Gearhouse Durban was awarded the contract to provide all the technical aspects of the show. Aside from the massive stage, and three enormous screens, the Gearhouse team managed the technical requirements of live singers, a band of 18 musicians (on a raised platform on the stage), dancers and chorus singers as well as the retinue of stars. The concert aimed to convey that sense of Bollywood opulence and extravagance and the Gearhouse team had to not only create this opulent stage, but was also responsible for the full running of the six-hour show, attended by close to 40,000 people.
The stage took 10 days to set up and another three to strike. This massive task needed the input of 70 casual staff and 40 full-time crew that worked on it every day for this period. Gearhouse SA's responsibilities included lighting supply and design, sound set-up and design, and staging and audio-visual elements. "It was an exciting experience," says Gearhouse's Belinda Loockx. "It was show business at its most complete. It was very theatrical, an extravaganza, which is right up our alley."
When asked about the size of this job compared to others that Gearhouse Durban had done, Belinda was unequivocal: "This is the biggest show that has ever been presented in Durban and it is the one that has used the most equipment." Gearhouse SA's involvement extended even further into this massive project. Gearhouse SA director, Tim Dunn was responsible for the design of the stage and set. "Tim was absolutely brilliant," says Loockx, "He came up with a plan and went to India and worked with Amitabh Bachchan on it. Amitabh loved it and thanked him on stage."
(Lee Baldock)
