International News

SYDNEY, Australia – A new children’s theatre and performance space has opened as part of the new Darling Quarter precinct. The Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre is the home of the Monkey Baa Theatre Company as well. Jands completed the technical installation of the theatre as a turnkey project in partnership with The PA People. For lighting, the venue chose an ETC Ion 1000 console, along with a selection of ETC fixtures.

PULA, Croatia — The 59th Pula Film Festival, held in the ancient Vespasian’s Amphitheatre, set a new standard for outdoor 3D film presentation.The 3D projection setup achieved one of the longest throw distances ever recorded at 73.6 meters (242 ft). The setup, which included an 18.70 x 8.45m Stagelite Stereo 3D Screen from Harkness Screens, achieved a wide-viewing angle of 60º allowing the 3D presentation to be viewed at suitable brightness levels throughout the entire seating area.

DEVON, UK – S+H Technical Support has supplied 8,000 square meters of its ShowLED Animation curtain to the new series of Sky’s popular dating games show, ‘Love Machine.’ Set designer Patrick Doherty specified the Animation curtain to wrap around the entire back of the set and create patterns, texturing and other ambient effects. S + H is also supplying ShowLED Chameleon RGB Starcloth to mask around the back of the live audience in the studio.

RATTVIK, Sweden – Open air theatre Dalhalla is located in a 60 meter deep former limestone quarry in central Sweden. This year‘s festival production lighting design by Anders ‘Hebbe’ Herbertzon from High Voltage Designs includes Robe MMXs and LEDWash 600s, recently purchased by lighting rental company Park Brothers. A strong light source was needed to combat the low, overhanging roof over the stage and the summer sun’s refusal to set until late.

EDINBURGH, UK – Edinburgh Festival has seen Philips Selecon join forces with power monitoring company, Energeno, and one of the biggest venue producers on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – C venues – to examine the positive impact LED lighting can have on power consumption in a fringe venue running 24/7.

LIVERPOOL, UK – Theatrical entertainment specialists Stage Electrics supplied Europe’s first ETC Gio lighting control console to the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA). The Gio is the newest edition to ETC’s Eos family. LIPA regularly upgrades resources to stay current with industry standards. With this in mind they turned to Stage Electrics to research into upgrading their main theatre style desk, which will be used by students on the BA (hons) Theatre and Performance Technology program.

LONDON – The 3rd annual PLASA Rigging Conference will welcome more than 200 international attendees at the Earls Court Conference Centre in London on Sept. 11-12. Opening with a speech from original ‘Disney Rigger’ Roy Bickel, a founder of the modern rigging industry and closing with ‘Question Time’ hosted by Alan Jacobi LVO, MD of Unusual Rigging, the Conference is packed with sessions from industry experts. For those who can’t make it to the Conference itself, The Riggers’ Forum will be held on the afternoon of Sunday, Sept. 9.  This is an informal opportunity to discuss the issues and challenges facing riggers today.

LONDON – Boy band One Direction hit the road on a UK theatre tour. The HSL-supplied Martin rig included MAC 101 and MAC 2000 Wash XB moving heads with graphics across Martin EC-10 and EC-20 LED video panels. LD Dave Lee centered a 23′ x 10′ EC-10 screen as a key part of the show’s visuals.

REDCLIFFE, QUEENSLAND, Australia – Redcliffe State High School’s new theatre, ‘The Bird’s Nest,’ offers students the latest in equipment while they are learning how to create their own performances. However, there was a problem with the power. Conventional lamps were constantly failing. The LSC Redback dimmers came to the rescue as they have a minimum/maximum setting. So by limiting the dimmers output to 80 percent, the Redback Dimmer now supplies lamps with sub 240v – the result being that premature lamp failure has not since occurred.