The set - constructed by Total Fabrications - featured a large elegant and distinctive flown circular truss as its centrepiece. Summit utilised 21 ways of their Kinesys K2 variable speed automation system to fly and move the structure.
The circular truss itself was rigged on eight double-braked variable speed LL Lodestar motors and was moved in and out at strategic points during the presentation by the K2 system, piloted by one of its designers, Dave Weatherhead of Kinesys, assisted by Summit's Jay Call.
The advantages of using a K2 system for this type of show is its ability to work with the actual moving items. Any object (in this case the circular truss), can be flown, tracked or revolved, and is dealt with in terms of its own movement - rather than the movement of the devices that support it. The operator tells the system where and how the object needs to be moved and K2 works out all necessary calculations and relays these to the motors or winches.
In addition to the Kinesys system, Summit also supplied and installed a further 39 points of rigging, used to suspended various trussing elements including a front production lighting truss, four house lighting trusses and two 'T' shaped truss sections either side of the stage, both holding screens and projectors. There were also several cable management trusses and an upstage truss facilitating all the additional drapes.
A central Virgin "V" logo was created with bespoke truss sections specially commissioned by Summit so the two tick-style points of the V were replicated in precisely the correct places. A nine metre diameter trussing circle surrounded this sign, and both sign and truss were also on the K2 system. They moved In and out, tilting and pitching to create different stage and lighting looks and scenes.
The Summit team of three riggers and three automation specialists was led by Jon Bray, and worked closely with production manager Garry White, producer Brian Dobson and LD Nick Jones.
(Chris Henry)
