Rigging / Staging

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14 March 2016

Director of dance, Brigitte Lefèvre was joined by principal dancers, Dorothée Gilbert and Jérémie Bélingard for the interview which is featured on the Harlequin YouTube channel.

Brigitte Lefèvre explained that although a well-established and respected traditional dance company "everything is always evolving, a living tradition and at the same time we are a reflection of an age, of the times." She continued, "You realise that the dancers are all becoming more and more attentive to everything that accompanies them and they are perfectly right. In a reference to dancers' health and well-being she said, "you can speak of att

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14 March 2016

Friday 28 June saw the unveiling of three large dance studios, costume and shoe storage room, an aerial performance room and two singing rehearsal rooms, all in a converted warehouse. The Academy is one of the largest dance studios in the UK and will house rehearsals for thousands of dancers and performers rehearsing for appearances on Carnival Cruises.

Each of the three dance studios were fully equipped with Harlequin Activity Sprung Floor topped with Harlequin Standfast Surface and were built to replicate a ship in a bid to help perform

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14 March 2016

Actus Industries is headed by Andy Martin, and its senior management team includes some of the most experienced and respected practitioners in the production, show and event industry.

The business has three separate divisions; equipment hire, selected sales and project management.

Actus general manager Adam Beaumont explained that they always intended to go into automation and the choice of brand was made because, "Kinesys is easily the best option'.

They recently won the contract to supply the full rigging package to Robbie Williams' Take The Crown tour, and at this point decided to expand their Kinesys elements.

The new Kinesys kit - including Liftket motors, El

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14 March 2016

StageHand is registered with the UK Charity Commission in addition to the name 'PSA Welfare & Benevolent Fund', and donations can be made in either name. The charity is also registered with JustGiving.com, which allows the tax value of donations to be reclaimed under the Gift Aid scheme, boosting the value of individual donations significantly at no extra cost to the donor.

"We don't have many calls on our funds these days, because people have learned that having professional insurance of various types is the sensible way to go," explained trustee Mike Lowe of Britannia Row. "But in certain circumstances it is good to know that there is a fall-back option when a PSA member (or widow or widower)

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14 March 2016

Stage Technologies supplied the full automation package, consisting of counterweight assist winches, floor tracks, trucks, sliders and supplementary motors, while sister company Delstar Engineering supplied the stage engineering and hydraulics.

Production manager Patrick Molony said, "Working with the team from Stage Technologies on Charlie has been an absolute pleasure. The installation of the show into Drury Lane has been incredibly smooth. For a production with this level of automation there have been very few problems. When problems have occurred, which they inevitably will on something of this scale, Stage Technologies have pulled out all the stops, and have ensured that all necess

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14 March 2016

The site is much more interactive and provides the user an easier path to finding the product they require. With a latest news section, company profile, testimonials and much more, the website is now a comprehensive guide to the power distribution manufacturer. The site is also ready to accept a company webshop, which will be released later in the year.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Although a new name to the concert touring market, SW19 Production's team is packed with familiar faces and its involvement in the Glassheart tour was the result of close associations with key members of Leona's team.

"I'd worked with creative director Emma Bull and musical director Steve Anderson on Kylie Minogue tours, and with Leona's Front of House engineer Dave Wooster on many occasions," explains SW19 production manager Kevin Hopgood. "Leona had also changed management companies immediately before the tour and they were open to a change and a fresh eye on things.&qu

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14 March 2016

The doors - positioned stage left and stage right - each measure 7.73m high by 6m wide and open and close to allow set trucks with giant heads of the singer to enter and exit the stage.

Kinesys was contacted by the tour's set technical manager Nick Evans and head rigger Jerry Hough and asked to come up with a neat and safe automation solution for quickly opening and closing the doors - that had been mechanically engineered by Tait.

The particular challenge with operating these doors is they are required to tilt back 6 degrees before raising 7m to fully open.

The mechanics of the system were designed and engineered by Tait's Pieter Denijs and Jerry Hough and features a

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14 March 2016

"Taking on the distribution of the German Movecat maintains Jands philosophy of only representing premium world class products," said Paul Mulholland, Jands managing director. "Germany is renowned for making the best mechanical products in the world and Movecat maintain this tradition and arguably provide the best designed and manufactured chain motor in the industry."

"The integrity of the company, the quality of the product, and its value for money and ease of use will excite the market," said Peter Grisard, Jands national manager - projects.

Jands Staging recently supplied 32 500kg Movecat chain hoists for the ANZ stadium in Sydney.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Julian Chiverton, sales director, said, "At Doughty we constantly look to improve our methods of manufacture. This investment enables us to engrave higher quality details and logos on our clamps and provide a custom service free of charge in the process."

He added: "Safety is a number one priority at Doughty and our products have always carried the date of manufacture for traceability, safe working load (SWL), TÜV where applicable and the Doughty logo. With the laser engraver these details are clearer and more visible than ever bef

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14 March 2016

"Local One is very excited and proud of our success in the great number of our members who have been certified as ETCP Technicians over the last couple of years," said Local One I.A.T.S.E. president James J. Claffey, Jr. "We believe that this achievement demonstrates our commitment to educating and training our members to provide the best service possible to our many employers, as well as enforcing, enhancing and protecting the traditional jurisdiction of Local One."

Claffey added, "Congratula

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14 March 2016

SHoW Baby 5 now has five SHoW IDs, allowing systems to be scaled up to multi universe broadcasts by using more than one transmitter, or as a way of avoiding interference from other SHoW Babys in the area.

SHoW Baby 5 is still plug and play. Each unit is a transceiver and by plugging a DMX cable IN, it automatically selects itself to be a Transmitter. If nothing is plugged into the DMX IN port, it selects itself to be a receiver.

SHoW Baby 5 is the same price as the original SHoW Baby and is compatible with all existing SHoW Babys in the world.

There are still seven indicator lights on the front of the SHoW Baby, four for signal strength, one to designate whether it is a transmitter, one to designate whether it is a receiver, and a data present light. In th

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14 March 2016

The Astera range features handheld LED controllers for all types of user, from the simple infra-red controller (ARC1) with limited features to the more advanced radio frequency controller (ARC2) with a greater range and extensive control. The AsteraTouch improves the current range with its visibility and enhanced usability. Due to the seven-inch, 1024x600-pixel captive touchscreen, the often complex Astera control system is simplified into easy stages, but more importantly, it still maintains the comprehensive control and customizabilit

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14 March 2016

Brilliant Stages' general manager, Tony Bowern was tasked by the tour's production manager, Wob Roberts, to oversee the design, construction and delivery of elements including a series of replicas of Robbie Williams' head, on-stage tracking solutions, a multi-tiered main stage with protective roofette and a curved header topping the massive back wall.

In collaboration with a number of key partners, including fellow Prolyte Group subsidiary Prolyte UK, Brilliant delivered an exceptionally conceived and constructed product to the specifications of artistic designer Willie Williams and the late stage architect Mark Fisher.

"Tony transformed our requirements into an enormous construction schedule which co-ordinated t

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14 March 2016

Contracted by Production Resource Group, L.L.C., (PRG), Stage Technologies teams in the UK, the US and Australia worked closely with Global Creature Technology to supply the automation system which controls the eponymous ape. The automation package includes over 12 tonnes of steelwork, motors, winches, and cable management systems, which give the Kong puppet its sweeping movements; enable it to lift and rotate; and allow it to travel up, down and across the stage. The on-board winches control the height and rotation of the body, and allow Kong to fly in, leap, gallop, stand, etc.

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14 March 2016

Multiple iPads can be set up by an admin user to give numerous musicians personalised monitor control without affecting each other or the FoH main mix. A musician's own aux monitor mix is assigned and locked into the 'My Mix' layer, and a selection of input splits dedicated to the individual musician can be added. Similarly, all other instrument send levels can be assigned to any of the three extra layers, allowing unique personal monitoring configuration. The range of accessible settings is defined by custom permissions for each layer.

When in User mode, the musician is presented with simple-to-use access and control of their aux m

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14 March 2016

The 52 students currently taking the second annual degree course (validated by The University of Bolton) at the Wakefield training centre enjoyed training sessions, masterclasses and hands-on product demonstrations by leading companies and personnel during their month-long Staging Module.

General manager of Brilliant Stages, Tony Bowern, did his first ever educational talk. He explained: "I discussed the processes that we use to convert designers' dreams into reality involving project management, engineering, design, procurement and manufacturing. I feel it is important to pass on my knowledge of stage set building so it can give the Academy students a clear insight into what is req

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14 March 2016

The success of the projects shows that Black Light has the expertise to be involved in ground-breaking projects involving key decision makers in both government and education.

"The projects have been a great success and the schools are delighted with the equipment we installed," says Black Light's head of company development, Phil Haldane. Haldane explains that one of the key reasons for the project's success was that Black Light met with the end-users early on in the process. "We re-specified certain elements of the project in light of the feed

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14 March 2016

Staged in the MediaCityUK Piazza, the series of events are planned around the summer's major sporting events, and recently featured the Women's European Football Championships. A comprehensive technical solution was provided by the Blitz team, featuring all-weather staging and audio systems, and IP rated power distribution for the entire site to cover every eventuality. Video support included a miniature HD outside broadcast system, enabling relay of VT, off-air and live camera images to MediaCity's big screen.

John Crompton, project manager for Blitz Manchester, commented, "Delivering the perfect solution required careful consultation with all parties involved, including the FA and the

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14 March 2016

Arctic Monkeys, Dizzee Rascal, HURTS and Chase & Status all performed headline shows with production support from the stage & set, equipment rental and studio complex based in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

The rental company welcomed Glastonbury's Friday night headliners Arctic Monkeys to the 17,664 sq.ft rehearsal studio for six days full pre-production in June where the band and crew made use of the 14 en-suite bedrooms on site to work round the clock.

Production manager Ian Calder oversaw the production build, which incorporated two huge letters 'A' and 'M' clad in LED lighting on stage, to represent the band's name, part of a show that frontman Alex Turner later hailed as "one of the best gigs we've ever done".

LS-Live was

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14 March 2016

"The increased breadth and depth of the company will provide clients with an extensive palette of cutting edge technologies, which will include eChameleon, Navigator, F:Light, Sculptor toolkit for 3ds Max, plus a comprehensive range of winches and staging solutions for concert touring, theatre, corporate events, film and television and permanent installations.&qu

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14 March 2016

Originally a lyric theatre, and long term home to the Royal Shakespeare Company, the theatre is now called upon to host a far greater range of international touring productions as well as its own in-house productions. As such the entire flying grid and system needed replacing to keep up with the growing demands placed upon the theatre's technical team.

Ashley Pickles, theatre technical manager (systems and maintenance) at the Barbican Theatre said, "This is a major project for us, removing not just the existing flying grid and system but also some of the gallery and proscenium bridge structures in order to expand the width of the stage and gen

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14 March 2016

Alongside the awards dedicated to extraordinary individuals, four companies and three theatres will go head-to-head for the two company-based awards that are up for grabs: the Hire Company of the Year Award, and the 'Spotlight Accounting' Receiving Venue of the Year Award.

An additional award is dedicated to the theatre that has demonstrated the most effective awareness of venue sustainability and will be chosen and presented by leading industry specialists, :entertaining sustainability.

Voting is open to all members of the theatre industry and organisers are promoting each of the nominee's on the TTA websit

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14 March 2016

The stock includes the entire range of equipment previously available from Aliscaff Ltd who traded as Alistage.

The new company opened for business at the start of July and will be offering a newer streamlined service, with competitive pricing, as well as an option for full technical production support along with Centre Stage who currently operate within the live sound and lighting hire sectors.

Alistage Ltd can be contacted on 01279 406 270 or by email at sales@alistage.co.uk

(Claire Beeson)