PRG XL Video relives the 80s with Rewind
- Details
Starting in Scotland at Scone Palace, near Perth, then moving on to Capesthorne Hall in Cheshire, and with the final weekend at Henley, the festival includes performances from a variety of eighties superstars including Human League, Nik Kershaw, Go West, Level 42, Kim Wilde, the British Electric Foundation, and the Trevor Horn Band.
PRG provides support to production manager, Keith Morris, lighting designer, Martin Nicholas, and video content director, Miguel Riberio, supplying lighting and video technology, and experienced technical crew for all three weekends. Unlike many festivals which take place over a single weekend, sometimes in dual locations, Rewind is a ‘touring’ festival, taking the same production package to different sites over several weeks.
As well as the main stage, the site includes a silent disco, tribute band tent, funfair, and even an inflatable wedding chapel! For the production, PRG XL Video’s senior account manager, Paul McCauley, supplied three large LED screens, plus cameras and PPU system for IMAG. The rear upstage LED wall formed the backdrop to the stage, and two large portrait screens were flown one either side of the stage.
Ian Jones oversaw the video crew on site, which, for the Scottish show, consisted of Chris Johnson, Mark Eisen, Steve Wood, and Fabrizio DiLelio looking after LED, and Rod Williams on cameras. Mark, Steve, and Fabrizio also doubled as cameramen over the weekend. The side screens were used to display a combination of IMAG footage from the cameras, and content created by Miguel Riberio.
The side screens were a new addition for 2017, and Miguel took full advantage of them, creating content which spread out from the centre screen and across the side screens, which made for an immersive experience for the enthusiastic crowd.
PRG XL’s director of music, Yvonne Donnelly Smith worked with lighting designer Martin Nicholas to supply lighting for both the main stage, and for the silent disco, which takes place in a large marquee tent on the Friday evening of each weekend, and after darkness on the other evenings.
For the main stage a package of GLP impression X4, PRG Icon Beam, 2Lite Molefays, and VL3000 spot fixtures were used. These were complemented by a set of Sky Pan and Arri 10Kw vintage lights, which Martin restored and maintains himself. Martin used an Avolites Pearl desk for control. The lighting crew for Scotland was overseen on site by Kal Butt, and included crew chief Paul Makin, Simon Swift, Mark Clough, and Richard Griffin. Technicians Mark Scrimshaw, and Dave ‘Lights’ Beazley looked after the silent disco lighting, which included an almost mandatory mirrorball.
Festival goers were enticed to take part by two Supernova searchlights, which threw beams into the sky to let everyone know the disco was open.
Yvonne Donnelly Smith sums up: “Rewind is a great fun event to work on. PRG has been involved for several years, and Martin’s design grows in tandem with the popularity of the festival. Keith, Martin, Miguel and the team are a pleasure to work with.”
(Jim Evans)
