Video plays a central role in Young's stage show, with visuals running for over half of the set. Sydney-based video artist Michael Gracey initially met Will Young when his company Babyfoot Productions shot the "Your Game" promo on location in Australia - and they immediately hit it off. Young has taken an active and keen interest in the creation of his show visuals. They encompass a very eclectic range of material and styles to match the music, which is also a seamless roll between salsa, blues and rock 'n' roll. The playback footage was all shot in Australia.
Contrasting with other current live video trends with a heavy LED presence, Young's show moving images are all projected onto five soft screens on stage, via six Barco R18 projectors. Two projectors feed the centre screen and one each is utilized for the outside four.
The centre screen measures 24 x 12 ft, while the outside screens are all 12 x 9's. All are worked into the set construction, which also features a wide central staircase. The screens are aligned specifically to accommodate two video clips. The first adds drama and movement to show opener "Friday's Child", featuring two women diving from the outside screens through the middle pair and into a centre screen 'pool', complete with resounding splash. Later on in the set, the reflective "Stronger", features footage of the bottom section of the earth, which traverses all five screens.
Woodhead mixes the IMAG using one of XL's GVG4000 mixer/switchers, and he has four on their new Sony D50 cameras at his disposal - two hand-helds in the pit, one onstage and one at FOH with long lens. To match the slightly grainy cinematic style and appearance of the pre-recorded footage, the IMAG feeds are downgraded. Woodhead uses a Magic DaVE for specific effects including a blue one and a black and white one, again to coincide with the playback video.
Playback sources were transferred to the Doremis and programmed and tweaked during production rehearsals at Shepperton by video 'scientist' Richard Turner, who played a major role during this period. As the final live musical arrangements evolved, so the video pieces were also honed precisely to fit the show, and this process also involved several overnight sessions at The Mill. The playback clips are all stored on Doremi hard drives and routed to the screens via the GVG. The series of mini stories - some literal and some abstract - also highlight Young's acting talent as he brings numerous characters to life onscreen - like the soulful and slightly sad matador in "Over You".
Gracey worked closely with LD Simon Sidi in weaving the lighting into the show equation, ensuring that lighting and video work as an integrated medium. The tour's lighting programmer/operator is Dave Farmer.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
