The already excellent training facilities for the theatre course have recently been boosted with the purchase of 20 x Robe DL4X Spots and 20 x LEDWash 300s which are being utilized for teaching on all the course's Lighting modules.
The 250 or so technical theatre students - it's the largest such course in the Netherlands - also benefit from being able to use the TV broadcast and recording studios provided for those on the media and communications and music technology courses.
Additionally, there's a 'live' venue / multipurpose space available, comprising three interconnection areas to vary the capacity, where they can set up equipment, stage productions and gig scenarios. It's only open for one public show a year. The rest of the time it's used almost daily for teaching. There are also four 4:1 scale lighting design studio suites where real-life stages, sets, lighting, sound and video profusions can be prepared in miniature.
Wilbo Kouwenhoven is a technical theatre teacher who also oversees and assesses the learning process and how it's delivered to the students. One of his colleagues, Edith Molmans, was also involved in the decision to purchase the new Robe moving lights.
They are replacing some older Robe ColorSpot and ColorWash 250E that arrived not long after the course first started 15 years ago.
"It's essential for any switched-on learning centre, to have access to the latest technologies so we can equip our students with appropriate knowledge of kit they are likely to encounter in the real world as they start their professional careers," says Wilbo.
They wanted LED fixtures because "LED is the future", and selected Robe for being "excellent all-round fixtures and an industry standard product and brand" states Wilbo. Their great experience with the ColorSpot and ColorWash 250E ATs underlined the brand's general robustness and build quality.
Wilbo mentions the good working relationship with Controllux which is a big asset, "A comprehensive product range and amazing support - which can often really make the difference - is essential for organisations like us."
(Jim Evans)
