NT invests in MAC Ultra Performance
- Details
Matt Drury, head of lighting, explains: “In the Olivier we needed a punchier fixture and had been looking at an alternative source prior to lockdown. We knew that by 2022 we would need something of that ilk but during the interruption the MAC Ultra Performance and MAC Ultra Wash came along, and they did so at just the right time.
“In addition to being an automated LED fixture with greater power, it has a complementary colour palette to our Martin MAC Encores.”
The lighting team initially used lockdown to carry out its own evaluation before deciding. “Sound Technology set up the demo via Zoom during lockdown - which was brave and bold,” stated Drury. “At the same time, we also considered other brands.” This was later followed with an on-site demo.
On the final evaluation panel were members of the lighting department, including Jack Williams, Olivier lighting supervisor, Marc Williams, lighting ops manager, Daniel Murfin, lighting control manager and Paul Hornsby, lighting resources manager, and Drury himself.
The acquisition also coincided with an upgrade of the main overhead lighting position. According to Drury, the original accessible bridge had a significant footprint, whereas they rationalised that three trusses would create a more flexible solution.
The evolved rig was ready in time for the first use of the MAC Ultras - on the production of Hex, lit by Paul Anderson. “I used the MAC Ultra Performance to great advantage on HEX,” he states. “I have been lighting shows at the National, and particularly the Olivier, for 20 years and these MAC Ultras are a complete revolution. The amount of light that comes out of them is phenomenal - it has all the functionality of Encore, and then some.”
