Gaskell's show utilises lots of back-light and silhouetting as a dramatic and visual tool, used in conjunction with low cross stage lighting. He produces a huge amount of looks and variations out of a compact rig, at the heart of which is 12 MAC 550s. "I'm very impressed with the 550s" he says, "They're great beam lights, they're perfect for the size of venues we're playing and they cut through the rest of the rig really well."
Embrace is currently playing many different types and sizes of venue, so every fixture in the rig has to be flexible. Gaskell also likes the 550's crisp, bright bluey white light, and the selection of standard gobos. Another feature he mentions is the animation wheel, which he figures has huge potential, although he's not yet really experimented with it on this tour. Apart from anything else, the fixture is a one-person lift. This is an invaluable asset on medium sized tours, and in circumstances where there's probably only one or two crew including yourself as a working LD.
The Embrace rig also features ACLs, Moles, strobes and wash lights, and the special effects include Pixelline LED battens and mirror balls. Gaskell controls the show using a WholeHog II and a wing.
Adlite Productions were one of the first UK rental companies to invest in the MAC 550, which they purchased through AC Lighting. The units are constantly out working on a miscellany of projects. Adlite also offers MAC 500s in its rental stock, 10 of which have just been out with LD Stuart Gray on the Amy Winehouse tour.
Embrace are scheduled to continue touring extensively throughout 2005. A review of the touring production appeared in the March 2005 issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine.
(Lee Baldock)
