Primadonnas and divas do not appreciate being kept out of the limelight and nobody knows that better than a lighting designer. Palle Palmé, one of the best known lighting designers in Scandinavia, was facing just that particular dilemma when creating the lighting look for Kikki Bettan Lotta, as the theatre didn’t offer the facilities for three followspot operators. With three equally strong characters on stage, Palmé knew he could not compromise on the spotlight for any of the stars and he went searching for an alternative option.
The solution was simple: Autopilot II. Wybron’s easily-operated 3D tracking system, which turns moving lights into automated follow-spots, could track the three performers in real time, eliminating the need for follow-spot operators. The way Autopilot II works is simple: the three performers wear small transponders and Autopilot II sends continuous pan-and-tilt signals to the lights overhead. The lights then follow along smoothly, no matter how active the performer gets, ensuring none of the three divas are left in the dark.
"Autopilot II has become the focal point of this show for me and as noone in Scandinavia has worked with the new version of the system before, I am really excited about the project," said Palmé. Using four moving heads on each artist, the Autopilot II allows Palmé to get the same colour level and brightness on each artist simultaneously. "Autopilot II enables me to make the moving lights follow the three stars or focus all the lights on just one of them, for example in solo numbers."
Another advantage in converting moving lights into automated followspots is that ordinary followspots can only switch between a limited amount of colours. "I would strongly recommend this system for shows depending on a multitude of effects and coordination of light." added Pallé. "It is easily programmed and incredibly easy to use - the possibilities are endless!"
Per Eriksson at the Swedish entertainment system rental company Starlight AB was responsible for the technical installations at the Rondo and bought the system from Wybron’s newly appointed dealer Stockholm Lighting Company. "Wybron’s Autopilot II is the best system of its kind available on the market today and I am certain it’s an excellent investment," said Eriksson.
Renowned and respected across Scandinavia, Palmé has designed the lighting for an impressive array of plays, ballets, musicals, television shows and special events all over the world. Recent projects include the Swedish production of Les Miserables and he is currently working on the design for the forthcoming Miss Saigon production in Stockholm. Kikki Bettan Lotta is set to run at Ronda, Gothenburg, for a year before transferring to Stockholm, Malmö and Oslo.
(Lee Baldock)
