Lighting designer Adam Bassett of Woodroffe Bassett Design specified 57 Clay Paky Alpha Wash 1500s, 32 Alpha Profile 1500s, 4 Alpha Spot QWO 800s, 20 Sharpys and 12 Sharpy Wash 330s, supplied by Neg Earth, to add ultimate versatility to the design. The design house also relied once more on their associated collaborator Roland Greil of Einstein and Sons as lighting director and operator during the run of the tour.
"The basic idea was to create a versatile lighting design to generate looks that would suit the very different parts of the show," says Bassett. "It was important to create a classic TV show look as well as a strong theatrical feel."
The Clay Paky Alpha Profile 1500 combines the output power of a 1500W lamp with an exclusive framing system that gives the beam unlimited shape capabilities, allowing for a multitude of different lighting looks. The Alpha Wash 1500 provides designers with a plethora of vibrant washes with its combinable CMY system and two colour wheels with pure dichroic filters.
The Sharpys were used as part of the floor package, with the Sharpy Wash 300s rigged on an arch truss over the stage, whilst the Alpha Profile, Spot and Wash fixtures were all hung on overhead trusses.
"It was really important to integrate the lighting into the beautifully designed stage set - making the lighting system as invisible as possible," continues Bassett. "The Sharpy Wash 330s were ideal for this as their compact size meant we did not have to disturb the stage design by rigging larger lighting units.
"It was also key for us to be able to light not just the stage, but also the crowd, as many parts of the show involved interaction between the performers of the stage and the audience," concludes Bassett.
(Jim Evans)
