Gearhouse's Tim Dunn designed the light-show for the event, - a fusion of Indian, African, Bollywood, Caribbean and American entertainment with special guest appearances by American rapper Akon, Eddie Grant and Bollywood superstar Katrina Kaif. The high energy show also included drummers, fire dancers, traditional dancers and a Miss Bollywood IPL South Africa model parade culminating in a massive pyro and fireworks show.
Four production companies were involved with the event - Cineyug and DNA Networks from India, together with Mushroom Productions and Big Concerts from South Africa in a truly cross continental presentation. Gearhouse's project manager for the IPL Closing Ceremony was Bill Lawford, and the show was simultaneously telecast live on Superchannel 2 in South Africa and Zoom TV in India.
IN 2 Structures (also a Gearhouse company) built a special rolling stage designed by Dunn and Otto Wijnberger featuring an Indian sun on the face offering great camera-candy for the aerial shots on TV. It was wheeled on to the pitch for the start of the show in a blackout, while the audience were distracted by speeches by - among others - Jacob Zuma, the newly elected president of South Africa.
Dunn operated the lightshow using a grandMA full size console, and was assisted in programming by Hugh Turner, who called the 10 follow spots on the night.
A total of 120 Martin Professional MAC 2K Wash and Profiles moving lights were rigged on two of the stadium's balconies along with 12 Robe ColorWash 2500E ATs, fanning out 120 degrees from the main grandstand in front of the main control position, with all principal stage action taking place on that half of the pitch.
At pitch floor level, the same area was covered by 24 Robe ColorSpot 700E AT moving light fixtures and 12 Robe ColorWash 2500E ATs, left and right at the 'quarter slot' positions, also on the floor were 22 Atomic strobes.
For in-filling of the back void at the rear of the pitch, 40 bars of ACLs were positioned on the lower balcony of the opposite grandstand, focused in huge sweeping fans to warm up the rear half of the field. On the floor in front of that same back grandstand were four banks of five Cyberlights, used for back fill illumination.
Two 32 ft long customised trussing dollies on pneumatic wheels were positioned left and right mid-field, behind the stage, loaded with a total of 16 Robe ColorSpot and ColorWash 700E ATs - eight of each type - plus seven 8-cell Moles per dolly.
(Jim Evans)
