Spotrack on the bright side of light
- Details
The run of five shows took place in the newly built multi-purpose hall of the Sancta Maria College in Louisburgh. Whilst the setting might suggest a modest production, limited by the technical and financial resources of a school, the reality was anything but. The college’s production of Spamalot, directed by Head of English and theatre arts specialist, Marina Rice, was able to call on the services of two west of Ireland-based companies...
EvenTech, run by John Kearney, is a leading production services company, who specialise in complete solutions for every size and scale of event. As well as supplying lighting and sound for festivals, corporate events or houses of worship across Ireland, EvenTech are great supporters of their local community, particularly in the sphere of education. When Marina Rice approached them with the idea of staging a professional-level production in Sancta Maria’s new facilities, they did not hesitate to get on board. John Kearney was happy to be involved and supplied the show with complete production support:
“Theatre is an incredibly inspiring medium for young people, and staging a production like this offers so much in the way of learning. From the artistic side to the technical aspects, a show like this is demanding and rewarding in equal measure. We were delighted to help out in our community and contribute to supporting a really worthwhile exercise.”
Spotrack, run by CEO Liam Feeney, manufactures remotely-operated follow-spot technology. Marina Rice was acquainted with Feeney through her wider work in the theatre and in her quest to deliver a truly authentic rendition of Spamalot, enquired as to whether he could help. He jumped at the chance to get involved, and thus a system used by global superstars Metallica in huge arenas, found its way into a college in the west of Ireland.
Liam Feeney comments: “At Spotrack, we take education very seriously - we are involved in the training of industry professionals on a regular basis, so as well as a chance to provide some technical support in our local community, we were keen to get involved in a cross-curricular project like this to expand our own learning. Working with what is effectively a novice crew, often gives very useful insights into the way people understand and learn to use technology. This, in turn, can help inform the way we develop our products.”
The Spotrack system proved its worth in a number of ways. The nature of Spamalot demands the extensive use of follow spots to clearly highlight the contributions and movement of its different characters, helping the audience to focus clearly on the comedy.
Spamalot’s Irish première was a great success on every level. Playing to full houses after a week of successful production rehearsals, the show met with deserved critical acclaim, reflecting the total commitment of Marina Rice, the cast, crew and staff.
Marina Rice reflects: “Whilst I loved the challenge of directing Spamalot, I needed help in providing the hard-working cast with the technical backup that would really showcase their talents. I was delighted that both Liam and John agreed to come on board! With their expertise, the show was taken to another level, and the professional services they contributed in such a helpful and dedicated fashion were instrumental in the subsequent plaudits it received.”
Liam Feeney concludes: “It was a hugely enriching experience all round - I’m a real believer in how multi-disciplinary, cross-curricular activities like this can help young people, especially budding technicians, gain the confidence and experience that isn’t always available to them in more rigid educational frameworks. John and the guys at EvenTech did a fantastic job and I’m pleased to report that after seeing Spotrack in action, they put in an order for four units!”
(Jim Evans)
