Rigging / Staging

The fourth Islamic Solidarity Games, a multi-national, multi-sport event staged, were staged in Baku, Azerbaijan

WIcreations spectaculars for Solidarity Games

Details: 23 June 2017

Azerbaijan - Entertainment engineering specialist WIcreations specified and fabricated two large and spectacular set pieces – a water fountain and a Tree of Life - for the opening and closing ceremonies of the fourth Islamic Solidarity Games, a multi-national, multi-sport event staged in Baku, Azerbaijan from 12 to 22 May 2017.
WI’s team, project managed by Yves Vervloet, was working for Betty Productions Ltd. who co-ordinated all the creative and technical production elements for the ceremonies on behalf of the Islamic Games Operations Committee.
The ceremonies both took place in the 70,000 seater Baku National Stadium, a venue already familiar to the WI team after their work there for the 2015 European Games.
The water vessel and the tree – integral parts of production designer Thanassis Demiris’s visual treatment for the two ceremonies - were realised

In addition to the UK, Prolyte is organising Prolyte Campus events globally on a regular basis.

Prolyte Campus initiative returns to UK

Details: 23 June 2017

UK - This year again, Prolyte Group brings a wealth of knowledge to its UK based truss users and owners. A series of Prolyte Campus events is scheduled at several locations, supporting its customer base on the safe use of truss systems.
Prolyte Campus is a Prolyte Group initiative to support its customers with the best and most up-to-date knowledge available. Providing the tools and training to use the Prolyte Group products safely and in compliance with applicable standards and regulations will help users perform better and safer.
Prolyte Campus offers a complete program of learning activities to create awareness on the safe use of Prolyte products and is organized in cooperation with the Prolyte distribution network.
“Here at AC-ET, we’ve long been advocates of specialised equipment training and recognise the responsibility to our customers of ensuring the

This was the first London show for the Stone Roses since Finsbury Park 2013

Star Events stages Stone Roses at Wembley

Details: 22 June 2017

UK - Star Events helped carry the Stone Roses’ perfect 90 minutes across Wembley Stadium as the band performed for a capacity crowd on Saturday.
Following the tantalising trail of their era defining debut album, opening with I Wanna Be Adored and closing with I Am The Resurrection, this was a first London show for the Stone Roses since Finsbury Park 2013.
Getting the sound right was crucial and production manager Michael O’Connor liaised with Star Events and SSE to ensure Stone Roses’ FoH engineer’s requirements were fully met.
Star Events’ design team customised the VerTech stage wings to accommodate Wembley’s steep rake, elevating four twin hangs of sub bass and main audio boxes some 19m above the stadium bowl.
Upfield, the company’s 20m high Z Towers pointed the delays to the gods, their narrow gauge design leaving sightlin

The 20m tree comes alive at night, serving as a beacon of the Stand for Forests campaign

Triple E branches out for Greenpeace at Glastonbury

Details: 21 June 2017

UK - Triple E has supplied a ModTruss centrepiece for the Greenpeace Field at Glastonbury Festival.
Commissioned by Factory Settings and designed to highlight the Greenpeace campaign to protect forests, the 20m tree comes alive at night, serving as a hub for exclusive DJ sets and a beacon of the Stand for Forests campaign.
The ModTruss structure is simple to put together. The Factory Settings team was able to build the tree at Worthy Farm from Triple E drawings, ticking the requisite safety boxes in the process.
Lucy Edelstein, project manager at Triple E, comments: “We were delighted the Factory Settings’ team approached us with their designs. We made a 3D drawing for approval, test built the tree and shipped the parts.”
Factory Settings’ director, Lucien Mansell, says: “ModTruss is a unique product ideally suited to a one-off bespoke item lik

Content will be themed around questions raised by the rigging and production communities

New format for PLASA Rigging Conference

Details: 21 June 2017

UK - The eighth Rigging Conference, being held again during PLASA 2017 at Olympia, London, on Monday 18 September, sees a change in its format and the focus of its content as it moves away from more traditional presentations allowing more time for discussion with delegates and panels of experts.
With a keynote presentation delivered by Morris Lyda, former tour truck driver, roadie, latterly prodigious production manager and owner of the Morris Lyda Organisation, the Conference targets a broader audience, focusing not only on rigging topics but on production and safety issues as well.
Content will be themed around questions raised by the rigging and production communities over the past 12 months and will continue to be developed as additional, pertinent issues are highlighted and will be very much a ‘talking shop’.
“In previous years, we’ve had traditiona

The award winning pavilion has gone from strength to strength (photo: Colin Willoughby)

Garsington gets Unusual treatment

Details: 20 June 2017

UK - Garsington Opera Pavilion has undergone a number of major additions to its existing structure ahead of its summer 2017 programme of events that started at the beginning of June, thanks to Unusual Rigging. Visitors to the pavilion will this year experience enhanced protection from the unpredictable British weather as well as additional flexible space beneath the seating tier which will increase the champagne bar area as well as acting as a gallery space.
Angus Boyd-Heron, events manager for Garsington, said: "The award winning pavilion which Unusual constructed in 2010 was built as a demountable structure and has gone from strength to strength. Each year, we bring Unusual Rigging back to make some additions and improvements, which have escalated into some pretty major works as our ideas have become larger. As our ambitions grow and our season now extended enabling more p

The new piece of kit enables rigging to be built close to a wall, in the corner of a room or near to an obstruction

Doughty wins ABTT Engineering Product of the Year

Details: 13 June 2017

UK - Doughty Engineering's Three Position Tank Trap has been awarded the ABTT Engineering Product of the Year Award at this year's show.
The new piece of kit enables rigging to be built close to a wall, in the corner of a room or near to an obstruction. It has a detachable receiver suitable for 48mm barrel, which may be fitted to any of the three mounting points, which are located in the centre as per a standard tank trap, at the edge and in the corner.
The judging panel, which comprised an experienced group of working practitioners and industry peers, commented: "The mark of a good product is if, on first observation, the question raised is 'Why has this never been made before?' and Doughty Engineering's Three Position Tank Trap certainly achieves this. With a neat storage and transportation system and flexible mounting details, much of the manual handling issues asso

Robin Townley, CEO ABTT, with Gary Vilardi, vice president of sales, City Theatrical, receiving the ABTT Lighting Product of the Year 2017 Award, with ABTT chairwoman Louise Jeffreys

ABTT 2017 Annual Theatre Awards

Details: 12 June 2017

UK - The Association of British Theatre Technicians Theatre Awards 2017, took place on Tuesday evening (6 June), after the first day of the ABTT Theatre Show at Alexandra Palace, London.
With drinks in the venue’s Palm Court, followed by a ceremony in the Londesborough Room, the event provided the perfect opportunity for exhibitors and visitors alike to gather and celebrate good technology and excellent technical practice.
In a break with tradition, comic Tim Fitzhigham warmed up proceedings with his observations on technicians, gigging and awards with ‘Widget’ in the title. Introduced by Tim, ABTT CEO Robin Townley then enlightened those gathered with the judges’ deliberations, relayed their commendations and announced the winners. ABTT Chairwoman Louise Jeffreys, the Barbican’s director of arts, presented each winner with one of the coveted hook-clamp troph

Sonoval’s Prolyte MPT system and two ARC systems will be the core of their outdoor activities this summer

Sonoval relies on Prolyte roof systems

Details: 07 June 2017

Switzerland - With the investment in no less than three Prolyte roof systems, Swiss rental company Sonoval is making a solid statement. The recently acquired Prolyte MPT system and two ARC systems will be the core of their outdoor activities this summer.
Sonoval Sàrl is a relatively young, Swiss based company, operating from both its Martingy and Fribourg branches. They are active in the field of lighting, sound and stage, in- and outside Switzerland and are driven by fierce ambition. Sonoval Sàrl has taken advantage of its experience to fine-tune its range of services, extending from video, to scenic structures and technically demanding projects.
Based on its broad experience, Sonoval supplies to many Swiss based events and, on top of that, acts as equipment supplier for many other rental and event companies. Being recognised as regional leader, they keep a substant

Farnham Maltings offers a core of successful activities

Doughty supplies Farnham Maltings with Easydeck

Details: 06 June 2017

UK - Farnham Maltings has operated an arts and community centre for Farnham, Surrey, since the early 1970s. It offers a core of successful activities - a thriving music and theatre programme, a flourishing selection of workshops, monthly markets and regular film events. There is also a host of community users of the building - The University of the 3rd Age, Sugarcraft, Beerex and a range of voluntary groups.
In September 2015 the venue began an association with the University of Creative Arts (UCA), which now bases its acting and drama degree course on site. With investment from the University, Farnham Maltings has begun an upgrade of its technical facilities over a three-year period, with Doughty Engineering being brought on board to supply its Easydeck flooring during year one of the project.
Easydeck is a modular performance system, perfectly suited for smaller venu

RFID has enabled better tracking of kit with time stamps and accountability

Unusual brings digital innovation drive to ABTT

Details: 30 May 2017

UK - Unusual Rigging will use its presence at this year's ABTT show to demonstrate to clients, both existing and potential, how they benefit from the company’s drive towards digitising key aspects of the company's business processes.
Visitors to stand D22 will be able to learn from the team how the transition to a 21st century business model of 'virtualising' key operational processes, is saving significant money and time, as well as supporting Unusual Rigging's sustainability agenda.
Tom Harper, Unusual's sustainability co-ordinator, explained: “Over the past three years we have focused on implementing a new, up-to-date asset tracking software system that utilises RFID on the majority of the company's capital assets. This digital innovation has enabled better tracking of kit with time stamps and accountability, late return reports and automated certification for a

The impressive lighting and scenography design has been created by Mark Cunniffe

Kinesys helps shape Ed Sheeran tour

Details: 30 May 2017

UK - The success of UK singer songwriter Ed Sheeran continues with the start of a new world tour - for which a substantial Kinesys automation system was specified to assist with the daily stage set build and to facilitate the movement of lighting pods during the show.
The impressive lighting and scenography design which is helping Sheeran wow the crowds and impress the critics has been created by Mark Cunniffe.
The Kinesys system and control was recommended by Mike Oates, director of UK based Lights Control Rigging (LCR), the tour’s lighting equipment and crew supplier in combination with SES in the US.
The Kinesys equipment includes four Kinesys DigiHoist Plus (63 Amp) and eight DigiHoist (32 Amp) intelligent chain hoist controllers, 42 x Kinesys LibraCELL load monitoring cells and 12 x Liftket variable speed 500kg hoists fitted with Kinesys Elevation 1+ driv

The exhibition follows the Pink Floyd story from 1965 to the band’s reunion at Live 8 in 2005

Setsquare structures for Pink Floyd exhibition

Details: 26 May 2017

UK - Production company LarMac Live called in Setsquare Staging to reproduce hero pieces and build infrastructure for The Pink Floyd Exhibition: Their Mortal Remains, the biggest ever at the V&A.
Setsquare produced the scaled-up, walk through model of Pink Floyd’s 1965-era Bedford van which opens the show, a 9m high parallax view Battersea Power Station, representing the Animals album cover, a 7.5m model of The Wall, set opposite, and a series of beds reproduced from original Momentary Lapse of Reason LP artwork.
Created in the company’s own workshops, from 3D design through to finishing touches, Setsquare also oversaw the intricate installation process on site.
Ian Greenway, director at LarMac Live, comments: “There are more than 350 original artefacts at Their Mortal Remains and we needed scale model props to put them in a fitting conte

The range boasts professional features giving full flexibility for both easy setup and storage

Prolight Concepts launches stage decking range

Details: 25 May 2017

Europe - The Prolight Concepts Group has announced its new range of GT Stage Decking from Global Truss. Suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications this comprehensive range is perfect for fashion shows, conferences and hotels.
The range boasts professional features giving full flexibility for both easy setup and storage. The design of the GT Stage Deck makes it compatible with many other manufacturers.
The range is constructed of specially designed lightweight, waterproof, aluminium sections in which platforms can be joined together to create the desired arrangement. GT Stage Deck platforms feature a maximum load of 750kg/m² making them strong and durable.
The platforms can be supported by a range of 60mm square, 50mm round or 60mm height adjustable telescopic legs. Rubber feet and cross beams ensure stability whilst an anti-slip layer and other accessorie

Blackout worked on the event for the fifth time

Blackout supports LSO in Trafalgar Square

Details: 25 May 2017

UK - Drapes and rigging specialist Blackout played an integral role in the London Symphony Orchestra’s annual open air concert in Trafalgar Square on Sunday 21May.
Thousands of people packed into the square in glorious sunshine to hear the LSO, conducted by Valery Gergiev, play three pieces by Rachmaninov. Once again sponsorship from BMW ensured the event was free to the public.
Blackout worked on the event for the fifth time, providing rigging and drapes, installing four truss structures next to the main stage to support two large screens and two PA towers, with two smaller structures at the back of the square in front of the National Gallery, used for relay screens.
A combination of Thomas 52 Supertruss and Prolyte Truss was used, with extra Blackout truss forming the main entranceway. Prolyte was also used for the on-stage lighting rig, and Blackout supplied

The ‘zig-zag’ module from igus provides a folding energy chain

igus linear systems centre stage at ABTT

Details: 23 May 2017

UK - At this year’s ABTT, igus will be demonstrating its innovative linear slides and cable management systems that help theatre technicians manage cables and stage props more easily.
On the igus stand (Stand B30) there will be three main demonstrations; the first is the drylin W curved rail system. These rails offer an innovative way of mounting sound and lighting rigs, or displays and control panels – anything that needs to be adjusted regularly. As the aluminium rails can be modified by precision bending, the profile of the curve can be tailored to requirements.
The second highlight will be the e-spool cable management system, which enables users to guide many different cables in narrow spaces and allows them to save space thanks to its small footprint. The innovative e-spool is easy to install and flexible, providing no-break connections in any direction for tr

HPower Group enlisted the services of Arena Seating and Arena Structures

Arena Group at Royal Windsor Horse Show

Details: 23 May 2017

UK - Royal Windsor Horse Show organiser HPower Group called upon multiple Arena UK & Europe divisions to deliver 5,000m² of temporary structures complete with full interior fit-out, 3,689 seats throughout three Castle Arena tiered grandstands and event catering equipment.
Spurred on with the success of last year’s expansive additions to the equestrian show’s temporary infrastructure in honour of The Queen’s 90th Birthday celebrations, HPower Group once again entrusted Arena Seating and Arena Structures to deliver and maintain the same level of hospitality and finish this year.
At the south end of the Castle Arena, two Members Enclosure viewing areas were installed by Arena Structures utilising the curved Arcus roofs to offer 250m² of premium sightlines. Situated behind, a multi-deck temporary Members Restaurant, provided 600m² of contemporary dining and h

John Farrell - newly appointed Group COO

Arena Group adds chief operating officer

Details: 18 May 2017

UK - Arena Group has appointed John Farrell to the senior management team as the new Group COO.
Reporting to Group CEO, Greg Lawless, John , who brings a tremendous business track record to the Group, most recently worked for Morrison Utility Services managing the acquisition and integration of a number of acquisitions projects throughout the UK.
Previously, John also worked as business director with both Amey plc and Enterprise plc, where he worked as a group asset director. His development of large scale integrated contracts saw him leading over 2,500 people delivering complex infrastructure services to blue chip clients.
Lawless says: “We are delighted to have secured the appointment of John as his breadth of business experience will further bolster a strong senior management team and enhance the Group’s international expansion capabilities in line with ou

Milos video spotlight on LED support

Details: 18 May 2017

Europe - Milos has released its second video for their three-month spotlight on Milos LED Screen Support Structures (1 April – 30 June).
This video gives an overview of the complete range of Milos LED Screen Support Structures with their main technical specifications. Click here to watch the video

Milos was founded in 1994 and is currently one of the largest truss manufacturers in Europe.It has subsidiaries in the UK and US and became part of Area Four Industries group in 2012. Every three months, Milos releases a spotlight video highlighting specific products and best practices.

See 'Areas of Expertise' in the

Resolution X stocks a large quantity of the 1000kg Aetos hoists

Resolution X - Lifting with the professionals

Details: 18 May 2017

Australia - Resolution X, is one of the first companies in Australia that started working with ProLyft Aetos hoists range. They are fully convinced of the technical qualities of the product, however, the outstanding service programme made their choice an easy one.
Resolution X, covering Australia with hire bases in Melbourne and Sydney, strives to provide the best quality rental equipment backed by the best people and service. Based on that goal, they have become one of the largest providers of rental lighting and rigging equipment in Australia. They are leaders in bringing new and innovative equipment to market and can boast on a dedicated team that is enthusiastic about all challenges.
Tim Hall, managing director of Resolution X explains: “Resolution X have always prided themselves on implementing industry best practises, especially when it comes to safety. Therefo

Allianz Park - home to European Rugby Champions Saracens

Floorbox solution for Saracens

Details: 18 May 2017

UK - Floorbox, the new online temporary flooring hub, specified and supplied 650sq m of Rola-Trac’s iTrac pitch protection to Allianz Park stadium ahead of Jewish community event Yom HaShoah.
Home to European Rugby Champions Saracens, the £1m Allianz Park pitch combines hardcore, aggregate and carpet with rubber infill. Significant weights applied directly can cause the aggregate to bulge while the top layer, a fibre composite, has to stay upright to prevent it causing friction burns to players.
With a big LED screen and a heavy stage coming in for Yom HaShoah, the Remembrance Day for victims of the Holocaust, iTrac was the appropriate means to maintain the surface.
John Davy, founder/managing director of Floorbox, says: “We work with a range of manufacturers and the core value of Floorbox is its independence. So our advice, qualified by years of experien

SPACEFRAME is a touring frame designed to provide operational efficiencies

PRG launches new technology on U2 tour

Details: 17 May 2017

USA - Production Resource Group (PRG) reports that a new product innovation along with the application of an industry-first technology solution – SPACEFRAME and a 4K Broadcast Camera System – have been integrated into the design, production and operations for the U2 Joshua Tree Tour 2017.
Both solutions demonstrate PRG’s dedication to innovating products that anticipate the needs of tour managers, designers and artists seeking to push boundaries and deliver a more immersive concert experience onsite or virtually.
“SPACEFRAME and the 4K Broadcast Camera System perfectly demonstrate how PRG excels at seeing an opportunity for innovation that will add operational, economic and creative value from a customer’s perspective, allowing artists to more freely tell their story,” said Steve Greenberg, PRG’s CEO of global music/TV/film.
SPACEFRAME is a touring

The Centre Stage venue at Butlins, Skegness

Triple E gets Butlins’ Centre Stage on track

Details: 17 May 2017

UK - Triple E beat the odds and the clock to provide Illuminate Design with a custom-built, motorised track for the Centre Stage venue at Butlins, Skegness.
AV specialist Illuminate called in Triple E Ltd when an existing tab system failed just before the start of a new Centre Stage show.
To follow the shape of the stage, Triple E Ltd’s design had to incorporate a double S set of curves. Illuminate sent a sketch across late Thursday evening and MD David Edelstein quoted it immediately. On Friday, Triple E drew the design up, assembled the Erail system and the 25m TDRIVE six-curve track was collected just after lunch.
Robin Shephard-Blandy, Owner/Director at Illuminate Design, comments: “The deadline was particularly tight because there had been difficulties with other ideas for the replacement track. Triple E’s solution enabled us to carry out the install

Penn Elcom’s wall bracket Sky Q Mini Box WB

Penn Elcom launches AV bracket range

Details: 16 May 2017

UK - Penn Elcom has launched a new range of wall mounting brackets … designed to house popular audio and video streaming devices in stylish, understated and practical enclosures.
The initial three products that have been manufactured by Penn Elcom in the UK are for Sonos Connect devices, Sonos Connect Amps and Sky Q Mini boxes, keeping pace with innovations at the forefront of facilitating trends in commercial and domestic entertainment consumption.
These are the first of a whole range of stylish and straightforward-to-fit products designed to look elegant and provide a neat solution for the distribution of streamed live entertainment around any building or space.
Currently the range covers two Sonos products, the standard Connect box and the Connect Amp which turn existing audio systems into wireless set ups; and the Sky Q Mini Box which allows Sky TV and vide

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