ROZNOV POD RADHOSTEM, Czech Republic — Robe’s Czech and Slovakian distributor KVS recently specified and supplied Robe moving lights to the Janikova Stodola Theatre, part of the historical experience that’s a key draw at Wallachian Open Air Museum in Robe’s home town here. The Janikova Stodola Theatre stages shows seen by tourists, schools and other groups from around the country and beyond. The venue recently underwent a refurbishment to better handle its busy schedule, which includes the Museum’s own productions as well as those from visiting companies.
KVS’s Jaromír Satinský and Stanislav Senkýr from DV Centrum designed the lighting system and undertook all the technical engineering involved, also consulting with the theatre’s lighting designer and operator, Zdenèk Jandík. The rig includes four Robe ColorWash 575 AT Zooms and four ColorSpot 575E ATs, plus generics, all of which are installed on the over-stage bars.
“It’s the first time the theatre has had moving lights,” said Satinský, “so it represents a real investment in technology and has transformed the way they have been able to work and produce shows.”
Jandík joined the theatre’s technical team to help oversee the installation, handled by Brno-based TS Technik. “It is amazing just how much creative scope just eight moving lights can bring to a venue like this,” he said. “It means we can also offer a properly professional design service to all those utilizing the stage.”
He cited the zoom facility on the ColorWashes as a boon for a theatre environment staging anything from poetry and spoken word performances to major dance shows and classical dramas.
The ColorSpots, he added, help produce any special lighting effects needed, and “having the precision of moving light technology at your fingertips makes designing and tech’ing a production an extremely efficient process.”
The funding for the refurbishment was partly supported by a reciprocal Arts & Culture grant from Norway, and as part of this, they were eager to use local companies as suppliers. “We have all the technology right here,” Satinský said, “so it was also a great opportunity to showcase it.”
For more information, please visit www.robe.cz.
