JOHANNESBURG – Philips Vari-Lite's South African distributor, DWR Distribution, recently delivered 120 Vari-Lite fixtures to Gearhouse Splitbeam, the specialist theatre lighting division of the Gearhouse South Africa Group of Companies. The deal was coordinated by Gearhouse Splitbeam's Alistair Kilbee and DWR's Duncan Riley and is the largest sale of Vari-Lites yet to date in South Africa, and also the first purchase of the premium brand by Gearhouse.
Some of the new units are earmarked for LD Hugh Turner's design for the closing ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup soccer championships now underway. Others will tour Asia with a production of High School Musical lit by Ian Randall. (Splitbeam is supplying the full lighting production for that tour.)
The fixtures supplied by Johannesburg-based DWR include 24 VL3500 Spots, 24 VL3500 Washes, 24 VL2500 Spots, 24 2500 Washes and 24 VLXs.
"We are driven by our clients' requests," noted Kilbee. "For major theatre productions, Vari-Lite has always been the fixture of choice, so with the growing volume of this type of show now visiting South Africa, it was essential to have a good stock to offer visiting productions."
Along with Gearhouse Splitbeam projects, the Vari-Lites will also be available as a rental item for other theatrical, corporate and concert productions. "Vari-Lite was the first moving light and is still considered by many to be the best," Kilbee said.
"I have known Alistair for a long time, and he has always said that his company would one day own Vari-Lites," said Riley. "It meant a huge amount to be able to help his vision now become a reality."
For more information, please visit www.dwrdistribution.co.za.
