Alistair Kilbee, Splitbeam's business development manager, believes that the collaboration between the two companies fills a much needed gap in the area of theatre lighting supply in South Africa. Until now, rental companies stocked the "wrong type of equipment at the wrong prices for theatre productions," he states.
In addition to managing technical production services and requirements, Gearhouse Splitbeam benefits from a theatre-based and priced rental stockholding, serviced and maintained by the skilled and knowledgeable Splitbeam staff.
Kilbee joins the Gearhouse Group's Bezuidenhout Valley HQ in Johannesburg. He has been managing Splitbeam for a number of years already, initially servicing lighting design and staffing requirements and later on, managing full production aspects.
"Apart from the latest moving lights and LED components, theatre shows have and always will require a core base of fresnels, floods, profiles, 'top hats', 'half hats', scrollers, gobo rotators, zip strips and cyc units," he says. "We will start by supplying lighting and staff for theatre productions and long term rentals. Our initial focus is on ensuring that the quality of the service and equipment is the highest possible, and our longer term goals include expanding our stockholding to include rigging, sound and audio-visual elements."
Gearhouse South Africa, managing directors Ofer Lapid and Nasser Abbas are equally enthusiastic. "This has been a long term dream of ours. Finally we can supply theatre productions with exactly what they need at very competitive prices via the perfect vehicle - I simply cannot wait," says Lapid.
(Jim Evans)
