UK - PLASA Focus Leeds returns to the city’s Royal Armouries from 14-15 May with two sold-out show floors and a bigger-than-ever programme. A record number of people have registered to attend the popular trade show, which promises to deliver an abundance of brands from across the pro audio, AV, lighting and staging sectors alongside a packed programme of seminar sessions, panel discussions, training events and more.
On the show floor, over 200 brands will span two halls, with Ambersphere proudly returning as headline sponsor. Many of the exhibitors will showcase their latest products, with several UK debuts to look out for.
Lighting brands include Avolites, Beamz, Chauvet Professional, Elation Professional, ETC, GLP, Highlite International, Martin Professional, Prolight, Robe, Roxx, TMB, and Vari-Lite.
Pro audio brands include Allen & Heath, Audio-Technica, Bose, d&b audiotechnik, DPA Microphones, EM Acoustics, FBT, Funktion-One, Martin Audio, Nexo, Peavey, RCF UK, Riedel and Shure.
Staging and rigging brands include AED Group, Alustage, Area Four Industries, Chainmaster, CM-ET, Doughty Engineering, Dirty Rigger, Just Rigging & Inspections, Rigging Services, Rigging Team, Rope and Rigging, Trilite, Triple E, and UK Rigging.
Plus, several AV brands will be at the show, including Bosch, Green Hippo, LANG UK, PSCo and ROE Visual.
This year’s PLASA Focus Leeds programme is the biggest ever, with sessions addressing some of the most talked about topics, alongside creative and technical presentations from leading industry figures. The programme is sponsored by Vectorworks who will deliver two sessions: Spotlight and ConnectCAD on Tuesday and pre-production and workflows on Wednesday.
The programme has a focus on the future with sessions on AI and technical theatre with the University of Lincoln; cybersecurity with Singularity; the EU Digital Product Passport with RH Consulting and TAZAAR; and entertainment in video games with Copper Candle.
Careers are also high on the agenda with sessions on networking hosted by Rosco; employability with Soulsound; and motherhood with Women in Lighting. Plus, Bradford – 2025’s UK City of Culture - will be on the hunt for talented creatives. All attendees are also invited to The Making of Live Events, a special video launch by Adlib to promote career opportunities across the sector.
Lighting professionals can learn more about their craft in sessions on CRI and LED with Robe; technology and design with the ALPD; and sustainable lighting rigs with White Light.
Audio professionals have plenty to dive into, with sessions on spatial audio with Outboard TiMax and Sonosphere; how power supplies can affect sound quality with Solotech, SSE Audio and KV2 Audio; creative technology with the ASDP; ‘good sound’ with the University of Derby; and sports arena sound systems with Nexo.
Several industry organisations also will present at the show. The Power of Events and LIVE will unpack data from the recent freelancer survey; the ABTT will outline that latest from the Technical Standards for Places of Entertainment; BECTU will discuss the cost-of-living crisis; Create Britain will explain their new regional ecosystem; HSE will advise on health & safety; and PLASA will discuss wellbeing and personal resilience.
Burgeoning lighting designers are invited to attend introductory workshops with ChamSys on MagicQ and QuickQ. And more advanced lighting professionals can learn about timecoded cue stacks, group cues and group FX, and GeNetix network distribution. These sessions have limited spaces and have already proven extremely popular, so visitors are encouraged to sign up via the show website and arrive early to guarantee a space.
Audiophiles can immerse themselves in live demos hosted by KV2 Audio who are launching their EX-28, and Sound Technology who will demonstrate the SSL Live console platform. These drop-in sessions will run throughout the show.
Meanwhile, the outside courtyard at PLASA Focus Leeds provide a quality selection of hot food and drinks vendors, as well as a live DJ sponsored by innovative European audio brand SOWA.
Plus, if anyone at the show needs quiet place or safe space, the Eventwell Hub will be open throughout the show, offering a serene environment for those who may feel overwhelmed or have experienced something unsettling. The Eventwell Hub will be located on the first floor and clearly signposted.
Sophie Atkinson, PLASA’s head of events, comments: “This year’s PLASA Focus Leeds is in a really strong position, with brands and organisations from all walks of the industry coming together to share their technological offerings and their expertise and ideas. We say it every year, but there really is something for everyone at the show this year - the programme is bigger than ever and there are plenty of new names to say hello to. Not to mention, the new and improved courtyard which is always a popular spot to mingle and relax. I hope you’ll join us, along with the spring sunshine!”
PLASA Focus Leeds continues to be a go-to event for the entertainment technology industry, based on its friendly atmosphere and accessible layout. Join your colleagues in Leeds this year at the Royal Armouries from 14-15 May. Register free and browse the programme at www.plasaleeds.com
