Dr. Bunhead (who also goes by the off-stage name of Tom Pringle) is a well-known science communicator who has performed over 1,600 shows around the world. He specialises in using dramatic experiments, flashes and bangs to bring science to life. For his two show contribution to the International Science Festival, Tom needed to produce an even bigger spectacle than usual and turned to Black Light's technical manager Craig Collin for help.
"Impeccably professional, Craig's pyro performance exceeded what I hoped to achieve," says Pringle. "I was truly delighted with the result - as was the audience. Overall I would be delighted to work with Black Light again."
For each of the Pyromania shows, Black Light designed, installed and operated a large-scale pyrotechnic sequence carefully choreographed to the music and canon volleys of Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture. In all 56 separate effects were used per show, including gerbs, airbursts, theatrical flashes, mines, line rockets and waterfalls.
Pringle was particularly pleased with how Black Light's assistance helped him focus on the rest of his show. "Craig's reputation preceded him," he explains. "This meant that the Usher Hall theatre management team were sufficiently relaxed and confident to entirely leave me alone to get on with my other work."
"We worked carefully with Tom to make sure that we fully understood his ideas and then we came up with a proposal that he loved," says Collin. "Tom has purchased pyrotechnic effects from us in the past for his other shows, so we were an obvious choice for him when he needed to really push the envelope."
(Jim Evans)
