Summit was chosen to supply the Pink tour by the production's head rigger Dave Rowe, who comments, "I was extremely keen to use Summit for the quality and good condition of their equipment and the highly professional attitude of their crew".
Rowe and Summit's Jon Bray spent considerable time in putting the package together which includes over 100 roof points to facilitate the hanging of lighting, PA and video equipment, with 120 Lodestar motors and all the necessary steels to suspend approximately 39 tonnes of kit in the air.
Rowe explains that the show design requires that rigging for lighting, set and aerial performers are in close proximity, making it crucial to have a reliable and good quality rigging system. "Having a consistent and well maintained rigging package has really helped us to minimise the in and out times," says Rowe.
Summit is again working alongside sister company PRG Lighting on the tour which features a design by Baz Halpin complete with scenic elements by Mark Fisher.
For Elton John's Red Piano tour, Summit supplied a large trussing and motors package, together with a 20-way Kinesys automation system. Summit's Jay Call liaised closely with the tour's head rigger Richard Wythes and production manager Henry Crallan to ensure that pre-planning once again ensured a smooth running tour.
Ten Summit trusses were used to suspend a variety of dramatically camp scenic pieces, drapes, two side IMAG screens and a 24.5m wide by 8m high upstage MiTrix video screen, weighing 7 tonnes. To meet the tight itinerary they leap-frogged two complete rigging systems.
The Kinesys system was operated by Gareth Williams, using their Vector control platform. He had 18 ½ tonne motors and two 100Kg Liftkets in the system, all controlled by Kinesys Elevation 1+ drive units.
Lighting was supplied by PRG from the UK and sound from Swiss-based Audio Rent.
(Jim Evans)
