The lighting design is by Mark Kenyon and the show was initially programmed by David Bishop during pre-production at Newcastle Arena. Mike Rothwell specified the grandMA and is the operator. He also did the 2008 Strictly Live tour, and this year decided to make the move to grandMA because, "It is such a stable, reliable system." It is the first full tour he's operated on the desk, but he was confident that going with grandMA was the right move, as he'd seen them in action on many other projects.
The lighting rig covers the large dance floor area and is based on five split trusses traversing the floor horizontally, and a central spine running vertically up the space, with another truss upstage of the pros arch of the stage providing band lighting positions. There is also a sub-hung moving box truss in the centre of the dance floor containing six scenic chandeliers and a giant 2.5m diameter mirror ball.
The grandMA is controlling over 200 moving lights - including Clay Paky Alpha Profiles and Vari*Lite VL3000 Washes with narrow lenses plus multiple Robe moving lights. These are mainly positioned on the trusses. On the floor are twelve GLP Impression LED wash lights at the stage end.
The console - along with five MA NSPs (Network Signal Processor) and a grandMA light for backup - is being supplied by the tour's lighting and sound contractor, Sonalyst. The tour is produced by Phil McIntyre Entertainment under the production direction of Andy Gibbs.
(Jim Evans)
