Australia - Riverlinks Theatre, the largest civic theatre in Shepparton in northern Victoria hosts various weekly events: from touring bands and musicians to exhibitions and banquets. The flexible venue possesses a balcony above a retractable seating system that holds 825 theatre-goers or 450 banquet guests. The venue located two hours north of Melbourne recently installed a brand-new PA system to accommodate its versatile range of events. Around the mid-2010s, Matt Schroeders, technical manager of Riverlinks Theatre, knew that the old system was starting to become a liability to the theatre’s regular event production objectives and its users. Schroeders developed a replacement proposal for the Greater Shepparton Council, which owns and runs the theatre, but it was initially rejected. Determined, Schroeders persevered, revising his proposal with further details about the t
Japan - Located in Japan’s Umeda commercial district of Kita-ku, next to Umeda Osaka Station, Hep is a major shopping mall and entertainment centre. Within the mall, dominated by a bright, giant red ferris wheel overlooking the sights of Kansai region and the huge whale monument in the atrium, is the Hep Five fashion site. This is one of 160 stores and casual restaurants, as well as a combination of amusement and entertainment facilities. Up on the eighth floor of the building is Hep Hall, a theatre space which recently upgraded its technical infrastructure, Martin Audio's CDD-Live being the preferred PA system. Hep Hall manager, Mr Marui (from management company D Jam Create) explained the reason for the upgrade. "Hep Hall has been popular as a theatre venue for a long time. However, since the previous permanently installed loudspeakers were a fixed L/R prosce
France - After a recent move to La Joliette district, the Jesuit community of Marseille required an audio system for their newly built chapel and adjoining conference room which is housed on the ground floor of their five-storey building, which also hosts private habitations. The Jesuits were so impressed by Ecclesia Sound’s recent sound upgrade in their Saint-Ferréol church in Marseille - which also boasts Active Audio column speakers - that they trusted again the system integrator with their chapel. For this project, Ecclesia Sound had the luxury of fitting the cabling prior to construction, ensuring the chapel’s aesthetic would not be compromised: “I got on the project in October 2020, exactly one year before the delivery of the site,” states Joachim Fritsch, acoustic engineer and founder of Ecclesia Sound. “I was able to redraw the original wiring plans,
UK - When AV technology provider Anna Valley held its 2022 showcase at Tobacco Dock in London’s Docklands, it relied on a number of partners to ensure that this Event Odyssey - designed to reveal the techniques and tools now required in an ever-evolving event landscape - was conducted in not only a high impact environment, but also a safe and sanitised one. This was vital as visitors were guided through a number of environments, exploring the possibilities that extended reality, motion capture, holographic projection and other audio-visual solutions have to offer. Providing this assurance to attendees during the week-long showcase were Entec UVC SafeClean - a recent start-up by the Entec Group. They provided a suite of products to ensure not only the purification of air transmission but also that all surfaces were cleaned and all pathogens removed. These inclu
UAE - More than 70 Christie laser projectors are helping to inspire visitors in Mission Possible - The Opportunity Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Bringing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) to life, the interactive exhibition journey addresses the most fundamental global challenges of our time and sheds light on what can be achieved when individuals and communities work together. A total of 72 Christie laser projectors were installed to deliver engaging visuals throughout. Guests are greeted by an introductory video that sets the scene for the pavilion and the visitor journey ahead. The pavilion is then divided into three ‘tracks’, each focusing on one of three essential needs: water, food and energy. Visitors are guided by the stories of three individuals (guides) in each track whose actions were implemented with minimal resources yet had a life-changing impact.
UK - Moulin Rouge! opened at London’s Piccadilly Theatre last month. The intimate theatre has been transformed into a world of splendour, romance, glitz, grandeur and glory - with Unusual Rigging brought onboard to help create a world where Bohemians and aristocrats rub elbows and revel in electrifying enchantment. Jeremy Featherstone, senior design engineer at Unusual Rigging, explains: “We were contacted by production manager Matt Towell to help bring this extraordinarily heavy show into a relatively small venue. The idea was always to create the feeling that the audience is involved in the show - a recreation of the intimate feeling of being at the actual Moulin Rouge. The production weighs in at over 23 tonnes, but the Piccadilly’s grid was only really equipped to deal with half that weight - so we needed to come up with a workable solution.” With U
Belgium - Robe T1 Profile LED luminaires have been installed at the 1700 capacity Capitole Theatre in Ghent, where they are deployed on the front lighting bridge for key lighting and specials, replacing the previous tungsten fixtures. The T1 Profile investment was part of a drive to update the remaining elements of the house lighting system to LED, making it better, more contemporary and more sustainable. The T1 Profile purchase was overseen by the venue’s technical manager Rui Pinto who takes a distinctly no-nonsense approach to technical production. After discussions with Bart Weyts from rental specialist L&L Stage Services, the venue’s regular technical partner, Rui assessed the various suitable options available for front / key lighting replacement, contacted a selection of manufacturers and evaluated his choices. The T1 Profile popped up many times
USA - Creative Technology supplied Elation broadcast lights to Lighting Design Group for use on sportscast booths and stages in and outside of Sofi Stadium during Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles in February. Dennis Size, executive vice president of design for Lighting Design Group was responsible for the overall lighting design and turned to Elation Fuze Profile CW and KL Panel luminaires for key, fill and wash lighting. Multiple stages scattered around LA provided pre- and post-game coverage while promoting the city and shows for client Comcast. This was the fourth Super Bowl in which LDG has been involved and was Size’s second time working a Super Bowl. Having used conventional fixtures at the Super Bowl in Minneapolis four years ago, he says their inflexibility led him to request more moving lights for this year’s plot. ““That’s what drove the design concept of a
USA - Doug Aldrich, guitarist with The Dead Daisies recently spoke about how ClearOne’s audio and video capture technologies have become vital to his daily routine. “Making music and being a successful self-promoter have always been a function of what technology is available, so keeping up with technology is fundamental to our business,” he explained. “The basic idea is that we should leverage all available tools to play better, sound better and look better, and today, video and audio quality for video calls can be a big part of that equation.” Having recently completed a short UK tour and now on a 26-show European tour, Aldrich is keeping busy with virtual practices, meetings and promotional interviews that reinforce the vital role video collaboration plays for modern professional musicians. Even so, he hadn’t thought much about the quality of his audio an
USA - British trio Shpongle were one of the headliners at the Gem and Jam Festival in Tucson. Taking place over three days at the Pima County Fairgrounds, the event served up a rich mix of sounds from an international roster of artists including Lotus, Lab Group and Hallucinogen, all in a peaceful setting that included campsites and art displays. Part of the renowned Tucson Gem Mineral and Fossil Showcase, the festival also mesmerized with some glittering displays of gemstone artwork. Reinforcing this theme, its stages had names like Emerald, Onyx and Quartz. One would expect stages bearing such monikers to be bursting with colour, and this festival didn’t disappoint, thanks to the work of Cody Lisle, who designed the sets and did the programming for the main stage, while also supporting guest LDs like Tiberius Benson, who came with STS9, and Chandler Thomann,
France - The Cadre Noir de Saumur IFCE (Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation) recently took possession of a large number of Zep2 LED luminaires and Robert Juliat followspots as part of the renovation of the stage lighting of the Grand Manège. The Cadre Noir is one of the leading riding schools in the world and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Heir to an illustrious military history and based on an ancestral equestrian culture, it perpetuates its mission of training and showcasing the French equitation tradition for almost two centuries. This prestigious venue will open its 2022 season beneath Robert Juliat's LED luminaires. One hundred and twenty Zep2 360LF2 Fresnel lanterns, six Zep2 660SX2 profiles and two Super Korrigan followspots have just been installed in the Grand Manège by Geste Scénique, Robert Juliat's regional partner. “The c
France - On the northeastern border of Paris, the Philharmonie de Paris complex is the musical epicentre of the City of Lights, encompassing an amphitheatre, concert hall, museum, an exhibition hall and studios and workshops. The newest addition to the complex, the Philharmonie des enfants (Children's Philharmonic) was created for children aged four to 10 with the mission to develop hearing sensitivity through interactive games and immersive sound installations. Children take their first steps into the world of sound and music in the new, purpose-built venue. The space encompasses five different themed areas, one of which aptly named Plein les oreilles! (Earfuls!), has been equipped with L-ISA Immersive Hyperreal Sound technology. Plein les oreilles! is a blend of specially created musical films, stories, concert recordings and sound experiences. By combining fully-sp
USA - When working a corporate event, lighting designers usually have to go with the flow, at least as far as colour schemes are concerned. If the company logo relies on a palette that doesn’t translate so well in light, the LD has to figure out how to make the best of the unfortunate hand that was dealt. TJ Harrison on the other hand was grateful when he was called upon to light a dinner event at the Mohegan Sun Casino for JSC Management Group, a major quick service restaurant franchisee. The company’s preferred palette with its deep reds, blues and other hues, gave him excellent colour choices. He took full advantage of the opportunity too. Using the 36 Chauvet Professional Rogue R1 BeamWash in his Squeek Lights supplied rig, he created an intimate mood throughout the event space, no small accomplishment give its cavernous 18,500sq.ft size. Relying on subtle colo
USA - To provide artists with isolated and well-balanced headphones whilst recording and mixing, engineers at Studio 606 selected the AKG K371 as their over-ear headphone of choice. The recording space and headquarters to the Grammy Award-winning band Foo Fighters, Studio 606 specialises in analogue and direct-to-tape recording methods, the studio also houses the custom Neve 8028 recording console from Sound City, the studio where countless artists recorded some of their most notable work. As the majority of bands who record at Studio 606 prefer to track while playing live in the same room, the studio required high-quality closed-back headphones capable of providing sufficient noise isolation and preventing audio bleed. Additionally, to ensure accurate sound for recording and mixing, the studio’s engineers needed headphones with a balanced and uncoloured frequency r
UK - Lighthouse young technicians at Poole’s Centre for the Arts tripped the light fantastic last weekend, presenting a showcase of digital light art in the amphitheatre as the latest intake of students completed the final element of their 12-week training course. “The work was absolutely brilliant,” says Lighthouse chief executive, Elspeth McBain. “It totally transformed the landscape, which is what technicians do, and reminded us of what is possible in the outdoor space beside our venue.” Aimed at young people aged 16-19 interested in getting to grips with lighting, sound and stage management in a variety of indoor and outdoor settings, this course is an opportunity to experience technical theatre in a real-world environment tutored by working professionals. Students are guided through a structured 12-week course by professional technicians, gainin
USA - Sting performed his single For Her Love in Spanish as part of Univision’s broadcast of the 2022 Premio Lo Nuestro awards last month. Taking to the South Plaza Stage outside the FTX Arena, acoustic guitar in hand, Sting sang in a voice that was clear and soft, yet powerful. Adding to the moment were his surroundings on the angular, asymmetrical stage with its warm lighting and the city of Miami skyline in the background. For Rene Garcia, it was one of the highlights of the show. “I grew up listening to the music of Sting,” he explains. “So seeing this was very special to me personally.” Garcia’s interest was more than that of a fan. Working with Chris Fernandez of Limitless Design, he was the lighting designer for the four performances on the South Plaza stage, including the one by Sting. Helping him create the evocative looks that contrib
The Netherlands - Theater Aan de Parade in Den Bosh has been closed for a complete refurbishment since August 2020, with a reopening set for 2023. During this time - COVID regulations notwithstanding - the venue has planned to stage productions in eight venues in and around the city including Hall 8 of the city’s Brabanthallen exhibition centre, which has 860 seats and is the largest of the temporary venues. The lighting rig installed in Hall 8 for the first production run featured Robe T1 Profile and LEDBeam 350s moving lights which were specified by lighting specialist Gertjan Stads and supplied by Unlimited Vision & Sound, a local rental company based in Rosmalen. These have been added to the Robe DL4S Profiles and LEDWash 300s already owned by the theatre to make a versatile all-purpose rig in the roof which is good for lighting a vibrant range of shows - f
Switzerland - After more than 40 years of continuous operation, Theater Basel has undergone extensive refurbishment. To ensure the house is equipped for the future, a newDiGiCo Quantum 7T mixing console has been installed and integrated into an Optocore network infrastructure. Theater Basel is Switzerland's largest multi-genre theatre, and hosts dance, opera and theatre productions. A wide variety of renovation work has been carried out and purchases made over the past seven years, undertaken during non-performance and non-rehearsal periods to avoid disruption to performances. A few months ago, the house also renewed its entire mixing console fleet. After an extensive evaluation and test phase - including a hands-on session at Tonspur AG in Adligenswil with DiGiCo’s Dan Page - the decision was made to invest in a DiGiCo Quantum 7T. As the ‘T’ suggests, the Quantu
The Netherlands - The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) featured the Showtec Sunstrip Active MKII. The carefully designed studio setup has been the stage of the online show for almost two weeks. Regular provider Peitsman Licht en Geluid B.V. assisted with technical knowledge and three technical crew members to collaborate with the director to build a professional stage with a blend between a sleek and a creative design. The International Film Festival Rotterdam is held each year at the end of January, normally in various locations in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Founded in 1972, it is focussed on independent and experimental filmmaking by showcasing emerging talents as well as established authors. The festival also places a focus on presenting innovative media art and arthouse films, with most of the participants in the short film program identified as artists or e
Serbia - With Belgrade’s 2022 New Year’s Eve celebration green lighted by city officials, Skymusic, one of the leading sound reinforcement rental companies in Europe, was given the task of providing an unforgettable experience for the crowd of revellers in attendance. The celebration, which centred along the Belgrade Waterfront, a new complex of buildings including the 551ft-tall Kula Belgrade tower, required Skymusic Sound Engineer Vladimir Buric to cover a lot of ground. The multimedia spectacle featured a laser show, fireworks, videos and live performances by some of Serbia’s biggest stars including, Jelena Karleuša, Marija Šerifović and Sara Jovanović. Outdoor winter events at night always present a set of challenges, which led Buric to the Anya three-way full-range ADAPTive array module from Eastern Acoustic Works (EAW). “We needed to project so
Germany - Production company Professional Sound Service (PSS) reshaped its business beyond traditional live sound reinforcement to offer hybrid and studio events out of necessity. PSS's investment in Point Source Audio microphones - supplied by German distributor Mega Audio - helped propel its expansion technically and financially to prevail over the challenging business environment created by the Corona virus. “Today, I only use Point Source Audio headset and lavalier microphones - we have changed completely,” explains Michael Weimann, technical director of audio at PSS. “I use the CO-8WD headset microphones for everything that has to do with the voice and that can be done via a headset. This is not only due to the price/performance ratio, but above all the handling.” Weimann discovered it was quicker and easier to put the Point Source Audio headset on board m
Poland - Stay High Agency, promoters and producers of a popular series of Roof Party events (which take place on the roofs of hotels and malls in their native city of Krakow) has taken delivery of a Martin Audio Wavefront Precision WPS. The decision was made after Phono Media, Martin Audio’s Polish distributor, set up a demo. The distributor confirms that the customer had already been “heavily oriented towards Martin Audio”. They add that “Stay High Agency started their adventure with Martin Audio solutions with CDD-Live before moving up to their first large-scale system. They first used this system on the Roof Party cycle. The agency purchased 10 of the compact WPS enclosures, along with six SXC118 subwoofers, to be powered by three high-powered iK81 8-channel Class D amplifiers. In addition, they also ordered six of the Blackline XP12 powered speakers,
World - Ayrton has announced that it will continue to support the Women In Lighting project throughout 2022 via its exclusive WIL Entertainment Lighting Partnership. Founded in 2019 by Sharon Stammers and Martin Lupton of Light Collective, and already well-established in the field of architectural lighting, WIL exists to provide an inspirational digital platform that profiles women working in lighting and lighting design, celebrating and promoting their work and career paths. It challenges the underrepresentation of women within the industry and aims to support and encourage the next generation. Ayrton’s primary aim is to raise awareness and broaden the reach of the WIL project to include women working in entertainment lighting - not just lighting designers, but women working in all aspects of entertainment lighting. “We are thrilled that WIL has chosen to wo
UK - To ensure a concert-quality audio experience for new West End theatre production Get Up Stand Up!, Stage Sound Services deployed a JBL Professional VTX Series line array sound reinforcement system. Premiered in October 2021, Get Up Stand Up! is a musical theatre production that tells the life story of Bob Marley. Based at the Lyric Theatre in London’s West End, the show has earned both critical and commercial acclaim, with performances routinely playing to sold-out audiences. Because Marley’s music plays such an integral role in the production, sound designer Tony Gayle required a modern audio system that would deliver concert-like sound quality. At the same time, he needed the sound system to provide natural-sounding speech intelligibility and balanced coverage to ensure a comprehensive theatre experience. At Gayle’s request, the show’s prod
