Rigging / Staging

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14 March 2016

Cinimod Studio, architecture and lighting design specialists, commissioned Litestructures to realise the next incarnation of their designs inspired by Itsu's butterfly motif. The original concept had already been brought to life as bright and animated sculptures across a number of its London outlets. The new brief challenged Litestructures' design and fabrication team to come up with something far more spectacular. The finished structure comprises a floating, twisting sculptural form that creates a strik

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14 March 2016

This year the BRIT Awards with MasterCard relocated to The 02 after a 13 year residency in Earls Court, creating challenges and opportunities for the events production managers in the way that they chose to utilize the space available in this new and unique arena.

To ease this transfer process and help optimise the layout of the ceremony evening, The Arena Group carefully positioned its temporary structures to make use of this large space. By transforming the area available into a pristine temporary party venue within the 02 The BRIT Awards with MasterCard were able to host the pre and post celebrations comfortably in their new home.

The Arena Group built a 40mx70m TFS structure inside the outer space of the

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14 March 2016

Courses were limited to eight people per session, although such was the demand that 10 were accommodated on the final course. The cross section of attendees represented all areas of the industry and included venue personnel, freelancers and sound, lighting & staging rental companies. Three technicians from BBC Northern Ireland were there along with two from University College Dublin.

Freelancer Phil McVeigh used the course as an invaluable all round 'primer' opportunity before going on to successfully complete his National Rigging Certificate (NRC) Level 2 in the UK the following week.

Th

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14 March 2016

Founded in 1984, with offices in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, Bytecraft Entertainment specialises in supplying lighting, drapery and LED screen systems to a wide range of entertainment and event markets. "This acquisition will be hugely beneficial to our customers," says Found. "PRG's global reach, depth of inventory and technical expertise will provide many opportunities for our existing clients."

PRG chairman and CEO Jere Harris comments: "With the acquisition of Buytecraft, we will be able

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14 March 2016

Mirrors can now be integrated onstage with the options of invisibility, projection, reflection, and holographic effects, says the company. The mirror foil weighs just 70g/m2 with a choice of three transparency levels. Made to measure mirrors can be mounted on truss or custom frames.

The giant glassless mirrors have recently featured in Es Devlin's stage design for the Dresden Opera Faust Margarete.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Working alongside construction firm NCC, Stage Technologies provided a complete refit of the building's stage system and machinery as part of a £7m renovation project led by the city of Karlstad. The new power-flying system includes 31 power flying sets (comprising BigTow winches, fly bars and pulleys); Nomad and Solo desk control; an eight-axis grid trolley system formed of point hoists and positional control chain hoists for easier rigging; three automated lighting bars; and replacement control for the orchestra lift and house curtain. Co

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14 March 2016

ENTECH 2011, which takes place at SCEC on 19 - 21 July 2011, will now include a new stream in its educational program featuring international speakers from PLASA's extensive global membership base.

Over 4000 visitors are expected to register for ENTECH 2011, and attendance at the seminars will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Visitors will be able to secure their seats for a seminar via the ENTECH website in the coming weeks.

PLASA's CEO, Matthew Griffiths said: "We are pleased to be involved in one of the premium industry events in Australia. We see this alliance as a great opportunity to support the future development of our indust

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14 March 2016

Combined, the two companies offer a spread of solutions for lifting and control applications within the entertainment industry - from a theatre hand winch to an automated BGV C1 C-Force hoist and control solution with variable speed, positional control and load monitoring.

COW Lifting Technology will show the C-Force range of electric chain hoists, winches and control systems. C-Force products specialise in fixed or variable speed hoist and control systems to BGV C1 and up to SIL 3 performance standards.

LTM will show the popular LoadGuard electric chain hoists in capacities from 250kg to 5 tonnes as standard rigging hoists and to all current European entertainment standards such as the British Hoisting Entertainment Standard BS 79

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14 March 2016

"Tomcat is honoured to have provided training to the professionals that attended the workshops. We hope they had a positive learning experience during all the workshop activities and that they will take this knowledge and put it into practice in their daily activities and to safely working in the entertainment technology environment," stated Stefano Rosellini, general manager of Tomcat.

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14 March 2016

The two-day Education & Learning Programme proved a major success last year and this year PLASA Events have added a new strand of product demonstrations and training to the popular mix of case studies and seminars. The sessions run alongside a two-hall exhibition of new technology and are free to attend.

Kicking off the case studies is the RSC. The RSC's Vince Herbert, Jeremy Dunn and Adam Harvey - responsible for lighting, sound and stage automation respectively - will be joined by Jonathan Porter-Goff from Stage Electrics in a session entitled Build a Theatre, Rebuild Another and Refurbish a Third. This will be an opportunity to learn

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14 March 2016

The custom-built, 40ft-high chandelier in the Winspear Opera House in Dallas which features 318 cast acrylic rods that vanish as the house lights dim before a production begins. Clancy technology made it possible for the rods to move in synchronized patterns and retract into the ceiling smoothly and rapidly, powered by 44 custom-design winches with up to eight lines per winch.

Clancy's PowerAssist allows you to motorize new or existing counterweight sets economically. This eliminates handling counterweights, simplifying operations. PowerAssist can be provided with Up / Down pushbuttons, or with the SureTarget preset position co

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14 March 2016

Michael Reed, president and founder of Reed Rigging, said, "I recognised the potential of XLNT CyberHoist as a special product on its US tour debut, Phil Collins' Last Final Farewell World Tour. As motion control has become an increasingly important tool for artists, designers and producers, I and our production rigging manager, Neil Montour, have compared XLNT CyberHoist with other motion control brands and concluded that nothing matches its combination of acc

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14 March 2016

RG Jones project manager, Tim Speight contacted 5 Star about the project, having been previously impressed by the quality of their products and the excellent service. Phil Lawrence oversaw the supply and delivery for 5 Star.

Speight works with a team co-ordinating all RG Jones' business with The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, for whom the company has been the key audio contractor since 1985. This includes the provision of system design services, installation and on-site engineering support during The Championships. This year, up to 10 RG Jones sound engineers will be on duty every day throughout the Wimbledon Fortnight.

Their brief includes

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14 March 2016

The set was built by London based, John Frost Scenery, specialists in set and scenery construction for over 40 years. "Le Mark's studiotak studio flooring is one of the best out there, really economical to use and gives a stunning high gloss finish, " comments Gary Parker of John Frost Scenery.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

Although only half the delegates were in the main conference area at any one time, Instinctif wanted to make sure that everyone had a clear view of the proceedings. The answer was to construct a self-contained 360° presentation theatre within the 2,773sq.m Madinat Arena.

Dubai-based Unusual Rigging & Engineering was contracted to build a 39m wide octagon which, with a trim height of 12m, was suspended from the roof of the arena. Project manager for Unusual Rigging & Engineering,

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14 March 2016

The project was managed for Cover It Up by Elliot Stennett, and made use of their extensive stock of different coloured velvets, and was asked onboard after working on many previous projects for the Hospital Group and event producer, Selina Robson.

On this occasion, their brief involved the complete draping of the main room, a gala dinner for 350 VIP guests with two stages hosting speeches, awards, live entertainment, plus a separate casino room and after-party area.

"We had to transform this somewhat prosaic warehouse space into a beautiful and glamorous setting for the occasion," reports Stennett, who create

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14 March 2016

Sarah Rushton-Read, co-founder of WiSE (Women in Stage Entertainment) says: "This was our first WiSE Monthly. WiSE members are hugely grateful for the support we received from technical manager for the Southbank Complex, Roger Hennigan, GrandMA's Philip Norfolk and Chris West and Martin Professional's Matthew Pittman, who provided a number of fixtures, a load of Pret Sandwiches and some delicious Pizza. We would also like to thank Coral Cooper for furnishing us with a flask of gin and a huge box of chocolates.

"We have wanted to get a regular networking and education group for WiSE members going for some time. The event is open to any member of WiSE (we now have over 350) intereste

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14 March 2016

Fixed mounts within the Razor Series include models IC32F, IC60F, and IC71F. Capable of accommodating panel sizes ranging from 23 to 71 inches and weights up to 100 pounds, these low-profile mounts complement the slim, contemporary design of today's streamlined displays, placing them just a fraction of an inch away from the wall. Mounting patterns offered among these three models range from 200x100 on up to 800x400, says the company.

(Jim Evans)

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14 March 2016

As well as his in-depth knowledge of J&C Joel's range of PVC projection screens, Wright also has a wealth of experience in working with flame retardant fabrics.

Wright will be based in North London and will be on hand to assist clients in the capital and around the Home Counties.

"After more than 30 years in the industry it's great to work for a company like J&C Joel. I'm looking forward to getting involved and working with the people and products that have given this firm its superb reputation," says Wright.

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14 March 2016

"Tomcat is honoured to support the Kennedy Centre American College Theatre festival as this organisation fosters the educational and creative process of university and college theatre," stated Stefano Rossellini, general manager of Tomcat. "Our company has been supplying the entertainment production market for 23 years, serving customers all over the world and we understand the value of fostering and encouraging the talent, creativity

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14 March 2016

"Well maybe not the longest truss ever, I think Lord Norman Foster might have something to say about that, but certainly the longest truss from standard production industry equipment," says Chris Cronin, the head of Total Solutions Group (TSG) who supplied the truss.

"We have a well established relationship with Staras, Turkey's leading sound and lighting company," continues Cronin. "And we've worked on many a project together since they purchased the

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14 March 2016

Legally Blonde won three awards including best new musical, while the National Theatre's revival of Terence Rattigan's After the Dance collected four awards. Despite being nominated in seven categories, the Phantom sequel Love Never Dies was left empty-handed.

Best Lighting Design went to Neil Austin forThe White Guard at the NT Lyttelton. Also nominated this year were Mark Henderson for After the Dance at the NT Lyttelton; Hugh Vanstone for Deathtrap at the Noel Coward; and Paule Constable for Love Never Dies at the Adelphi. The Award for Best Sound Design went to Adam Cork for King Lear at the Donmar Warehouse. Also nominated were Gareth

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14 March 2016

"We went in to the theatre to begin the three week fit-out, installing the mother truss with 40 chain hoists and tracking beams to help get the steelwork into the basement," explains project manager Simon Stone. "But the Royal Variety Show took place half way through, so the production crew for that came in and took possession, laying their show floor over ours for the duration."

The chain hoists and 300ft of truss above the stage enable the set to be flown in and out of place. But, in a theatre as old as the London Palladium, none of the counterweight sets were heavy

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14 March 2016

New products will include 5 Star's Venue range of general purpose cases. This sees a slight departure for 5 Star, in that the main material used is a lightweight honeycombed polypropylene. This offers significant weight savings over traditional plywood carcass constructed cases, and will be suitable for small to medium sized applications of all types.

A 'nest' of four general purpose carry cases is available, utilising classic 'Russian Doll' methodology, whereby sets of cases in decreasing sizes are placed one inside the other for neat storage when not in use.

Other than the polypropylene panels, the case is furnished with the usual flight case type