Tomcat
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Rigging / Staging
Rose Brand
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Ice on Stars
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Star Vertech crews have installed the large platforms in Newcastle, Dublin, Glasgow and Warwick, with another going into Leeds Millennium Square in January. Phil Addyman has managed the projects, commenting: "The Vertech staging system has proven popular for ice-rinks as it provides a very stable base and as it is designed to be installed quickly it saves time and money over other systems."
In addition to supporting the weigh
Sunbaba backdrop for Quest
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A huge 135 sqm full colour backdrop being used for the event was digitally printed by Sunbaba Screens on the company's "Ultra-Mesh" fabric, while a number of smaller screens were designed and printed to hang over the doors of the temporary structure which houses the production.
Trevor Booth, technical director of Sunbaba Screens explained: "We worked closely with Quest to produce a backdrop which would suit their precise requirements and set the scene for the production. We have worked with David and his team before and it was great to be involved with a theatrical production of thi
Christmas Star
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Project manager, Phil Addyman said: "This used to be a quiet time of year for us, but we are amidst a very busy December season of outdoor shows, supplying Vertech ice-rink platforms and these rolling riser stage shows emphasize how the company has moved forward to be busy at all times of the year."
Star Events Group will finish the year with New Years shows as far a-field as Edinburgh Hogmanay and Milan (the latter managed by the new international arm of the company; Star Orbit Italia).
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
New additions at Tomcat UK
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The company say that the impact of this new team will be that Tomcat UK will be able to offer a much wider range of services to its customers including technical appraisal, site surveys, theatrical installations and also the supply of industrial lifting and mechanical handling equipment and structures, which will be dealt with through its Lifting and Handling Solutions division based at Bromborough, utilizing the skills of Dickson, Jordan and Lockwood.
Lockwood, who joins Tomcat UK as a sales engineer, first started in the industry as a welder for James Thomas Engineering in 1990. Working his way through the company, Lockwood ran the welding shop for approximately two years. With his k
E//T//C and Summit celebrate New Year in London
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The projections were part of London Lights a pyrotechnic and lighting extravaganza designed to catch the spirit of London as the year rolled over and reinforce the city's bid for the 2012 Olympics. The event took place along the Thames, encompassing the South Bank between Jubilee and Westminster Bridges, including landmarks like the London Eye and Big Ben. Over 135,000 people on the streets, plus TV audiences of several million enjoyed it live.
E//T//C's Ross Ashton decided to change the projection format slightly for this event, covering the full surface of the building with eight PIGI 6Kw projectors. (In the past, they've used 6 for the images, with two for accompanyin
A hat-trick for Stage Technologies
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Stage Technologies' rental department has never been busier. In addition to these most recent productions, the company is ensuring round-the-clock support for in excess of 50 theatre venues around the world and also automation equipment on film and television shoots. The company offers access full diagnostics and give remote support on many projects, without the need to visit the venue.
The company says that 2004 has been an exciting year for rental automation design, proving that this technology is accessible to small a
Imagination for Sports Personality 2004
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Working closely with the BBC executive producer Paul Davies, Imagination was able to create a visually arresting space for the awards, which not only hosted the live television programme but also a pre and post transmission party for over 600 VIP guests.
This year's environmental set included multiple interview staging areas, graphic treatments on the stage and floor as well as lighting and projection design. Imagination has a long-standing relationship with the BBC having worked with them on environmental sets for such programmes as Newsnight and Sports series On-Side
Powerlift from J.R. Clancy
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J.R. Clancy's PowerLift technology offers several advantages over conventional rigging systems, according to Tom Young, vice-president of sales and marketing. "We've combined our experience with new materials and manufacturing processes to develop the PowerLift, offering reliable motorized rigging at an affordable price," Young said.
PowerLift eliminates both the need to handle counterweights to keep sets in balance. When using PowerLift in new buildings, the stage house can be smaller than is necessary
British Harlequin release its house magazine
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From America news of Harlequin's largest ever installation of Liberty Sprung floors at Florida State University in Tallahassee, as well as a special installation at the Lincoln Center in New York. Elsewhere in the issue Rachel Rist, president of IADMS writes a timely warning on the risks of dancing on the 'wrong type' of dance floor, a subject also highlighted in a recent House of Commons Report.
Anyone involved in dance who would like to receive a free copy of Harlequinade can sign up via the contact details below.
Total Respect
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Darracott will be heading up a new business, called "Xolve", which is dedicated to providing manufacturing companies with specialist technical and management resources. Although it is not restricting itself to the entertainment market, Xolve is certain to provide our industry with valuable and much needed support.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
<I>Wicked</I> on tour
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Wicked Tour Productions asked Tomcat USA to make some custom items for the tour. The company designed and manufactured a 132' span of electric truss - based on a custom version of the EDDY Award winning TOMCAT Swing Wing Truss. The span was designed to come in three sections, each measuring 36" x 30" X 44'.
In addition, Tomcat was also asked to build four sets of lighting towers, as well as a cyc boom and cyc trusses. Each tower is 25" x 30", with h
Adamson on the move
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(Lee Baldock)
RSAMD announces TPA 05
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Triple E and Black Light have joined the list of course sponsors this year and will exhibiting alongside PRG Europe, Le Mark, Rosco, Rope Assemblies, White Light, Zero 88, Autograph Sales and Hall Stage. Also new to the show will be Lift, Turn, Move and Learn 2B Safe, as well as several industry organizations such as the ABTT, SMA, PSA, PLASA and the ALD, many o
LTM adds another team member
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Hobday graduated from Stafford University with a Business degree and then joined industrial marine specialists Cosalt, where she worked in the lifting department, handling several major corporate clients. She brings her considerable knowledge in this specialist area to LTM as well as a new outlook and plenty of enthusiasm. "I'm really thrilled to be working with LTM," she says. "It's a different area with lots of new challenges and some excellent people."
LTM's John Jones is equally happy to be building his team this quickly after the company's launch at PLASA 2004. "Jenny is the ideal
Another Grand order for Stage Technologies
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The Crown Princess is the fifth 'grand class' cruise ship to be built by Fincantieri in its Monfalcone shipyard in Italy. Just days before the end of the year Stage Technologies was awarded a contract, by HMS Italia SA, for the supply of the stage automation control and the power flying system for this ship which will go into service in spring 2006. The system will comprise twenty-one fixed speed and forty-two variable speed axes.
All eight of the grand class cruise ships currently in service have Stage Technologies Acrobat control systems in the main theatre, and several also feature the Juggler control system in the aft lounges. All but the original Grand Pr
MPH'04
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This was just the second year of the show at Earls Court, and already it's growing; PMI and Simon Aldridge appear to have brought a new and burgeoning marriage of live and static presentation into the exhibition world, a marriage that will surely have others looking frantically for an eligible partner.
Steve Sinclair has been part of the presentation team for the past two events and describes the differences between this and conventional car expo: "Some content elements appear familiar, there's a gallery of 90 or so vehicles, sponsored by HR Owens, but these aren't ordinary cars; we're talking testosterone motoring Ferraris and Mas
London's Eye on the New Year
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Although tempered by news of the Asian Tsunami - a two-minute silence was held before the display and certain elements of the projection and light show were removed - the overall reaction from audience and press was that London had got this New Year's Eve event absolutely right. Jack Morton Worldwide (JMW) designed and produced the entertainment and managed the logistics for the event. JMW project director Jeremy Garbett and his team worked for months in advance to co-ordinate and accommodate the various council and public safety concerns.
Fireworks were obviously the major element of the show and French designer Christophe Berthonneau and his team from
Harlequin floors for Copenhagen Opera
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The Opera House, used by Det Kongelige Teater (the Royal Theatre), will host large-scale opera and ballet productions. The main auditorium seats approximately 1,500 people and also benefits from a 200-seat studio theatre and a full-sized orchestral rehearsal room. The Danish Royal Orchestra's rehearsal room is located five floors below the auditorium, 14m belo
ABTT announces Technical Theatre Training
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On Friday 18 February: Knots & Splicing - The course covers the handling of different ropes and tying knots proficiently and safely knots that are useful in a theatre situation. Attendees will learn to differentiate between various natural fibre ropes, splice rope ends and use tools for splicing, etc. Knots including bowline, clove hitch, reef knot, wagon hitch, rolling hitch and sheet bend.
On Friday 4 March: Counterweight Flying - The course objectives are to teach the safe handling of counterweight sets and will cover terminology, parts of a counterweight set, loading and unloading, operating, first line maintenance, single and double purchase systems, putting knots
PLASA@Sea: gateway to cruise markets
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Exploiting this development will be the forthcoming SeaTrade exhibition in Miami (March 15-17) - the largest gathering of cruise line owners, operators and suppliers in the world. One of the main features of the show will be the new 'PLASA at Sea' Pavilion - a showcase of all the latest innovations in entertainment and leisure-based technology. Confirmed exhibitors to date include Barbizon, Vari-Lite, Rose Brand, Rosco, Color Kinetics, Xilver, Martin Professional, Mavco, Teledimensions, Stage Technologies and Snow Master
Stage Electrics goes to Russia in London
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Produced by Greenwich & Docklands Festivals, the eight-hour show embraced cultural song and dance from across Russia to mainstream rock and pop acts. The Alexandrov Military Choir performed with 75 members on stage, its first UK appearance since 1967.
John Radford, Technical Project Manger for Stage Electrics Production Services, worked closely with production manager Colin Nightingale to supply technical event production including provision of staging, lighting, sound, site distribution and LED screen and cam
Global Truss goes for strength
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The F44P is rigid enough to bear even the heaviest of loads with 3mm thick truss walls. Completely hand tig-welded, the F44P is made from extra-strong 6082-T6 aluminium alloy, a corrosion-resistant material three times lighter than steel used in aircraft manufacture. Like all Global Truss products, the F44P bears the TÜV seal of approval. With a wide overhead span of 15 3/4 inches (400mm), the F44P offers space to safely mount lighting equipment and effects of all shapes and sizes. It features a main tube diameter of approximately 2 inches (50mm), with 1-inch (22mm) diagonal bracing
