La Soirée presents a 'twisted take on cabaret and variety'. Playing to audiences of 900 people a night, the show takes place in a spiegeltent sandwiched between the National Theatre and Royal Festival Hall.
This is the second time Point Source Productions, working in conjunction with Dan Watkins of The Production Desk, has worked with lighting designer, Willie Suddon, having provided the lighting equipment for last year's La Clique show at the Roundhouse.
Point Source Productions' equipment includes Litec trussing, cabling and power distribution, lighting control via an Avolites Pearl, and all exit and emergency lighting. Dimming is in the form of the new 48-way Jands FPX touring dimmer, with Point Source Productions' the first company in the country to add the 48-way version to its hire stock.
The exterior courtyard lighting includes 500m of festoon harness which draws the audience into a foyer and bar areas. These are lit by colourful washes from a series of Strand Codas and CCT Minuettes and with gobo breakups projected from ETC Source Fours.
For the show itself a range of Par 38, Par 56 and Martin MAC 600s provide general washes of colour on the main stage and for the aerial acts, with Martin MAC 550s used to create effects. ETC Source Four Juniors provide front light, while IP-rated exterior Par 64s surround the central circular stage - providing protected up-lighting to one cabaret act employing water in their routine.
A combination of Minuette Fresnels, Coda 1s and MR16 Birdies light a smaller podium stage towards the rear of the tent. Further MR16 Birdies, each with integral transformers, act as downlighters on the tent's mirrored pillars which encircle the main stage.
Point Source Productions has also provided the smoke solutions: Hazebase Base Caps and a JEM AF-1 fan are set into a table on the podium stage and play an integral part in the performance, while general smoke effects and ambience are created with two Smoke Factory Tour Hazer II and Data II units. The cabaret acts are highlighted using a Robert Juliat Super Korrigan followspot.
(Jim Evans)
