Showtech Australia was called on to support the GTV9 team to supply rigging services for the rigging of all the lighting, sound and staging elements for the production.
Rohan Thornton, GTV9's lighting supervisor, also requested Showtech director and senior rigger Tiny Good deliver the automation for the movement of set elements detailed in the scenic design.
After the success of the Carlos by Candlelight 2010 production using Stage Technologies winches, this system was now pressed into service to move the elements on Showtech tacking system.
Thornton requested that the system should be fast, smooth, and allow for multiple 'looks' and sequential moves, but also be fast and flexible to operate and deliver changes during the rehearsals and the live show to allow for probable last minute changes. The final element consisted of two 1.3t LED Mediatec screens on one track, and two 250 kg 'shimmer walls' on a second track suspended from the same truss. To further complicate the installation, the winches needed to be positioned under the 1m high temporary stage extension as floor space is an absolute premium in this room.
The four Stage technology winches based at Showtech in Melbourne this year were used under the control of eChameleon software running on the touring NOMAD console. The installation of all the equipment went smoothly and quickly, and the eChameleon software allows for very quick and easy commissioning of the system. The software and console are a dream to use and the only hard thing is deciding which of the huge range of options is the most appropriate for each situation.
"We are thrilled with the performance of the gear and the results we are getting from this system," Tiny Good said. "The more we use it and the more our clients ask for, the more excited we are with the possibilities."
(Jim Evans)
