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14 March 2016

This year, the Pleasance celebrated its 30th anniversary at the cutting edge of independent and innovative theatre, and was once again central to the Edinburgh vibes staging some of the best new works and showcasing breakthrough talent with an average of 10 shows a day running in each of its spaces!

All the technicals were overseen by Pleasance technical operations manager Matt Britten and lighting by Pleasance Edinburgh head of lighting Dom Knight, who also designed and specified 'house' lighting rigs for the venues.

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14 March 2016

The four-piece - comprising brothers Joseph and David Dunwell on vocals and guitar, bassist Rob Clayton and drummer Adam Taylor - has played both club shows and support slots in bigger venues over the course of the tour.

Sean is operations manager at Subfrantic, a rental company with extensive use and knowledge of Yamaha digital consoles. He chose a Yamaha QL5 and Rio3224-D as the ideal solution for the size-versus-features requirements of a hard working band which is touring on a budget.

"Club tours are challenging at the best of times, especially when you're fac

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14 March 2016

Blunt released his newest album in October of 2013 entitled Moon Landing, which features an emotional and powerful side to the singer-songwriter we have not yet seen. The album is personal and intimate, reflecting back to where Blunt got his start and where he is now.

"We have worked with James Blunt since 2005, this is our fourth world tour with him, and all James' shows have been dominated by Martin moving lights," Said Johnson. "This is the largest production we have taken out on the road thus far."

The theme of the tour is the romanticism and loneliness of the moon landings. For

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14 March 2016

"We are extremely happy with this new business alliance which brings together two of our industry's leading, high-end brands to offer quality solutions to the market," says Robert Juliat sales director, Claus Spreyer.

The two companies join forces to team Licht-Technik Vertriebs GmbH's specialised range of motorised yokes, motorised barndoors, colour changers and dimmer shutters with the full range of Robert Juliat Fresnel, PC and profile fixtures. Aimed at theatre and studio installations, the collaboration will benefit these institutions with precise control over their fixtur

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14 March 2016

Placed high on the roof of the City Hall, four Community RSH-462 loudspeakers broadcast short extracts from Li Bia Bouquet, the anthem of Namur. The schedule of play is phased throughout the week to play longer on such days as market day, and less on Sundays when it could disturb the residents.

An InOut RePlay R-01E is used for content and scheduling, while digital processing and loudspeaker management is provided by a Community dSPEC226. The high power Focussed Array RSH-462 loudspeakers are driven by two t&mSystems SP1600 700 Watt amplifiers.

O

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14 March 2016

It's interesting to see the results when people give something back to the industry, as was the case four years ago when Karen Burt of Planet Productions Code Teen and Gavin Taylor of the GrandWest Entertainment in Cape Town spearheaded the successful music and entertainment initiative called Backstage Pass High School Jam. The performance project did not only unite cultures, communities, schools and families, but above all encouraged self-pride, achievement, self-appreciation and the fulfilment of dreams.

Inspired Stages, hosted at the GrandWest, was the next step of the journey, giving students the op

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14 March 2016

In two short seminar sessions - Sunday 5 October 1.30pm - 2.00pm, and Monday 6 October - 11.30am - 12.00pm - Byrne will introduce Entertainment Workshops, an alternative education facility that provides an opportunity for young people to access hidden skills through hands on learning. EW encourages the use of the latest industry equipment and technology and offers practical work-based experience with strong links to providing a pathway to a career.

The TheatreStage is presented by The Theatres Trust, the National Advisory Body for Theatres.

The stage will be located on stand R40, di

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14 March 2016

"I assist the stage manager with the day to day running of the backstage workings such as the scheduling of crew, liaising with our suppliers when we need to, servicing and repairing any equipment, purchasing new equipment to either replace or expand our existing in-house equipment and generally make sure that the team has everything they might need," said Jolene.

With this in mind, the Lyric recently purchased Philips Selecon PL2CYC LED Luminaires. "When the Lyric opened its doors in 2007, i

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14 March 2016

Designed and operated by Oz Player, who used the fixtures in both the truss and floor package, commented on the ACL-type beam's frost effect wash look, "I've used the Elation Beam 5R on many shows and the soft edge frost adds another dimension."

Production manager Paul Joyce, who added extra Platinum Beam fixtures to the fleet for Tom Jones' shows earlier in the year, added, "I'm really happy with their performance. It's a great return on investment and we have them scheduled out on a major tour happening this month as well."<

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14 March 2016

"The Mozart is the perfect eye candy fixture and this was an ideal application for them - they really showed off the depth of the stadium and did a great job on camera," says Cory FitzGerald, the tour's lighting director. "We alternated Mozarts and Sharpys all around the second level of the Stade de France. They worked brilliantly." Lighting was co-designed by FitzGerald and Roy Bennett.

With settings from three to 48 DMX channels, and 1, 4, or 16 RGB "pixel" groups per fixture, the lightweight, low

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14 March 2016

The new office, which includes 30,000sq.ft of workshop space, seven loading docks and a full ground-supported test stand will accommodate work for West Coast theatre, casino and theme park clients. Other features of the location include all utilities and systems for testing and system configurations for these projects. In addition to functioning as TAIT's West Coast permanent installation hub, the onsite team will handle operations, local show service and support, project management and administration.

According to Dana Bartholomew, VP of West Coast Operations, "The new TAIT Stage Technologies facility is not only great for clients in this region, but it will also serve as a home base for our integrators when they're working on installation projec

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14 March 2016

Founded in 1978, Garrett has built an enviable reputation in Portugal by ensuring that it always offers relevant solutions to the market and employing a highly experienced team. As a result, it has an impressive list of brands in its portfolio, to which it is proud to add DiGiCo.

"For some time, we have wanted to work with a brand of mixing console that is both a market leader and technology innovator," says Garrett's Raul Fernandes. "This will allow us to provide our customers with a stronger offering in the field of professional audio and to apply the products directly to our turn-key projects.

"Although there has been some instability in the Portuguese market for the last two years, DiGiCo is a brand tha

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14 March 2016

Originally hired by Nathanson's management - who he met through his work with the group Train - to produce a lighting scheme for the tour, Hogan also reached out to Gavin Degraw's team to see if they had something in mind for the lighting. At this point, they decided it would make sense and be efficient if Hogan coordinated the lighting needs of both artists ... in a single adaptable and flexible design.

The size of the venues on the tour varied, and featured numerous theatres, so in order to fit the production in to the majority of spaces, Hogan chose a front and back truss to provide his lighting positions.

For Nathanson, there was an

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14 March 2016

IBC technical resources /audio, Terry Nelson, specified a Cadac MegaCOMMS high resolution digital audio network to distribute audio throughout the 1,700 seat IBC Big Screen Experience auditorium, where the IBC ran a programme of presentations and screenings, demonstrating "how the disciplines between cinema and traditional broadcast are merging". The IBC Big Screen Experience featured cutting-edge cinema technology, including Christie 6P 2D and 3D laser projection and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. Programme highlights included screenings of re-mast

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14 March 2016

"I chose Solaris 16X1s because, based on my experience with the amazing Solaris Flare, I knew they would perform well for my needs," says Mike Swinford, the show's lighting and production designer. "We use them to outline the overhead trusses and also to outline the T-shaped thrust. They're performing very well and ride on the trusses everyday so they do not have to be handled at every show.

"As with the Flare product, I am really impressed by their high output, plus linear effects when used with the MA console driving them. The 16X1's individual LED "pixel" control is a real plus". Production personnel include tour LD Keith Hoagland and lighting programmer Mark Butts. The Solaris LED pr

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14 March 2016

Mojo Barriers' Gatekeeper 2.0 intelligent turnstile system attracted organisers BSM, which needed to ensure capacities of the open air concert venue - which also hosts Primavera Sound festival - weren't breached. The venue welcomed live music fans across three nights who danced the night away to a host of local and international acts.

Leon van der Velden, project manager at Mojo Barriers, said, "The Gatekeeper 2.0 is the ideal soluti

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14 March 2016

Founder Justin Hammond, who has been at the sharp end of the professional lighting, video and AV rental industry for eight years, spotted a gap in the market for quick, simple, reliable and no-nonsense service providing wireless lighting kit.

He states, "There's been a massive surge in popularity and use of wireless LED lighting over the last two years - there's no messing around with cabling, and the lighting fixtures can instantly transform any environment. Wireless Lighting is designed to provide a fast, efficient and straightforward service to all those wanting to make use of this technology on their events."

Clients can log in to the website, place their order, sele

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14 March 2016

Like all other City Winery locations, the philosophy behind the new 350-seat, cabaret-style listening room in the historic Napa Valley Opera House is a meticulous attention to sensory delight. The sound system is no exception acoustically or visually, according to Ed Greer, City Winery's chief production officer.

"Because we focus on singer-songwriters, we needed a PA that is extremely accurate acoustically, that can deliver with complete transparency," says Greer. "The Mina arrays achieve that goal, and their sleek profile also fits with the elegance of the room. Any system we install in City Winery will be Meye

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14 March 2016

Known mainly for their work in horse racing, sports, music and entertainment, HDR works with all of the major Swedish broadcasters including the public broadcaster, SVT, and TV4 who is the country's largest commercial broadcaster.

HDR has recently built a new state-of-the-art OB vehicle featuring a number of DirectOut products that is presented as version 2.0 of their current HDR 6 24 Camera Expandable HD OB truck offering 24 seats with a true 5.1 audio mixing area. The new vehicle was built under the technical supervision of Sony's Martyn Smith

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14 March 2016

The Robe Arena is the company's largest exhibition area to date, and will highlight Robe's just launched BMFL Spot, a new mega-bright long-throw signature fixture which needs a large environment in which to be demonstrated most effectively.

Additionally, there are another 12 new innovations launched by Robe at PLASA 2014, together with all the current product range luminaires on this spectacular booth, which will also feature one of Robe's dazzling exhibition lightshows.

CEO Josef Valchar states, "We attend many exhibitions around the globe, but it's always good to be back in London, and this has always felt like THE lighting show for us. We wanted to do something

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14 March 2016

From 1 October 2014, MDGfog UK, a trading division of Robe UK Ltd, will take responsibility for the exclusive distribution of the full MDG product range in the UK & Eire. This new division will be headed by Matt Wiseman, a well-known face in the UK entertainment industry who brings 20 years of experience to the role.

"I am looking forward to the new avenues and responsibilities this arrangement brings," says Wiseman. "It will allow MDGfog UK to focus wholeheartedly on promoting and servicing the MDG brand across the UK and Eire, with the added confidence of solid backing from Robe UK's established administrative, service and warehouse facilities in Northampton."

Mick Hannaford, Managing Director of Robe UK, adds, "We believe the quality and performance of th

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14 March 2016

With most of the broadcast activity centred on Glasgow, Tony Kennedy's Teknique Systems, having purchased 12 SGM P-5 Washlights from SGM UK, joined forces with Richard Martin Lighting (RML) to provide lighting infrastructure in two very different venues.

The live televised debate between Alistair Darling (leading the 'No' campaign) and Alex Salmond (Scotland's First Minister, heading the drive for Independence) - held at the historic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum - was followed by the action through the night as the votes were counted. This took place in 'The Street', the central atrium area of the ultra-modern £72m BBC Pacific Quay, which only opened seven years ago.

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14 March 2016

As part of the month long Precision & Poetry in Motion exhibition, design agency Barber Osgerby developed a system of two giant mirrored aeronautical 'wings,' which were suspended in the room and would slowly rotate on motors, altering the reflections of the Raphael Cartoons as they did. To light the artworks, she used 16 ETC Source Four LED Series 2 Lustr fixtures, con

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14 March 2016

"I was extremely impressed with the technical advantages of linear sound reinforcement offered by Meyer Sound's Leo linear large-scale sound reinforcementsystem, but we had been waiting for a more compact version better suited to the Italian market," explains Carlo Volpe, technical director and co-owner of Fox Sound. "Lyon is exactly what we need. It has the performance and versatility ideal for any production, from open-air classical music presentations to jazz festivals and rock concerts. My partners and I are proud to be the first in Italy to supply this new technology."

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