator, ensured flawless installation and performance of the system, which includes EclProfile FWVWBK, EclFresnel VWBK, LumiPar 12UQPro, Jet Wash19, and Jet Hybrid200.

This lighting system supports a variety of ac

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06 December 2024

USA - Robe’s award-winning iBolt – a bright moving light fixture billed as ‘the first real replacement for conventional high powered xenon searchlights’ – has been approved by authorities for use in the USA and is now available for the North American market.

iBolt utilises a potent laser light source, and is action-packed with Robe innovation as the result of six new patented solutions protecting this technology and ensuring safe operation. The luminaire can produce ‘jaw-dropping, glamorous, high-impact beams and effects for any spectacular, event and occasion – both indoors and outdoors’.

iBolts play a major role in Robe’s Fifth Dimension live expo performance concept and presentation staged at LDI 2024.

The iBolt’s LSW-5 white laser phosphor light source produces potent beams of light for optimum performance and

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06 December 2024

USA - Making its world premiere at LDI, Claypaky’s Ultimo Hybrid combines a high IP66 rating and extended lamp life in a compact, lightweight fixture packed with innovative features.

Offering impressive brightness, a wide zoom range, and a versatile effects engine, it allows lighting designers to push creative boundaries and craft remarkable visual experiences. Powered by an advanced 550W short-arc lamp, Ultimo Hybrid offers an impressive 19,000-lumen output and a lifespan of up to 4,000 hours, providing reliable performance across countless shows while reducing replacement and energy costs, making it the go-to solution for low-maintenance applications.

Its motorised linear zoom smoothly delivers precise coverage in both projection modes, from tightly focused beams to evenly collimated spots. Despite its compact size, the fixture boasts a 160mm (6.

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06 December 2024

USA - Elation is unveiling the Paragon Series at LDI 2024 in Las Vegas. The series delivers ‘powerful, precision lighting that combines state-of-the-art innovation and robust weatherproof rating with an authentic understanding of designers' creative aspirations’.

Visitors to Booth #2224 will be transported to a retro-futuristic spaceport lounge, a gateway to lighting’s next frontier, where Elation’s latest innovations, including the Paragon series, will be on full display. This immersive booth balances technology with mid-century aesthetics, setting the stage for a journey through lighting’s next era.

Combining multiple fixture roles in a single, adaptable design, Paragon offers flexibility without compromise and has already generated anticipation across the lighting community. LDI attendees will be the first to see it in action and have th

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06 December 2024

USA - GLP will use this year’s LDI Expo as an opportunity to celebrate 30 years in lighting, with a lavish party at The Venetian at the end of the opening day.

This will be on the back of five new products being showcased at the GLP booth (#2549) in both production and prototype versions. For many LDs, designers, specifiers and rental houses it will be their first opportunity to get up close and personal with this next generation of show production lighting.

Already in production are the new Mad Maxx, Fusion Exo Hybrid 40 and Impression S500. These will be joined in prototype form by the JDC Burst 1 and Impression X5 IP, which will start shipping in Q1 next year.

Also on display will be the already popular Creos washlight (18 x 40W RGBL LEDs in three lines of six pixels).

IP65-rated and suitable for festival use, the GLP Mad Maxx bo

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05 December 2024

UK - Sunbelt Rentals UK & Ireland has announced the acquisition of the businesses JL Lighting Limited, JL Live Limited and Digiset Limited (together the JL Group), specialists in technical broadcast and production solutions.

With the addition of the JL Group, Sunbelt Rentals is broadening its capabilities to offer a wider range of equipment, specialist knowledge and solutions for the film and TV, broadcast and events industries.

Founded in 2009, the JL Group is a UK-based production and equipment rental partner known for its expertise in delivering technical production across a variety of sectors, including corporate events, conferences, live events and film and TV productions.

Additionally, this acquisition will bring a team of technical production specialists into Sunbelt Rentals’ Film and TV division. They will be based out of the co

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05 December 2024

UK - As part of its 20th anniversary celebrations, Pharos Architectural Controls has released a new set of podcast episodes focusing on some of the projects that have been able to scale up – either in size or in the complexity of programming – thanks to Pharos.

The 20 Years of Pharos campaign is spotlighting 10 lighting professionals and 10 projects that have shaped the success of the company over the last two decades.

Renowned lighting professionals Nick Abel from LS Group in New Zealand, and Peter van Nuland from GVA Lighting in Canada both feature in this part of the campaign to chat through their careers and how working with Pharos has enabled them to bring both large and intricate projects to life.

The podcasts provide another deep dive into the ways in which Pharos technologies – and the teams behind the gear – work col

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05 December 2024

Argentina - Zactrack has announced Stage Tech as its new distribution partner for Argentina and Uruguay.

Stephan Saremba, managing director of Zactrack International, comments: “We are thrilled to join forces with Stage Tech on the mission of bringing automated tracking technology to Argentina and Uruguay. We are looking forward to working with their dedicated and recently grown team, which will allow us to strengthen relationships with existing Zactrack users in the region as well as to expand into new markets.”

Antonio Agra, managing director of Stage Tech, adds: “We thank Zactrack for the trust placed in Stage Tech and the opportunity to be part of the company´s global network. With our industry experienced team, we’ll be allowed to collaborate and achieve excellent results in our professional markets with Zactrack automated follow system

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05 December 2024

USA - Like the music it celebrates, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony in Cleveland, Ohio, which just marked its 39th year, has also drawn on its ability to embrace new ideas to remain vibrant and relevant.

The 2024 ceremony provided a good example of this commitment, as a dynamic lighting design by Allen Branton that featured over 250 Chauvet Professional fixtures (supplied by 4Wall Entertainment), worked seamlessly with a Bruce Rodgers production design, and an immersive video design by Bianca Moncada of Darmah, to engage the live and TV audience on a deep level, all while supporting the activities on stage.

Much of the magic that happened inside the Rocket Mortgage Field House on a Saturday evening was made possible by the design team’s ongoing readiness to adapt to new technologies. This was most evident in the event

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05 December 2024

USA - Antari Lighting and Special Effects will showcase the latest advancements in atmospheric and effect technology at this year’s LDI show, booth #1803. Antari will introduce three products focusing on large venue applications and its new Universal Voltage Technology, ensuring global adaptability.

Antari is expanding its popular M-series with the M-12, a powerful dual output stage fogger. Delivering an impressive output of dense, lingering fog, the M-12 transforms any environment with its extensive coverage. Its high-power capabilities create an immersive atmosphere for concerts, events, and productions.

The new F-12 Nebula fazer is designed with professional settings in mind. Its advanced heater design operates at a low temperature to produce dry, odourless haze, making it ideal for theatres and indoor venues.

Both the M-12 and F-12 feat

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05 December 2024

USA - Follow-Me will present two of its latest products to the US market at LDI 2024 (#1347). Follow-Me offers flexible tracking solutions that scale with the size of the show. Its Follow-Me 3D and Follow-Me Track-iT technologies allow users to merge and integrate with any lighting console, video, sound and automation system on the market.

The Follow-Me system is independent from any fixture manufacturer and can control any lighting fixture that can pan and tilt. Fixtures can be used not only as followspots, but also as general lighting and effects, while multiple fixtures can be allocated per performer using a single system. With Follow-Me Track-iT, users have access to a live view of the tracking area via the camera feed for both manual and automated operation, and can switch seamlessly between manual and automated tracking.

Over the past year, Fol

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04 December 2024

France - Showlight is extremely excited to announce the first of its speakers who will present Papers in May. The selection draws from a mixture of lighting disciplines covering site-specific installations, mixed lighting challenges, product innovation and circus spectaculars with speakers, new and familiar, travelling to Dijon to be part of this exceptional networking quadrennial.

Here’s the first of what the Showlight 2025 line-up has to offer:

The Magic of Cirque du Soleil - Mikki Kunttu will explain how he turns magic into reality as the lighting & set designer and programmer for a number of spectacular Cirque du Soleil shows.

The Power of Light: From Myth to Science to Control - Anne Militello will examine how lighting techniques used today to stir emotional reactions, date back centuries to when man first incorpor