The lighting design is by Mark Kenyon - who also does the TV series, and the lighting equipment is being supplied by Welsh-based Sonalyst. The touring show was programmed onto a grandMA2 light during production rehearsals in Manchester Arena by David Bishop, Roger Williams was the assistant LD, and the touring console operator and lighting director is Alex Murphy.
Sonalyst purchased 31 chrome finished Robe ColorBeam 700E ATs specially for the tour, 28 of which are deployed around the perimeter of the dancefloor. The chrome colour was deliberately chosen to bring a special televisual feel to the live show, which features eight couples shimmying, jiving, tangoing and strutting their stuff, four judges and a real competition each night, voted on enthusiastically by audience members.
The ColorBeam 700E ATs are used for large, majestic beam and gobo looks and for producing light curtain effects when tipped at 45 degrees across the dancefloor, along with plenty of TV-style crosses in the air. They are also used for blasting a large mirror ball flown in the centre of the space, flanked by six smaller ones.
Mark Kenyon thinks the ColorBeams are, "Spectacularly bright", with a nice parallel beam, and capable of "Amazing" effects.
Rory Madden of Sonalyst adds: "From a rental company standpoint, we have already invested heavily in Robe moving lights which have proved rock-solid reliable as a rental item. Robe is continually developing new and interesting fixtures, and I jumped at the chance of buying some of their latest technology."
In addition to these, there are 112 Robe ColorSpot and ColorWash 2500E ATs dotted around on a series of 12 trusses above the dancefloor, which intersect with one mega-long 'spine' truss running vertically down the centre.
(Jim Evans)
