The event brought in a crowd of thousands, with performances by popular artists Jessie J, Conor Maynard, and James Arthur. Selfridges entrusted entertainment lighting specialist White Light with providing lighting equipment, design, and support for the evening. Creative production company setWorks oversaw the production of the project, which involved transforming Selfridges' prominent Oxford St façade into a full scale live performance space including trussing and staging for the Destination Christmas performers.
"We had the Destination Christmas materials from Selfridges Graphics team as our starting point as well as the spectacular backdrop; a huge sign by London based neon Artist, Chris Bracey," said setWorks director Maria Katehis. The production team aimed to make the event as inclusive as possible. She explained: "It became very important that the event shouldn't be just about a view of the stage - rather the experience of an immersive lightshow encompassing the whole block, making the entire store 'dance'."
"We wanted to do something that hadn't been done before," said Richard Stirzaker, project manager for White Light. "With a building as notable as Selfridges, it was important that we make the architecture part of the production." White Light was able to do just that by using Selfridges' existing architectural lighting system, as well as their own high-powered lighting rig to add vibrant and colourful layers for something truly different.
In order to deliver the event, Stirzaker and his crew not only had to synchronize their event lighting with the building's existing system, they also had to work under strict time and logistic constraints. The solution was a complete night-time dress rehearsal that took place miles away and a week before the switch-on.
"Due to working on one of Europe's busiest shopping streets, the production constraints were massive," said Maria Katehis, setWorks director. "We would have a mere 20 minute pre-show window with the main stage connected to Front of House. Therefore, the pre-rig with lead rigger Tim Roberts and offsite fit up/programming was essential."
In the days following the off-site rehearsal, the lighting crew worked overnight shifts to install, program, and test the lighting on-site, putting in more than 200 working hours on the project in total.
White Light provided more than 100 additional lighting fixtures for the event including JB Lighting A7 Zoom LED Washes, Clay Paky Sharpy and Sharpy Wash fixtures, Martin Professional Mac III Profiles, and Fusion LED Battens. These were combined with the 306 LED fixtures that were already a part of the Selfridges existing lighting system.
(Jim Evans)
