Running from 3 June - 17 July, this year's season includes Eugene Onegin, L'Italiana In Algeri, Idomeneo and The Creation. The senior production electrician on the show is Sam Floyd on behalf of Floyd Technical Services.
"My role on the season is to work alongside the lighting designer and make their vision a reality," says Floyd. "This year was slightly different in the respect that we had three designers: Malcolm Rippeth, Giuseppe di Iorio along with Mark Henderson who was lighting The Creation - our co-production with Rambert. Therefore, it was a case of collaborating closely with each to ensure we chose the correct equipment to compliment all four shows."
To do this, Sam drew on Martin MAC Aura XBs, MAC Viper Performances, MAC Viper Washes along with ETC Revolutions, Clay Paky Alpha Washes, SGM P-5 Washlights and an ETC Eos Control system.
"Thanks to WL's extensive lighting range, we were able to select the exact equipment we needed," says Sam. "This year, reflecting the industry trend, we decided to use equipment that was largely LED. Not only was this environmentally friendly but also managed to achieve the exact feel we required."
Sam and his team also had to contend with the actual layout of the venue. "What makes Garsington so different is the fact that it is a non-traditional space," says Sam. "That said, this does throw up some challenges; the main one being that the stage left half of the venue is exposed to daylight! Therefore, on particularly bright days, you often have to work with the sun in the first act. This meant ensuring that the equipment we chose was flexible and could adapt to the temperamental English weather."
Jedd Hamilton, WL's hire manager, states, "Garsington Opera is a great show for us to work on, largely due to its outdoor location and fantastic programming. We are also currently supplying the lighting on the Regent's Park Open Air Theatre season, which is another example of us working with an outdoor and non-traditional theatre space - something we expect to do more of across the summer months."
(Jim Evans)
