PRG's account director Mick Healey worked with lighting designers Jon Pope for Horse Power and Al Gurdon for ITV who later handed over to Nick Collier, to deliver a plan that would satisfy the requirements of lighting the arena and also to illuminate the Pageant show stage and three satellite stages for TV transmission by night. The show was programmed and run by Phil Cole for the arena and Sam MacLaren for television using Chamsys and GrandMa Lighting Consoles.
PRG's Brixton Atkinson-Banner specified a bespoke SmarTmast tower system supporting long runs of truss above the arena seating, allowing the designers to position fixtures to efficiently light the arena and stages. The rig comprised of predominantly moving lights; 220 x VL3500 wash, eight VL3500 spot, 22 x VL3000 spot, 24 x VL2000 wash and four VL1000AS profiles. These were supported by GLP impression LED, Colour Blast LED, 12 Flown Follow-Spots and a handful of Source 4 profiles to light The Royal Box. The use of gobos was discouraged for the Horse Show as there was a chance the horses could be spooked.
PRG's senior event manager, Rich Gorrod ran a large crew of lighting technicians for two weeks on site, with production manager Chuck Crampton to deliver the show regardless of the unusually adverse weather.
Lighting designer John Pope said, "PRG supplied a very strong crew. Rich and the whole team were excellent. I was particularly impressed by how well they utilised knowledge from the teams previously involved with Military Tattoos, which led to their outstanding preparation. Despite the bad weather with plenty of rain and high winds, PRG created an extremely successful show."
The Royal Windsor Horse Show is the largest outdoor equestrian show in the UK. It took place in the grounds at Windsor Castle from 9-13 May. This year's show marked the Diamond Jubilee and included a Pageant, resulting in this show being bigger and better than ever before. The Pageant show featured stars such as Dame Helen Mirren, Rolf Harris and Susan Boyle and will be broadcast by ITV in June as part of The Jubilee Celebrations.
(Jim Evans)
