Rigging / Staging

UK structure houses Earth Summit exhibition

Details: 14 March 2016

MoonBurst Structures Ltd, the Sheffield, UK-based company has supplied equipment and services to the World Summit On Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa through their technology partner, Gearhouse South Africa Pty. JOWSCO, the organizer of the world environmental summit in Johannesburg, used Tensile 1 to house the Ubuntu Village Exhibition. Tensile 1 is the UK designed and manufactured structure, which holds the Guinness world record for 'World’s Largest Portable Event Venue'. The exhibition runs alongside the summit, which is staged 10 years after the Rio earth summit. The structure has a surface area of 14,500sq.m and houses the whole of the exhibition which includes many national pavilions. The exhibition runs for three weeks and has had an average attendance of 20,000 people per day. The structure is floored throughout and the 18m internal height allows the u

Makalous Joins Tomcat Las Vegas

Details: 14 March 2016

Just over a year ago Tomcat USA Inc opened its first regional distribution facility - Tomcat Las Vegas - and the success of that distribution and service centre has presented the opportunity to expand the products and services as well as the staff. Kevin Makalous joined the Tomcat Las Vegas team as the assistant US sales manager on 16 September. Originally from Kansas City, Missouri, Makalous has over 10 years’ experience in the entertainment industry. "Being a former customer of Tomcat’s and experiencing the quality and commitment to service the company offers, it was a natural fit," said Makalous. The Western Region sales manager and Makalous will be working together to ensure all the West Coast customers’ requirements are met aggressively and consistently.

(Lee Baldock)

https://www.claypaky.it/products/ultimo-hybrid/

Maltbury to supply new Morgan Trussing

Details: 14 March 2016

Established staging manufacturer Maltbury has announced that it has expanded its stock to include Morgan Trussing, a product new to the UK, which will complement Maltbury’s own demountable staging systems. The Morgan alloy trussing combines strength and a sophisticated appearance with unbeatable prices to reflect the qualities of Maltbury’s staging systems. Available in a number of truss styles and sizes the individual truss sections can be connected quickly and simply by using the double-ended conical spigots which slot easily into each truss tube and are secured with a pin and clip. In addition to an array of standard angled and jointed sections, Morgan Trussing can also be custom-made to meet particular requirements.

Morgan Trussing also comes in a range of styles and sizes from slender trussing, which is ideal for indoor work to the 400 x 600mm beams that are perfect fo

Success of PLASA Show boosts business confidence

Details: 14 March 2016

In what can only be described as a milestone event, the Professional Lighting & Sound Association (PLASA) has cause to celebrate after recording one of the most successful shows in its 25-year history. PLASA's annual show confirmed its status once again as the leading international trade show for the entertainment, communications and presentation technology industries, as more than 400 companies from across the globe filled the Earls Court Exhibition Centre in London from 8-11 September, 2002.

13,810 people (subject to ABC Audit), up by 4.2 per cent from last year, visited the PLASA Show to see the array of new product launches, attend the Masterclass Programme, network with industry colleagues and strike up new business relationships. PLASA managing director, Matthew Griffiths, said the show bucked the exhibition industry’s recent downward trend as many exhibitors conducted good

Total Structures in Texas

Details: 14 March 2016

The centrepiece of the State Fair of Texas this year is a spectacular pyro show launched from a huge opening pyramid. Onstage Productions’ Charles Belcher was charged with getting the most spectacular show possible from the organizers budget, and he immediately contacted Total Structures to assist with the design, development, engineering and manufacture of this colossal structure.

The square base pyramid, 50ft square at the base and 50ft high, was a combination of stock truss sizes, custom intersections and mechanical fabrication, while the use of Total Structures OMNI connectors added additional flexibility. The top 15ft of the pyramid opens as four ‘petals’ and the inventive and efficient use of two CM Lodestars and a push rod system provides the maximum 'bang for the buck.'

The lower part of the pyramid is provided with a decking system, whilst the platform for

Online crew resource arrives

Details: 14 March 2016

A new website for freelance professionals and employers in the UK and beyond has been launched at www.freelanceshowstaff.co.uk. The site has taken two years to develop, making it a very versatile and user-friendly service for the whole entertainment industry - a market sector which relies heavily of freelance labour. A mix of useful information combined with valuable functions, the website is designed for both employees and employers. Since its launch earlier this summer, the site has registered over 200 freelancers and 80 companies - from more than 20 different disciplines including audio, lighting, carpentry, rigging, scenery, stage management and wardrobe.

Potential employers can check a specific registered freelancer’s availability or search for new ones, as well as placing job advertisements. They can search by name

Theatres afloat with Stage Technologies

Details: 14 March 2016

Stage Technologies is currently in the process of equipping two new ships with complete rigging and control systems for Princess Cruises. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) is building two giant 113,000gt ships in Nagasaki, Japan, for the cruise line, which will be the largest ever ships ordered by P&O Princess. Matthew Tonks is the project manager for Stage Technologies and believes that the new systems "will enable Princess Cruises to provide their passengers with shows to rival any equivalent on land."

One of the central elements of the Stage Technology system will be its new TanJent system. This prevents scenery from moving around with the pitching and rolling of the boat by guiding the scenery flybars throughout the full travel of the bar.

(Ruth Rossington)

Gaz from Supergrass on Star Hire Vertech stage.

One Big Stage for Radio 1

Details: 14 March 2016

Star Hire (Event Services) Ltd worked closely with the BBC’s live events production team to create the new format for the 2002 series of One Big Sunday shows, seen by live audiences over 300,000 strong and broadcast live on Radio 1.

Radio 1 has been at the fore of the live broadcast events since their pioneering days with the Radio 1 Roadshow. However, ‘Smiley Miley’ and co wouldn’t have recognized the gargantuan stage and state-of-the-art production seen at this year’s series of One Big Sundays. This year Radio 1 promoted four live events, developing a new format, larger-scale production, to ensure the enormous crowds the events attract could enjoy their top pop stars.

Star Hire supplied two systems to match the different production requirements of the events. "There were two distinct production requirements across the four shows due to the artist

Scottish Opera at the Edinburgh Festival.

Maltbury at the Edinburgh Festival

Details: 14 March 2016

When Festival time comes around in Edinburgh, everyone wants a bit more of everything and Glasgow-based Scottish Opera not only puts on its own production at the Festival, but also rents out equipment to other companies.

Over the past few years, the company has hired out staging to the Festival to anti-rake the King's Theatre and this year was to be no exception. But then it was asked to supply a visiting company, Canadian Opera, with stock staging units for the production of Oedipus Rex at the Playhouse Theatre. And Scottish Opera itself needed staging for its own large-scale production of Siegfried . "Next year," explained production manager Steve Green, "Scottish Opera will need around 70 units for our own performances at the festival and I anticipate that we'll continue to supply the festival with staging for the Kings' Theatre. With this in mind I deci

Star Rigging Escape from Experiment Island

Details: 14 March 2016

Star Rigging has been on an adventure to the Isle of Rhum, providing rigging and safety consultancy for ‘Escape from Experiment Island’, a new reality TV show made by the BBC for the Discovery Channel. The show featured selected contestants, in two teams, whose challenge was to traverse across a gorge. The competitor’s had to construct a waterwheel, to drive an alternator, which powered a battery, used to drive their mode of transport across the chasm from ‘assorted components’.

Star Rigging has worked with the BBC on a number of recent programmes when people were working (or acting) at height and safety was as ever, of paramount importance for the BBC for this programme. Star Rigging was contracted to carry out a full risk assessment and oversee safety procedures of the site, sending the experienced Oz Marsh on location throughout the filming, to ensure t

Summit Steel the StreetKa Show

Details: 14 March 2016

Ford kicked off the launch of their new StreetKa at the Paris Motor Show with a spectacular pre-press event at Studio 217, Le Forum de La Plaine. The venue is a shed-style TV studio in the suburb of Aubervilliers.

Rigging specialists Summit Steel, working for production managers John Marriott and Bernie Kearns at production company PCI:Live, helped transform the venue into a magical environment for the press party, held for an invited audience of 400 notoriously hard-to-impress individuals! The set of the ‘Blu Oval Club’ was designed by Martin Grant, and included a central reveal of the new vehicle. Summit’s first job, a week ahead of the event, was to install 530 meters of trussing infrastructure into Studio 217’s roof to support other elements of the technical production - sound (from Delta, SD Paul Keating), lighting (by Essential, LD Gary Collins), soft good

Unusual role for Liberty and Livelihood

Details: 14 March 2016

Following Unusual’s significant infrastructure programme in Central London for The Golden Jubilee celebrations in June, they were contacted by The Countryside Alliance, who had specific infrastructure requirements for what was initially described as a ‘large march’. In the end, over four hundred thousand protestors took part in the Liberty and Livelihood march.

The main requirement of Unusual was to provide a focal point to the march in the absence of a rally at the end. Due to the number of people involved, it was essential that the focal point addressed the need for efficient dispersal at the end of the march. Unusual designed a 28m wide double arch structure to span the width of Whitehall. Two of these units were positioned directly north and south of The Cenotaph. Between the two structures, the marchers were counted and a digital messaging board on the southern a

Star Hire for Scouse House

Details: 14 March 2016

Star Hire (Event Services) Ltd provided the staging for one of the main dance events of the year, Creamfields, held on August Bank Holiday on Speke Airfield, Liverpool. Since the early 1990s Creamfields has set trends and pushed boundaries in terms of the music and events and Creamfields 2002 again set trends by changing the format of the dance festival, introducing a large main stage to the arena. The traditional layout of dance events has been a collection of marquees containing various styles of music, but for the first time Creamfields introduced a main stage into their arena. Star Hire’s 20m Vertech stage created a spectacular focal point for the live acts performing through the evening. Star Hire also supplied the staging for nine of the dance tents.

Live acts on the main stage included dance legends Faithless and Underworld, joined by newcomers including Kosheen and Dirty

The James Taylor Quartet performing at the event at Studio 217, Paris.

Blackout with Ford at Paris Motor Show

Details: 14 March 2016

Drapes specialist Blackout was recently appointed by London-based production house PCI: Live to assist in the realization of Ford’s stunning pre-press launch during the Paris Motor Show. The event was staged at Studio 217, Le Forum de la Plaine - a "shed-style" studio in the Paris suburb of Aubervilliers.

Working closely with freelance production manager, Bernie Kearnes and PCI:Live’s technical director, John Marriot, Blackout’s project managers Tom Lambert and Kevin Monks and their team helped transform this stark venue into a magical environment for the press party. Attended by 400 of the world’s auto press journalists, the event launched the new Ford StreetKa, which has been billed as a modern interpretation of the traditional two-seater roadster. The set of the Blu Oval Club, designed by Martin Grant, was themed to express the corporate identity of

Goldfinger's Rolls Royce is hoisted into position at the Science Museum, London.

Vertigo fly Bond cars at Science Museum

Details: 14 March 2016

Vertigo Rigging engaged in some dramatic vehicular access when they moved, lifted and flew several unique vehicles into position on a second floor balcony at the Science Museum in London, ready for the upcoming ‘Bond, James Bond’ exhibition, celebrating 40 years of 007.The cars included Goldfinger's Rolls Royce, the Aston Martin Vanquish from the new Bond movie Die Another Day and the Aston Martin DB5, the classic Bond Aston Martin that's appeared in Goldfinger, Thunderball and Goldeneye - worth in excess of £250,000. Vertigo also rigged a 7m long ice dragster and a hovercraft from Die Another Day, a speedboat from The World is not Enough, a Parahawk vehicle on skis with a massive fan at the rear and two 6m special effects model aircraft.

Vertigo pre-rigged the lifting system and support trusses on a Saturday night. These were asse

Blackout at the Ryder Cup Gala

Details: 14 March 2016

To celebrate the return of the Ryder Cup Golfing Championships to Europe, drapes specialist Blackout was appointed by production house GLD and the NEC's Events Division to assist in the realization of two sensational Gala evenings. Staged in Hall 12 of the NEC, the first evening, hosted by the PGA as a welcome to both teams was attended by team captains, Sam Torrance and Curtis Strange, all 24 players, their partners and over 1,400 guests. The second was sponsored by the Irish Tourist Board and, with over 800 attendees, promoted the 36th Ryder Cup which will be staged at the K-Club, Co Kildaire, in 2006.

Irish comedian Tony Hawks compered both evenings and every detail pervaded the patriotic Irish craic. A stunning performance by the acclaimed dance troupe 'Lord of the Dance’, followed by a live set from Ronan Keating, combined to offer true Irish musical entertainment. The set,

New Look PLASA Show for 2003

Details: 14 March 2016

In response to feedback from the industry that the PLASA show, at 25 years old, was in need of re-energizing, exciting new plans for the exhibition were unveiled to both exhibitors and press at PLASA 2002.

We took time out with Matthew Griffiths, managing director of show-owners the Professional Lighting and Sound Association (PLASA) and Nicola Rowland, acting show director for organizer Clarion Events, to hear about the plans and their implementation. Matthew Griffiths expands on the background to the decision: "The PLASA show is the leading entertainment, communication and presentation technology show in the world. To maintain this position, the Association realises that the show needs to be a pioneer in adapting to industry change. It also needs to ensure that the visitor experience is kept vibrant, fresh and business-focused.

"After ongoing discussions and regular feedb

Neutrik UK restructures management

Details: 14 March 2016

Neutrik UK Ltd, the specialist in entertainment industry connector technology, has undergone a major management restructure during 2002. The new management team, with over 40 years of cumulative pro audio experience, is spearheaded by company director Cheryl Walker, technical sales and marketing director Bob Davies and production director Chris Arnold. Their aims and objectives will be to refocus the company on customer-specific product development, and high quality service and sales support.

Plans are underway to construct a new purpose-built production and sales facility in a green field site in Ryde on the Isle of Wight. The land has been purchased and completion of the new factory is anticipated in mid-summer 2003. Moving the manufacturing plant and the 110 employees from the existing site just three miles away should be complete by the autumn.

The design of the new facility is i

Rigging Posters

Details: 14 March 2016

JR Clancy, specialist in the design and manufacture of rigging systems for theatres around the world, has produced a series of posters designed to demonstrate how theatrical rigging systems work. Originally intended as catalogue illustrations only, the company has had repeated requests to make the images available to end users, new employees, architects, general contractors and students. As a result, they are now offering readers of L&SI the chance to obtain the set of 20” x 28”colour posters - which depict both manual and motorized rigging systems - for free. You can request the posters via the literature section of the JR Clancy website at www.jrclancy.com.

International Church Music Festival at Coventry Cathedral

Details: 14 March 2016

For over 18 years, the International Church Music Festival has been uniting musicians from around the world. The annual festival is held alternately in Coventry, England and Bern, Switzerland and 500 - 1000 musicians from over ten countries on five continents gather to sing and enjoy sacred choral music under the leadership of world-renowned musicians such as English conductor Sir David Willcocks.

This year the four-day festival was held at Coventry Cathedral and ran from June 20. The press and marketing manager for the festival, Veronica Meredith, called upon Maltbury dealer Stagepoint Technical Services to supply them with a demountable staging system. Stagepoint supplied 150 units of Maltbury's mid-weight staging system, Metrodeck, which was installed on the evening of 19 June and arranged in a raked formation from 200mm to 3m high. Creating the largest tiered platform ever used in

Star Hire's Star Stage in action with CiTV.

Star Hire shows new stage branding at Showman’s Show

Details: 14 March 2016

Star Hire (Event Services) Limited exhibited two of its mobile StarStages at this year’s Showman’s Show, featuring recently introduced branding scrims and headers. Throughout 2002, Star Hire has worked with the UK’s leading brands, ranging from TV and radio stations through to the Prince’s Trust Party in the Park and The Queens Golden Jubilee Baton Relay, sponsored by Cadbury.

"We have noticed a trend for an increasing number of events wanting to present either their own brand, or that of sponsors, in a highly visible and professional manner," said Jane Russen, Mobile StarStage manager. "The stage, being the focal point of any event, is a key area of branding, which is why we have developed a number of opportunities for branding our stages."

The CiTV 10-08 StarStage highlighted a ‘bespoke’ solution created by Star Hire for one o

AVW Controls for sunny Cyprus theatres

Details: 14 March 2016

Stage automation specialist AVW Controls has spent the past months jetting all over Europe to supply control systems for a range of prestigious projects. In between, it has supplied two theatres in Cyprus with systems without even getting on a plane. Proving that AVW’s systems are user-friendly, both systems were designed and manufactured in the UK before being shipped to Cyprus where local crews assembled them.

Originally built as a cinema in 1930, the Rialto in Limassol has been dogged by bad luck. But four years ago, it underwent a total re-fit to create the Rialto Theatre, since when it has gone from strength to strength and is now recognised as a significant cultural institution. At the time of the re-fit a temporary fore stage was installed and this year, to complete the metamorphosis, MultiStage International contracted AVW to design and manufacture controls for an orchest

Star Rigging spot on at Disney Channel Kids Awards

Details: 14 March 2016

Star Rigging installed their new spot platforms, designed and launched in 2002, into this month's Disney Channel Kids Awards, held in the Docklands Arena in London. Star Rigging provided all the rigging for the televised awards show, which featured stars of the moment including Holly Valance, Gareth Gates, Blue and Liberty X.

The new spot platforms were purpose-built in 2002, as prefabricated structures to provide a safe working area for the technicians on the platforms. The custom-built handrails and lifting points make it a quick and easy system to install. The modular systems are highly adaptable and can be increased as required from 8ft in multiples of 4ft sections. On this occasion there were two single spot platforms, one holding four lights and operators and one adapted to carry the amp rack for Wigwam’s PA. Star Rigging also rigged Wigwam’s flown speaker equipment,

A stunning opening for Miss Saigon

Details: 14 March 2016

The highly anticipated season of Cameron Mackintosh’s Miss Saigon enjoyed a stunning opening at the Edinburgh Playhouse on Thursday 17 October. The lavish musical first graced London’s West End at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane over ten years ago, and has been played in theatres around the world making it one of the most successful musicals in the history of musical theatre.

Creating the touring version of such a large scale musical has required the innovative and dedicated work of many disciplines. Stage Technologies, having worked on numerous Cameron Mackintosh productions in the past, such as The Witches of Eastwick, Oliver! and the Netherlands production of Miss Saigon, were pleased to have been asked to rise to the challenge once more and provide the stage automation for the tour.

The show itself is highly automated and Stage Technologies ha

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