USA - In its continuing efforts to provide the services its customers need to ensure backstage safety, J. R. Clancy, Inc., has named Anthony Seifritz to the new position of backstage service specialist.

Seifritz's new responsibilities include facilitating repairs at customer venues, providing links to qualified professionals who can conduct backstage inspections, making training available for new and experienced operators, and writing complete equipment estimates.

Seifritz came to Clancy in 1988 as an engineering designer. Over his 25- year career with Clancy, he also has served as an applications engineer and dealer project manager, leading projects that range from elementary school stage rigging to complex systems on cruise ships. His recent projects have included large automated rigging systems for Centro Cultural Corpartes in Santiago, Chile and Messiah College in Grantham

UAE - Showforce was an official event partner to the Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup in Dubai. The two day event, which took place from 19-20 April on the sands of Mina A' Salam, was organised by mamemo productions, owned by Sam Katelia, who originally founded the sport in 2004. As an official partner, Showforce was contracted to supply stage and event crew for all aspects of the event including installation of 3,900m² structural decking, 4,000m² carpeting, 400 running metres of temporary walling and 2,000m² of high quality decoration. In addition, the Showforce crew also provided support to other event partners.

Sonu Bottom, mamemo productions said, "It was an amazing experience to see the Showforce team lead and help all our suppliers achieve their goals. Showforce was the backbone of the event and I cannot thank them enough for accepting all the challenges, last minute cha

UK - Pro Audio Stash (PAS) has launched an innovative new captive nut design - the Threaded Rack Rail Clip Nut. This is set to become the much-anticipated alternative to traditional cage nuts, suggests the company.

The PAS Clip Nuts contain a threaded extrusion which simply and neatly slides over the square rack rails and clips closed - saving masses of time as well as the potential of pain, bruises, stabbings - not to mention the complete and utter frustration that anyone attempting to grapple aged nuts into place will be familiar with.

Once in place, the retaining bolt is then screwed through the Clip Nut in a civilised manner to secure the rack device or panel into place.

Currently PAS's Threaded Rack Rail Clip Nuts are available as standard in black or silver, and with M6, M5 or 10/32 threaded holes.

PAS's Rob Platt syas: "Quite simply, it's the nuts! We have been

UK - In an ongoing commitment to raising the health and safety standards for dancers, Harlequin Floors was exclusive sponsor of the Dance and Lifelong Wellbeing conference which took place on 26 - 28 April at the Royal Academy of Dance and London College of Fashion.

Combining interviews, presentations, panel discussions, demonstration classes and a live performance, the conference brought together leading experts in dance, health, community arts and education to explore the ways in which dance can enhance lives.

"Harlequin Floors is delighted to be a part of such an important event," said Mark Rasmussen, group marketing manager for Harlequin Floors. "Our sponsorship of the conference is further evidence of our commitment to delivering the very highest standards of health and safety for the world's dance community."

Harlequin was present on all thre

UK - Embracing diverse and varied projects has always been Star Events Group ethos and 2013 will be no exception, says the company.

Star Events Group brought its advanced QP (Quasi Parabolic) seating system to the market only three years ago and is already establishing itself as a leading quality seating supplier in the UK.

To continue this growth and development and with a strong focus on training ahead of the season, Star Events ran an extensive two day training exercise with Salima Ltd supplying 20 crew for product specific training.

The two days were split between classroom-style training and hands-on building of specific grandstand layouts. Salima were chosen as they were able to demonstrate the same focus and dedication to safety and service, says Star Events.

Star Events Group reports a much busier than expected season now taking shape, having already signed extende

Olympic Honours - The London 2012 Olympic Games have taken three awards at this year's British Academy of Film and Television Arts Craft Awards. The Olympics opening ceremony picked up a best director award while Super Saturday - when team GB scooped six gold medals - won for best sound. The Paralympics, broadcast on Channel Four, took best digital creativity.

Hamish Hamilton who directed the TV broadcasts of the London 2012 opening and closing ceremonies, was also honoured on the night with a special award in recognition of his "outstanding creative contribution to the industry and his extensive work and accomplishments in his field".

In The Ring - A stage musical based on the hit film Rocky is to open on Broadway. Sylvester Stallone, who starred in and wrote the script for the Oscar-winning 1976 film, is co-producing the theatre version, which will open at t

The Netherlands - Lighthouse of Holland has made available for download a demo version of Martin Professional's ShowDesigner (MSD) lighting and set design software package.

The demo version can be used without the need for a Martin One-Key and is available at www.martinshowdesigner.com.

The MSD demo version contains a ready-to-use scene that matches Martin's M-PC training show file. After a simple registration, the user gets a license immediately. Connection to the MSD demo version can be made via a Martin M-PC or LightJockey as well as Artnet.

(Jim Evans)

UK - The opening day of PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 was tremendously busy, with packed aisles, full seminars, and dozens of new products to see on the show floor.

Here are 10 reasons to join us today:

* Audio legend Tony Andrews delivers his Keynote Speech What is Good Audio?

* Martin Audio debuts the MLA Mini

* Ambersphere presents Clay Paky and the Laws of Physics

* Award winning sound designer Gareth Fry gives his seminar Creative Manipulation of Sound

* d&b audiotechnik tell you Why Size Matters

* The ABTT discuss qualifications and competence in the technical theatre sector

* Jon Burton presents How to Soundcheck

* Focusrite deliver their workshop for recording engineers

* Lunch is on us!

* Registration is free on arrival

With all of this on offer and more, PLASA Focus: Leeds 2013 is a show you simply cannot afford to mis

UK - Stage Electrics has announced a management buy-out (MBO) of the business from the estate of David Whitehead. The MBO was fully supported and agreed by David Whitehead prior to his stepping down from the role of managing director in May 2012 as a way to position Stage Electrics for future growth and security, the company says. David Whitehead sadly passed away in February 2013 after a courageous fight against cancer.

The new shareholders - Trevor Smallwood, Dan Aldridge, Bob Smith, James Irvine, Anna Western, Adam Blaxill, Adrian Searle and Ian Tregaskis - combine considerable business experience with a strong knowledge of the entertainment technology industry. Under the new ownership structure, Trevor Smallwood will continue as chairman of the board and the company's executive directors remain unchanged.

Dan Aldridge commented: "Stage Electrics is in a solid position

UK - Flightcase manufacturer 5 Star Cases is sponsoring British Touring Car Championship (BTCC) racing driver Jack Goff.

5 Star join a number of other high profile professional entertainment industry players including Robe, HSL, AC Entertainment Technologies, Green Hippo, J&C Joel and LS Live, who are enthusiastically supporting Goff's first season on the BTCC grid.

Goff is part of Tony Gilham's Team HARD / RCIB Insurance Racing - following his win of the 2012 AirAsia Renault Clio UK Championship.

5 Star's Keith Sykes comments, "It's really exciting to be involved with Jack's rapidly accelerating career. He is highly talented and completely dedicated as well as having a really great personality, and we wish him all the best for a great season ahead.

"Already with two race meetings under our belts it's proved to be a great day out and there is some serious camarad

UK - As an industry leader in advanced technology flooring for dance, the performing arts and display, Harlequin also offers a range of accessories including portable, freestanding or wall-mounted ballet barres to suit every client's budget and demands.

The ballet barre is essential for warm-up and stretching exercises and plays a crucial part in a dancer's fitness regime. Both professional and amateurs can minimise the risk of injury by stretching properly to increase blood-flow to the muscles and improve flexibility whilst achieving an elegant stance.

"Whether you choose Harlequin's portable freestanding or permanent wall-mounted ballet barres, you'll realise they are almost a prerequisite for any dancer," says the company. "Comfortable and sturdy freestanding ballet barres are available in a beech or smooth silver aluminium finish and a range of sizes while s

South Africa - SA Fashion Week Spring/ Summer 2013 collections, coordinated by director Lucilla Booyzen, was held from 11-15 April at the Rosebank Hotel, Johannesburg. SA Fashion Week was launched in 1996 and Mauritz Jacobs from Dream Sets has worked on this fashion production for the past 12 years.

As the parking area at the Rosebank Hotel is transformed into a venue to showcase some of South Africa's finest designers, the street lamps in the enormous marquee are the only give-away that you are not, in fact, attending an international fashion event. Thick draping blocks out daylight and the ground is neatly covered with carpeting to create a clean cut looking event. Each show was sold out.

Two seasonal events are held annually in Johannesburg to introduce the Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter Collections of a given year. "Lucilla has amazing vision and leadership and every

UK - The Panalux Broadcast & Event team provide specialist, creative solutions to the television, film, live event and concert touring industries. Home to an extensive selection of modern lighting, rigging and control equipment, Panalux B&E has grown steadily over the past few years to become a firmly established, well respected production resource.

With a reputation built not just on service and equipment but on relationships and a willingness to assist throughout every stage of the production cycle, the B&E team remains committed to facilitating the smooth transition of client ideas from concept to completion.

Recent investment and expansion has seen the introduction of a myriad of new products to the B&E equipment range, with a strong focus on new technologies and the design and development of 'own brand' product, created specifically to meet the specific needs of the enter

UK - Motorised systems specialist Triple E's rigid and robust Unitrack system has facilitated smooth scene changes during Leeds-based Northern Ballet's UK tour of The Great Gatsby.

The dance company's technical manager Steven Wilkins worked closely with set designer Jerome Kaplan to devise a set comprising five sets of portal legs that would track on and off stage to different positions to create the various scenes.

"The portal legs were to be moved by the dancers and had to move freely and easily," says Wilkins. "As always at Northern Ballet we set about converting the designer's model into a 3D virtual world to prove that the show will work in the diverse range of venues we tour to. Once we'd worked out the weight of the scenic pieces and that it was within the safe working load of the track Unitrack was an easy choice.

"I choose Triple because e

Sweden - Le Mark's newly appointed export team leader, Hannah Attfield, was on hand to support Swedish distributor Primetime at the 2013 LLB exhibition in Stockholm.

Running for three days, the show drew in some of the biggest names in theatre, TV and stage production.

Primetime, one of Le Mark's key Scandinavian distributors, reported an excellent level of interest in all products including the MagTape professional gaffer tape and ever growing Dirty Rigger gloves & accessories range.

Hannah Attfield commented: "Primetime and their staff are one of the most professional teams I've ever dealt with. They fully understand our products and offer outstanding service to their customers which is so important when distributing and representing our established brands."

(Jim Evans)

UK - Following a period of extensive testing and strong customer feedback the all new Armordillo will show case at the Safety & Health show.

Steve Marshall, chief designer for Dirty Rigger notes: "The Armordillo project was 100% customer driven with their need to have a comfortable all day work glove with excellent grip and flexibility but with a high level of slash and cut resistance.

"We worked within a number of diverse industry sectors including event crewing, rigging, and overhead installation. This ensured that the feedback reflected the true use that these gloves would be exposed to.

"We chose Armourtex flexible shields in key risk areas, with a full Kevlar inner glove to ensure optimum protection and, very importantly, excellent grip. To ensure strength & durability Coats polyester thread was selected to stitch the whole Armordillo into a superb high e

UK - Unusual Rigging has provided a comprehensive and imaginative rigging solution for the lighting, sound, AV and scenic elements of the acclaimed David Bowie is... exhibition at London's V&A museum.

Over 300 objects have been brought together for the first time by the V&A's Theatre and Performance curators, Victoria Broackes and Geoffrey Marsh, and arranged across two exhibition galleries. Exhibits include many of Bowie's original costumes, music videos, excerpts from films and live performances and set designs.

Unusual Rigging's brief from the exhibition designers, 59 Productions and Real Studios, along with lighting designers DHA Designs, included some very subtle rigging requirements for the many flown scenic elements and projection surfaces, scrims, screens and aerial booths involved.

One major exhibit required Unusual to facilitate approximately 100 books swarm

UK - Following on from the success of the Dynamic Compression dance floor range, Le Mark has introduced Sonata, a matt-black-topped addition to their already established Compression flooring collection.

This 6mm foam-backed performance vinyl floor provides a lightly textured surface with point elastic shock absorption for dynamic dance routines and ballet pointe work, suitable for all types of contemporary dance.

Le Mark's Dave Cartwright said, "The Compression floor range has already been used on some of the UK's highest profile dance productions. Earlier this year, Dynamic Compression was commissioned for Sky1's primetime series of Got To Dance.

"For this application the floor was installed directly over an existing concrete floor, providing a roll-out covering where the shows contestants could practice their high impact and varied dynamic dance routines.&

Sweden - PLASA's first ever networking event in Scandinavia, PLASA Focus: Backstage Malmö, was a huge success, with over 240 delegates attending from across Scandinavia and northern Europe.

Devised in conjunction with technical director Ola Melzig and the production team behind this year's Eurovision, this unique event aimed to combine unprecedented backstage access with seminars, Q&A sessions with key members of the production team and a technology showcase to highlight the cutting-edge sound, lighting, projection, video and control systems in use on a show which will have a television audience in excess of 100m people.

After the event, Melzig said, "What a success! All partners and visitors I've talked with are super happy about the quality of this show, and its visitors. It was really great to share the experience and show what is going on backstage to so many peo

UK - Opened by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1853, The St George's Hall in Bradford holds a special place in the theatrical history of West Yorkshire. Charles Dickens gave the first ever reading of Bleak House at the hall in 1854, Harry Houdini performed for 'positively one week only' in 1905 and the Halle Orchestra have been regular visitors since 1865. Throughout its century and a half of history, the venue has hosted a remarkable array of events. From hosting stage plays to political rallies.

St George's Hall has twice been significantly damaged by fire and was briefly closed in 2003 following the discovery of small cracks in the ceiling. A Grade II listed building of significant historical interest, the facility is administered by Bradford Metropolitan District Council under the scrutiny of English Heritage.

GDS UK dealer Northern Light was commissioned by the

Sweden - Working closely with technical director Ola Melzig, as well as production designers Frida Arvidsson and Viktor Brattstrom, Tait's European division supplied elements for the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo. The design concept was to bring the audience and artists physically closer together and bring an intimate live experience to the next level. A three dimensional environment was created on stage, with impressive depth and multiple layers creating interesting landscapes for the live audience and televised broadcast.

Tait provided a 450sq.m rolling main stage, including a downstage apron, pantograph stairway and four flaggapault lifts for dynamic performer stage entrance and exit. A catwalk leading to a B-stage was also provided, integrated into the B-stage was a triple scissor lift that could move up to 6m above the arena floor.

A range of scenic elements were incor

UK - 2013 has seen a constant stream of heart wrenching news stories being broadcast, many involving building collapses caused by natural disasters such as earth quakes. More often, it is by specific man made destruction from rocket or high explosive shells as in Syria

However it was caused, people - men, woman and children were killed or trapped under tons of rubble.

"We are so lucky not to experience or live through such horrendous and simply unimaginable circumstances" quoted Stuart Gibbons, managing director of Le Mark Group including the Dirty Rigger work glove brand. "However, my parents and in particular my mother, did live through the London Blitz of 1940/41, I have never forgotten the stories I was told as a child."

Watching people scrabble through rubble with their bare hands, Gibbons realised Le Mark could, in a very small way, help.

Having r

UK - Working alongside Creative Director, Oli Metcalfe, as well as Production Manager, Chris Vaughan, TAIT provided both custom and rental elements for Muse's stunning stadium tour which opened in the UK this week.

Tait provided a large 61m by 17.6m rolling main stage for the production, with a thrust extending out 26m to the B-stage. The main stage and thrust were finished with specially treated marine wood, paired with a quartz treatment to prevent water damage and provide texture. Two key performance areas were finished with a high gloss treatment for performer movement.

Tait also provided two custom designed technical bunkers with an integrated water protection plumbing system. Housing the backline and sound technicians, the bunkers kept the technicians close to the band but out of audience view during performances. Two front of house bunkers were also manufactured by Tait

Belgium - A key player in the European flight case market K-Teg, has recently agreed a new distribution deal with Dirty Rigger to stock an extended selection of the rigger gloves & accessories range.

"Over the past year we have received a lot of positive comments from our clients about the Dirty Rigger range," says K-Teg's Joeri Swennen. "Confident our customers would benefit, we decided to stock a much wider selection from Dirty Rigger's tool pouch, rigger gloves and accessories range and display them in retail store for customers to come in and view up-close.

"We supply clients in various professional industries throughout Europe and the diverse work glove range that Dirty Rigger and K-Teg now offer gives greater flexibility of choice, allowing clients to select a more suitable glove for their working environment. The Dirty Rigger range seems to constantl

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