International News

LONDON – XL Video’s concert touring division is supplying Pixled F-11 LED screens and processing equipment to JLS, a U.K.-based “boy band.” XL is supplying the equipment to show producers Production North as part of the video package for the band’s latest sold-out U.K. arena tour.

GORINCHEM, The Netherlands – The De Nieuwe Dolen theatre was regularly hiring lights for their own productions until deciding it was now more cost effective to purchase. After a few shoot-outs, they chose Robe fixtures, specifically ROBIN 600 LEDWashes and ROBIN MMX spots.

LONDON – For Sky TV’s UK broadcasting of the Academy Awards, Sky TV LD Malcolm Reed lit the studio as hosts covered the red carpet arrivals and main awards ceremony. Richard Martin Lighting supplied the mostly Martin rig, which included the MAC Aura. Lighting Programmer Joe Bleasdale controlled the rig with an M1 console.

LONDON – Theatre design consultancy Charcoalblue’s work was in the spotlight at USITT, as the transformation of the Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatres won the USITT 2012 Architecture Honor Award.

HONG KONG – More than 950 exhibitors from around the world gathered April 6-9 for the fourth edition of the HKTDC Hong Kong International Lighting Fair (Spring Edition) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Seminars focused on trends in LED lighting, and new regulations and standards in lighting products, as well as buyer forums on doing business in the Middle East and Russia.

SYDNEY  – Australia Day celebrations Jan. 26 at Sydney’s Darling Harbour featured Clay Paky Sharpys in the choreographed display of lighting, lasers, pyro, fire and water.  Production Designer/LD Paul Collison chose the Sharpys for various reasons including their searchlight effect and their light weight in the rig.

FRANKFURT, Germany — D.T.S. staged its third Excellence Awards at the Tryp Hotel here during Prolight + Sound. The annual event honors the company’s most successful dealers, recognizes innovative uses of the company’s products and, this year, featured the company’s new JACK and NICK NRG high-power compact moving heads.

LOS ANGELES – Circus Flic Flac stopped touring to concentrate on single shows and special events, such as their recent Christmas run in Nuremberg, Germany. As the shows ran through through the holiday season, lighting was challenged by plummeting temperatures, condensation, dust, fog machines, and humidity inside and outside the tent. GLP Spot Ones were chosen to combat the elements.

BLACKBURN, UK – HSL supplied lighting equipment and LED screens to the first production tour for the UK’s boyband, One Direction. Dave Lee’s lighting design was based around complementing the video footage commissioned by show producer Louise Doyle that unfolded the show’s narrative. This followed ‘The Boys’ – Niall, Harry, Liam, Zayn and Louis – through two holidays and a term at high school.

TEL AVIV – Two recent major productions in Tel Aviv have used Robe’s ROBIN fixtures as key elements of the lighting design: the Willy Russell classic “Blood Brothers” at the Beit Lessin Theatre and the ongoing “I Gave You My Life” at the Rubina venue of the Habima (National) Theatre. Israeli distributor Danor Theatre & Studio Systems supplied the gear.