UK - The Schools' Theatre Support Group (STSG) held their third, and largest to date, conference last month, sponsored by White Light and Charcoalblue. The successful event was attended by technicians and managers from several schools around the country.

Starting with a backstage visit to the new Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford, the conference, held at Rugby School in Warwickshire, included workshops by White Light, Stage Electrics and Charcoalblue Theatre Consultants. Other exhibitors included AC Entertainment Technologies, Theatre-in-a-Box, and Tophex TheatreCom.

The STSG is a small, but established network of professional theatre technicians and managers working in UK school theatres. The biennial conference (with plans to become an annual event from next year) is the main focus of the Group, bringing together its members with suppliers and leading industry practitio

South Africa - With a carnival atmosphere and some 1 000 guests, the annual Tarsus Dealer Bash 2012 would not disappoint. This lavish party, with full technical supplied by MJ Event Gear, was held at Helderfontein, The Africa Room, on 8 March 2012. The gig used Robe fixtures and Sharpies.

Kevin Perkins portrayed his comedy act of Michael Naicker and Just Ginger added entertainment to the evening.

MJ Event Gear were commissioned by Idealist Event to cater for the technical aspect of the show. For the fourth consecutive year, Johnny Scholtz did the full design. "I used four fingers of truss extending over the stage," explained Scholtz. An additional circle truss was rigged in the centre of the room, utilised to hang draping to further add to the carnival festive atmosphere and there were also two satellite stages.

"Four Sharpies were flown and an additional two

USA - Rosco Laboratories and The ESTA Foundation have announce the presentation by Mark Engel, President of Rosco, of the fourth annual royalty payment to Behind the Scenes from sales of Roscolux #359 Medium Violet. Mark presented the check on the show floor at USITT in Long Beach, California, yesterday (29 March).

Engel commented: "When we donate the proceeds from Rosco 359 Medium Violet to Behind the Scenes each year, we are reminded of the tight bond within our industry. Designers choose this colour and in return, Rosco helps their colleagues in need. This year we are pleased to present $2,174 to The ESTA Foundation, bringing the total since inception to over $10,000."

Rick Rudolph, the Chair of the Behind the Scenes Committee and a member of The ESTA Foundation Board of Directors, commented: "Everyone has a Roscolux swatch book tucked away. There is a power

USA - Barco North America has teamed up with Austin, Texas-based FX Financial to offer a new Equipment Financing Program, created specifically for rental and staging companies wanting to purchase Barco's AV solutions at low, fixed rates including a limited-time deferred payment option, the company has announced.

The Barco Equipment Financing Program provides a range of financing options designed to meet the needs of the entertainment equipment rental industry. The 60-day Introductory program, available until May 1, offers two loan options: a Low Interest Rate Program and a special Deferred Payment Program, the first of its kind in the industry, Barco claims. The Deferred Payment Financing program permits equipment purchases of $150,000 and upwards, with minimal payments for the first six months of the loan period. Ongoing loan programs include a 5.99% Easy Application (one page)

UK - WirelessLED has chosen PLASA Focus to launch the full production model of SMARTe, its revolutionary compact wireless LED system.

It has been six months of hard work since the pre-production model was shown at PLASA last September but it has been worth the wait. Concentrating on feedback from individuals and companies across the entertainment industry WirelessLED has refined the original design.

A switch from Lithium Polymer to Lithium Ion battery technology has not only increased life but also shortened recharge time. New Osram OSLON LED emitters have increased brightness by around 15% and a new lens from Carclo Optics has significantly enhanced the colour mix.

Other refinements include a captive M10 for mounting via hook clamp or half coupler, two captive M6 which accept the RAM Mount ball system, two safety bond points and a general tweak and tidy up of the overall ca

Denmark - Lighting designer Kasper Christiansen of VisuaLies has used Clay Paky Shotlight Washes and Alpha Profile 1500s to delight the fans of pioneering punk band Sort Sol on its recent Danish tour.

"I prefer simple but powerful lighting solutions," says Christiansen. "The backbone of my rig comprised Clay Paky Shotlights and Clay Paky Alpha Profile 1500s and, for a relatively small lamp count, we achieved a really big outcome."

The Clay Paky luminaires were supplied by AED Rent, Belgium to local Denmark rental operation Victory Tour Productions, which then supplied these and the rest of the lighting equipment for the tour.

Christiansen's dynamic concept manipulates almost every characteristic of the Shotlight and Alpha Profile 1500 luminaires to deliver a hard hitting, dramatic design. The striking force of Christiansen's lighting works hand in glove w

UK - Black Light has helped commission the lighting for Bradford's City Park, the UK's largest urban water feature. The Park was designed by Gillespies and Arup on behalf of Bradford Council and was officially opened in March. It features a 4,000sq.m mirror pool and the UK's tallest urban fountain which reaches a spectacular 100ft. A wide range of lighting elements has been incorporated into the development to deliver a 'playful' night-time environment and to also aid navigation around the park.

"We were very excited to be involved in this nationally-important project," says Phil Haldane, Black Light's head of development, who explains that the company's technicians programmed the advanced eCue Lighting Control Engine that interfaces between the project's various elements. "This work shows our technical expertise at system programming and the way we can slot in as

UK - Robe LEDWash 600 moving lights were used by lighting designer Tom Kinane to highlight the set of the latest series of the BBC's popular quiz show Pointless, recorded in Studio 8 of the BBC TV Centre in west London, UK.

The 22 LEDWashes - supplied by Kent based rental company Automated - were all located on the floor at the back of the set, and illuminated an eye-catching collection of flown fabric sails, which were an integral part of Dominic Tolfts' set design. They shaped and defined the overall space in which the action took place. This consisted of four teams of two people striving to score the least points to win a daily cash prize!

Kinane switched to using Robe's Robin 600 LEDWash future for this show mid-way through the last series. The results were exactly what he wanted, so he stayed with the same winning formula for this one, which saw three episodes a da

Germany - Wireless Solution Sweden AB had one of its most successful Prolight + Sound shows in Frankfurt, showing both new products and some innovative advancements to their product range while signing new OEM partners and distributors.

Wireless Solution added to their growing OEM partners with the additions of Robert Juliat, Studio Due, and Ape Labs. Details of products offered with W-DMX will be released soon.

The company also appointed Acoustic & Lighting system as distributor for Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia. Eugene Yeo, MD for Acoustic & Lighting said, "W-DMX for is a the number one brand for wireless DMX, plus it's important for us to keep our brands harmonious as we also work with Clay Paky and PR Lighting that already use W-DMX inside their products."

Wireless Solution now has over 40 OEM partners and an ever-expanding network of distributors worldwide.

France - Located in the Natural Park of Vercors (France) at the foot of the high Presles cliffs, Grottes de Choranche owe their worldwide reputation to their renowned, extremely beautiful 'soda straws', a kind of very thin and fragile stalactite made of limestone, whose formation is caused by an exceptionally rare phenomenon.

Carved by hydro-chemical and hydraulic erosion, these beautiful caves were cut into a massive karst (limestone outcrop) by underground streams and now offer a breathtaking view made up of natural subterranean rivers and emerald lakes, cascades, caves and cavities, labyrinths of tunnels, primitive rock formations, serpentines and, of course, the many soda straws clusters. During the guided tour it is also possible to see the olm, an early form of amphibian survived since the age of the dinosaurs.

Discovered in 1871, the Chorance caves had been lit up with

UK - Avolites will be accompanied by Avolites Media at PLASA Focus: Leeds on stand RA-B10 to offer visitors a selection of lighting and video solutions. On show will be the Sapphire Touch with a preview of Titan Version 6 as well as Avolites Media's introduction of the Sapphire Media control surface and Ai Infinity Server.

The Sapphire Touch, Avolites top-of-the-range stage lighting control console, integrates Avolites comprehensive Titan V6 operating system as well as offering dual touch screen monitors for an enhanced workflow. Designed for large scale arena tours the Sapphire Touch has been developed for efficient and smooth automated playback operation with the introduction of 45 motorised faders and Tricolour optical trackball functionality and delivers a unique Saturn ring, giving X, Y, Z axis to ensure simultaneous control. This popular new console from Avolites Ltd. also

UAE - High End Systems has confirmed the appointment of TechnoPro LLC as its exclusive Middle East distribution partner. TechnoPro will provide sales, support, service and training for High End Systems' full range of Wholehog lighting consoles, automated and digital lighting products."We are planning for this year to launch a series of training seminars on the Wholehog series consoles, the Axon Media Server, and the new Technospot and intellaspot fixtures," said TechnoPro CEO Nabil Bourgeili. "Our goal is to help professionals and to create more certified technicians in the region as well as assisting customers to understand the finest details of High End Systems technologies."TechnoPro celebrated this year its 10th Anniversary of professional accomplishments in the world of audio, visual, lighting and technical events production. "We have High End System

UK - Ambersphere Solutions, the exclusive distributor for MA Lighting products into the UK, reports that it has been overwhelmed by demand for the recently launched MA onPC command wing.

The MA onPC command wing is the latest addition to the MA Lighting family and offers a powerful, efficient mobile option to operating the grandMA2 control system in even the most challenging environments.

"When we first saw the MA onPC command wing we knew it was going to be a hit, and we were thrilled by the opportunities it was going to open up for us' says Philip Norfolk, sales director for Ambersphere.

"Being able to gain access to the superior MA technology, but at an affordable price tag, allows us to speak to customers who previously thought MA was out of their reach. But it is absolutely not," continues Norfolk.

"This product is so versatile - it can act as a st

Germany - Following the success of the PL1 LED spot and PL3 LED wash lights in the TV and theatre markets; Selecon launched two new LED lighting products, in the same range, at Frankfurt Pro Light and Sound 2012 - The Studio Panel and the PLCyc.

The Studio Panel is an LED soft light featuring: variable colour temperature from 2700K up to 6000K using a mixture of amber and white LEDs. Drawing just 60W of power at any voltage the Studio Panel can be powered via a four pin XLR direct from the TV camera or via a powercon connector direct from the mains. This means that on location the luminaire can be powered from the camera alone. Three onboard buttons and a wheel enable the user to quickly adjust the colour temperature, dimming intensity and access a number of preset colour temperatures. Alternatively the luminaire can be controlled remotely via DMX. Available from April 2012.

T

USA - Mankin Media Systems (MMS) of Franklin, Tennessee helped Chattanooga's Silverdale Baptist Church find a cost-effective lighting solution for the renovation of existing space into a 2,000-seat auditorium, which includes integration of 15 Aledin 85-watt LED profile spots from Robert Juliat.

Initially, the church planned a new auditorium, but when funding shortfalls required significant budget cutbacks MMS was tasked with figuring out how to retrofit its lighting design into a room that could be renovated. MMS worked with structural engineers to design a catwalk to add lighting capabilities to the pre-existing space while lowering the ceiling for a more intimate feel. The main challenge remained, however: a limit on the electrical supply to the facility since the cost of increasing power capacity to the room would be enormous. Power consumption therefore became a major consid

UK - Belgium's ADB Lighting will exhibit at PLASA Focus: Leeds, for the first time in its own right, on on Stand S-D1.

ADB will show some of its latest lighting and lighting control systems, including the UK preview of its new LED Powered Profile Spotlight.

Based on the proven concept of the Europe 1kW Condenser Profile, the new LED Profile was first shown at JTSE, SIEL and ProLight+Sound. With final design enhancements and extensive road testing in progress, the full product range launch is planned for September 2012. The first two products in the LED range will be a Theatre Fresnel and a Profile spotlight with the equivalent beam power of a 1kW halogen spotlight.

Also on show will be the latest ALC4-2 modular multi-purpose luminaire with its range of reflectors and barndoors, and the Freedom lighting control desk, with a host of software enhancements that extend the consol

Nigeria - Until recently, most TV channels across Africa were run by underfunded national broadcasters who aired only low quality programming. But things are slowly changing. Increasingly wealthy citizens are experiencing far better TV standards when they travel abroad and then demanding better when they get home. Many are investing in wide screen TVs and personal video recorders; and are wondering why they can't also have HD.

None of the free to air broadcasters transmit in HD, so, along with a few other subscription based stations, Supersport Africa - part of a continent-wide subscription TV network owned by a division of Multichoice International Holdings (MIH) - decided to fill the vacuum.

Multichoice converted a warehouse in Lagos, Nigera, into three TV studios as part of a 'fast-track' project to create an HD broadcast facility using a range of ETC lighting, dimming and

Germany / UAE - For more than 25 years German company LOBO has been delivering stunning laser shows - and wowing visitors to PALME Middle East since its inception in 2003.

As technology has improved these spectaculars have become increasingly advanced, and this year the specialists will present one of their most advanced showcases yet.

CREOS is the name of their eight-minute long sci-fi multimedia show, which will integrate multi-layered video and water screens with LOBO's award winning Sparks lasers and many special effects.

"This show production is a technological milestone in multimedia entertainment due to its sophisticated combination of real video, computer-generated imagery and lasers," promises LOBO creative director, Alexander Hennig.

Hennig himself directed the LOBO creative team, incorporating laser animations, laser 3D effects, green screen stu

UK - PLASA Focus Leeds will see Philips Vari-Lite show-off its latest forward-looking developments in automated lighting technology.

A warm welcome is promised to entertainment professionals visiting Stand S-C15, where they can shoot the lighting breeze while familiarizing themselves with the recently launched, compact, efficient and cost effective range of luminaires: the VL440, VL770 and VL880. In addition Vari-Lite will be showing off the VLX3 LED moving head.

Conceived from the union of Vari-Lite creative engineering vision and the company's understanding of lighting designer's needs, this range of luminaires provide the LD with a comprehensive palette of creative lighting tools in an efficient and compact unit.

All are loaded with the kind of powerful Vari-Lite features important to a lighting designer. Between them they can service any size of venue or production and e

South Africa - Nick Britz of Johannesburg-based DWR Distribution will embark on a tour of the country this month to provide demonstrations MA Lighting's new onPC Command Wing.

During the 'Wing It' roadshow, from 10-20 April 2012, Nick will visit rental companies and theatres in Johannesburg (10 - 16 April), Durban (17-18 April) and Cape Town (19-20 April). "The MA onPC Wing is like having the power of a big MA in a briefcase," says Nick.

For more info on the tour, contact: technical@dwrdistribution.co.za

(Lee Baldock)

UK - Artistic Licence Engineering will be using PLASA Focus as a platform from which to launch a plethora of new products. Two new product ranges (Rack Pack and Zone Control) have been developed for release at the show alongside a new splitter and a modular advancement in the Multichrome Range.

The latest addition to Artistic Licence's Rack Pack range, dVnet is a digital video to network converter housed in a 19-inch rack case. It is aimed at retail and architectural applications where a media facade or any pixilated display is to be controlled by video without the complexity of a media server.

dVnet is all a light artist needs to convert their video creation - or any HDMI source - to light. Configuration is simplicity itself, with less than ten mouse clicks required to render video to a media wall.

dVnet can also playback video clips loaded onto its internal hard drive, eit

Beatlemania - Let it Be, a tribute show to The Beatles, will open in the West End this September. The show - a new version of Rain, which ran on Broadway in 2010/11 - will run at the Prince of Wales Theatre for a limited season from 14 September 2012 until 19 January. The Prince of Wales is where The Beatles played a Royal Variety Performance in 1963 and the show will mark 50 years since the band's first single Love Me Do. It is the first time that the grand theatrical rights to The Beatles' back catalogue have been granted by Sony/ATV for a West End production.

No Show - The Sonisphere rock festival has been cancelled, organisers have confirmed. A web statement said they had fought hard to keep it going but that "a very challenging year" meant the event wouldn't have satisfied fans and the artists. The event was to take place at Knebworth P

UK - Entertainment lighting specialist White Light supplied equipment and support services to Mr Dickens and the Actors, the recent production marking the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens held at London's Guildhall and attended by The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.

The event featured some of Britain's leading actors - including Sir Derek Jacobi, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Bond, Stephanie Cole, Matthew Kelly and Samantha Spiro as well as performers from the Chicken Shed theatre company - performing some of Dickens' most memorable characters, from novels including Great Expectations, Oliver Twist and Nicholas Nickleby. The event was held in support of the Royal Theatrical Fund, of which the Queen is patron.

White Light was brought in to help with the project by Peter Roberts and lighting designer Alistair Grant, to provide both a lighting rig to transform

UK - Production Lighting, training and safety services supplier MattLX has announced a new website at www.mattlx.com. Launched to coincide with the release of the company's new lighting services brochure, the complimentary web design is easier to navigate and reaffirms an ongoing commitment to provide customers with relevant and accurate information.

Creative and managing director, Matt Clutterham said, "Since the company was formed in 2006, we have been lighting some of the biggest and brightest shows and events in the UK and abroad and we thought it was about time we reflected that in our web site. We are sure it provides a better insight into what we do, how we approach it and how our design focus, work ethics, attention to detail and theatrical flair make us stand out from the crowd.

"Apart from lighting one of the key features of the site is the extensive traini

Latest Issue. . .

Save
Cookies user preferences
We use cookies to ensure you to get the best experience on our website. If you decline the use of cookies, this website may not function as expected.
Accept all
Decline all
Analytics
Tools used to analyze the data to measure the effectiveness of a website and to understand how it works.
Google Analytics
Accept
Decline
Advertisement
If you accept, the ads on the page will be adapted to your preferences.
Google Ad
Accept
Decline