The tour - which proved as popular as the 2008 TV series - featured the 10 finalists including winner George Sampson and other popular artists like Kate & Gin, Strike and Nemesis - plus two runners up. It was a fast-paced, high-variety show playing UK arenas and theatres.
Farmer's design was based on having a clear, clean stage and the flexibility to light each of the 12 very different performers differently and dramatically. The backdrop was a large projection screen filling the whole upstage space, and he also has to avoid light spilling onto this.
The lights were positioned on a box truss and across upstage and downstage trusses, with the moving lights a mix of Robe ColorWash 700E ATs and ColorSpot 2500E ATs.
The front truss featured four ColorWash 700E ATs, three bars of 6 PARs and four Molefeys. On the box were two ColorSpot 2500E ATs and two ColorWash 700E ATs, and five bars of 6 PARs. The upstage truss had four of each Robe fixture, and the lighting picture was completed with four ColorSpot 2500E ATs on the floor, running along the bottom of the screen.
Farmer controlled the show from two Hog 3 consoles, and worked alongside technician Adam Morgan each day to set up the rig.
All lighting and sound kit was supplied by Wales-based Sonalyst, project managed for them by Rory Madden. Sonalyst made a massive investment in Robe fixtures earlier in the year to service their regular clients and tours.
The Britain's Got Talent tour was produced by Phil McIntyre Entertainment who put production values and the practicalities of touring high on the agenda. Production manager was Andy Gibbs, and video equipment was from XL Video.
(Jim Evans)
