The roadshow has been co-ordinated to tie in with the National Curriculum and aims to teach pupils about the science that surrounds them in everyday life. While they get the chance to do hands-on experiments, the centrepiece of this year's event is a dynamic theatre show - 'The Science of Urban Stuff - Think Energy, Get Some' which features actors, stunt riders and circus aerialists from The Generating Company.
Since the performance is so dependent on the movement of the artists and actors, producers Just Add Water called upon the expertise of Fourth Phase to provide an innovative lighting solution for the show. Working alongside Fourth Phase, lighting designer Daniel Bocking created a package guaranteed to set the show alight, and operated the show at each venue. Bocking explained: "I knew that I'd have to design a high impact solution for this show since it's a very energetic production from start to finish. With skateboarders, BMX stunt riders and lots of aerial action I knew that highlighting the actions of each performer would be a challenge, to say the least. I had to work within a limited budget restricting the amount of equipment I could use, hence the system had to be as efficient as possible."
As such Daniel used 14 Martin MAC 2000 performances to pick up the action as the performers race around the room, 26 Martin MAC 600s, which do all of the colour chases and 13 six lamp bars which help fill in the washes. To programme and run the show Bocking used a Wholehog lighting console. "Being able to use Wholehog made my job so much easier. I had to programme 120 cues for the 35 minute show, so I needed a console which would virtually programme all of the lights and allow me to operate it as quickly and simply as possible."
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
