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29 October 2024

UK - In 2020, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s newly appointed director, Carlos Acosta, went on a ‘discovery mission’ to learn about the company’s home city. Amazed by the stories, culture, and diversity from within Birmingham, he commissioned a series of three new productions including a look at the sounds and history of Ozzy Osbourne fronted metal band, Black Sabbath.

Comprising the work of three composers led by Christopher Austin and three choreographers, led by Pontus Lidberg, the ballet’s story was written by the award-winning Richard Thomas, lit by lighting designer KJ, and heard of over three acts through a Britannia Row Productions PA delivery.

Paul James, Birmingham Royal Ballet commercial director, comments: “This ballet certainly brought heavy metal fans to the ballet for the first time, including legendary Black Sabbath founder and

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29 October 2024

UK - The much-anticipated James Eade Rigging Power Systems training course, in partnership with EXE Technology, returned mid-October, leaving participants inspired and empowered with new skills to tackle rigging challenges in today’s demanding live entertainment sector. The event drew rigging and technical professionals from across the country, all eager to deepen their expertise and experience of rigging electrical systems using the latest technology.

The 2024 Rigging Power Systems course, hosted at Rigging Team’s HQ in Stevenage on 10-11 October, boasted a sell-out event attracting delegates from various sectors of the industry and as far afield as Tahiti.

Running for the second year, the course was developed by Matt Millward, head of automation at Area Four Direct UK and chartered engineer James Eade, who has a wealth of industry knowledge in

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29 October 2024

Japan - For the first time in six years, singer-songwriter and J-Pop sensation, Hikaru Utada, embarked on a tour of Japan and Asia, which lasted from July to September. The tour in support of their new album, Science Fiction, also celebrated 25 years of chart music from Utada.

The futuristic set from JAW studio’s Jason Ardizzone-West simultaneously celebrated the momentous anniversary whilst also looking toward the future. Lighting designer Jeremy Lechterman of Fragment 9 featured some classic Ayrton fixtures as major components of his design: the MagicPanel 602 and MagicBlade R, both of which are celebrating a decade of use and proving as relevant today as ever.

Amid the set’s 110ft wide alien landscape of sand dunes stood nine video-tiled sculptural monoliths, inside of which Lechterman had concealed 144 MagicBlade Rs in hidden rows. T

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29 October 2024

UK - Starlight Express, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘fastest show on earth’, has enjoyed a much-anticipated comeback at the Wembley Troubadour Theatre. The concept for the return of one of theatre land’s best-loved productions was to create an immersive visual experience, where performers race around on roller skates across multiple levels to produce a high-octane entertainment spectacle.

For the video team, led by video designer, Andrzej Goulding and video supervisor, Dan Trenchard, the focus was to obtain accurate camera tracking of up to 26 cast members and seamlessly integrate video of the performers with the live action on stage. Stage Precision’s SP software proved to be an essential tool in making this creative vision a reality.  

The challenge was to design a system that could capture the energy of the on-stage performers and a

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29 October 2024

The Netherlands - Musis Arnhem, one of the Netherlands' oldest and most prestigious concert halls, has completed a major audio upgrade to meet the evolving needs of its diverse programming. The venue, hosting over 100 concerts annually across various genres, has installed an L-Acoustics L Series loudspeaker system in the Parkzaal, marking a significant leap in its sound reinforcement capabilities.

L-Acoustics certified partner Fairlight spearheaded the design and implementation of the new system. The project presented various challenges, including the need to accommodate the Parkzaal's diverse range of events, and its distinctive 16 by 11m glass back wall.

Rene van der Linden of Fairlight comments: "L-Acoustics, with their reputation for superior sound quality and frequent appearance on technical riders, was the clear choice for Musis Arnhem, which p

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29 October 2024

UK - Romesh Ranganathan recently completed a series of seven stand-up shows in UK arenas as part of his Hustle world tour. Ranganathan’s set focused on complaints about life’s irritations viewed from his curmudgeonly perspective.

For the tour, Liverpool-based event production specialists Adlib supplied a Coda Audio system based around the company’s flagship AiRAY line array. Adlib has previously deployed Coda for tours by many of the leading lights of British comedy, including Russell Howard, Joe Lycett and Jack Whitehall.

System tech and audio crew chief, Jethro Hall comments: “The Coda system is tried and tested for this kind of show and has proved itself time and again. It’s got lots of output, is very flexible and scalable and is easy to work with. The enclosures are ultra-compact which makes them ideal for minimising the impac

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29 October 2024

Canada - Avant-garde director Atom Egoyan has staged several iterations of Richard Strauss’ opera Salome, inspired by Oscar Wilde’s play, in turn inspired by the Biblical account of the titular character and John the Baptist. Egoyan accompanied his latest version – performed by the Canadian Opera Company with the feature film Seven Veils.

It stars Amanda Seyfried as Jeanine, an opera director who is putting on Salome. The film effectively places a real opera performance inside a fictional milieu, and it fell to mixer Trevor Goulet to integrate the two worlds. Goulet, who also recently completed work on David Cronenberg’s The Shrouds as well as sound for additional photography on the new M. Night Shyamalan film Trap, employed Lectrosonics’ latest generation of digital wireless.

DBSM belt packs tra

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29 October 2024

Germany - YouTube star Naomi Jon’s first major headline tour has sold out music halls and concert venues across Germany and there are more dates being added, with international venues promised.

Naomi’s sound engineer is Flo Herkert, who has been working with her since her first ever gig. Herkert is responsible for the front of house mix and oversees the on-stage monitor mix. A keen advocate of KLANG, Herkert bought Germany’s first KLANG:konduktor immersive in-ear-monitoring system in 2017, followed by a :vokal system and is now using his KLANG:vokal+ system with a DiGiCo SD11i for the Villain of your Dreams tour.

“I’ve always been interested in new technologies and KLANG immediately caught my attention,” he says. “I attended a presentation and training session where I met Phil Kamp. We quickly became firm friends and have even

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29 October 2024

South Africa - Established in 1946, the Uniting Reform Church in Southern Africa (URCSA) is committed to creating welcoming spaces where people can build community and grow spiritually. With a focus on meaningful worship experiences and outreach programs, URCSA recently expanded its Atteridgeville campus with a significant extension of its existing building.

The goal was to boost community engagement and provide a purpose-built auditorium space for events, services and gatherings. The team at URCSA sought close collaboration from the beginning to help them achieve their aims, and a partnership with Stage Audio Works (SAW) proved pivotal.

“This extension is not just about expanding the space, but about creating a lasting legacy for the community,” explains Sekgwari Matsena, technical team coordinator at URCSA Atteridgeville. “For the AV side of

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29 October 2024

UK - Stage Electrics Group has been named one of the UK's Top 100 Best Mid-Sized Companies to Work For in 2024 by Best Companies, an independent authority on UK workplace culture and employee engagement. Its annual rankings are based on comprehensive, anonymous surveys that assess employee opinions across various factors, including leadership, personal growth, wellbeing, and team dynamics.

Achieving a 2-star Outstanding accreditation from Best Companies and a place on the Top 100 list signifies an organisation's excellence in ‘fostering a supportive and engaging workplace’.

Dave Coull, CEO of Stage Electrics Group, commented: "This achievement is a testament to the incredible effort our team has put into cultivating a company culture rooted in core values that promote collaboration and engagement. I am delighted that our team's feedback

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29 October 2024

UK - Audient has announced the release of both the iPad Remote App and optional Dante Card for the Immersive Audio Interface and Monitor Controller Oria.

The iPad Remote App is completely free and allows the user to control Oria remotely, straight from the iPad, designed to speed up workflow. Audient’s Andrew Allen explains: “The App’s Home Tab is essentially the ultimate command centre for Oria, granting you quick access to all of Oria’s key monitoring features on a single screen, without the need to reach for the rack.”

By tapping on Oria’s other control tabs in the side menu of the Home Tab, users can get more detail via an expanded view of Oria’s functionality. “Beautifully presented in full screen format, you can now keep a close eye on levels, audition speakers and use Profiles to switch between speakers, listening levels and ta

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29 October 2024

Australia - LSC Control Systems has made a significant new addition to its Melbourne HQ operations team with the appointment of a new general manager, Greg Lowe.

With 30 years’ experience in high-tech manufacturing, much of it within the global automotive supply chain, Lowe has previously held positions as general manager, managing director and non-executive director, at both domestic and multinational businesses.

In this senior management role at LSC, he is responsible for overseeing LSC’s daily operations, with particular attention to its expanding production line.

“I’m delighted to join the team at LSC Control Systems,” says Lowe. “It’s a company with a 40-year legacy of innovation and an enviable reputation in its market, not just at home in Australia, but internationally. Its expansion has been achieved by products of its o

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29 October 2024

Oasis on File - Thousands of tickets sold on resale websites will be cancelled by Oasis ahead of their upcoming reunion tour. The band’s promoters, Live Nation and SJM, have told BBC File on 4 that it will cancel more than 50,000 tickets for the band's UK dates listed on secondary platforms. It said that all invalidated tickets will be made available again through the official seller, Ticketmaster, at face value.

There were 1.4m tickets on sale when Oasis announced their UK tour in August, but more than 10m fans from 158 countries joined the queue. Within hours, thousands of tickets appeared on resale sites at inflated prices. When tickets for the 2025 Oasis reunion tour went on sale, fans were told they could only purchase tickets at face value through Ticketmaster or resale partner, Twickets. The band's promoters said this was done in order to c

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28 October 2024

USA - The historic Bearsville Theatre in Woodstock, NY, has installed a new Meyer Sound system provided by Masque Sound.

The Bearsville Centre, nestled in the heart of the Catskills, was built in the 1960s by music impresario Albert Grossman, manager of artists including Bob Dylan, The Band, and Janis Joplin. Conceiving the complex as a home for creative inspiration, Grossman built cabins, a record label, and a recording studio that hosted the likes of the Rolling Stones, REM, Muddy Waters, and The Pretenders.

Today, the complex comprises two restaurants; a café and bar; residences; Utopia Studios, designed in 1979 for Todd Rundgren; and the Bearsville Theatre, celebrated for its acoustics and historic charm.

The Bearsville Theatre entered a new chapter in 2024 under the direction of Dayglo Presents, led by concert promoter and multi-venue p

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28 October 2024

Australia - TDC (Technical Direction Company) has been awarded Production Company of the Year and Event Supplier of the Year at the 2024 Australian Event Awards and Symposium held on Wednesday, 23 October 2024 at Le Montage, Sydney.

"We are deeply honoured to receive these awards," said Michael Hassett, managing director at TDC. "This recognition by the industry and judging panel reflects the passion, creativity, and dedication of our team, who continuously push the boundaries of what is possible in the event space. Every project we deliver is a collaboration with talented individuals – our clients, partners, and incredible crew – who make the impossible possible."

This year, TDC has led ambitious and high-profile projects like Dream Circus at Luna Park, which won the award for Best Achievement in Design with Artists in Motion utilising advanced

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28 October 2024

UK - University of the Arts London (UAL) and Sony have partnered on a specialist Virtual Production (VP) research stage, housed within the Fashion Textiles and Technology Institute (FTTI) at UAL’s new East Bank campus in London. This features a Crystal LED wall powered by Brompton Technology’s advanced LED processing.

The East Bank campus is set to become a hub for research, innovation, creativity, and learning, driving collaboration between world-leading universities, cultural institutions, industry experts, and local communities. The VP stage will play a key role in advancing transdisciplinary, practice-led research in Virtual Production (VP) and XR textiles and dress, offering a dynamic environment for experimentation and creative exploration.

The studio is equipped with a seamless horseshoe-shaped Sony Crystal LED display that has a total siz

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28 October 2024

Slovakia - Independent broadcast company, TV Markíza has recently installed a Leyard TVF video wall in the news studio and Leyard CarbonLight CLI and CLI Flex screens in The Morning Show studio. The fine pitch LED displays add functionality and flexibility to the 24-hour, multi-use studios, allowing TV Markíza to switch effortlessly between news, weather or morning chat show layouts.

Leyard’s association with the broadcaster dates back to 2017, when three Leyard TVH series video walls were installed for the news studio. Leyard was then chosen as the supplier for the studio’s 2019 expansion, but the project was delayed due to the pandemic, with the installation of the Good Morning studio completing at the end of 2020.

“A key factor was that Leyard’s European manufacturing facility and head office is in Slov

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28 October 2024

India - Powersoft’s Mezzo, Duecanali and Quattrocanali amplifiers, complemented by its new Verso gateway device and monitored via the MyUniverso cloud platform, are at the heart of a sound system delivering multi-zone audio for both background music and live sound at Bellandur Social in Bangalore.

Housed within an oval-shaped glass dome, Bellandur Social is a hub for entertainment where patrons can enjoy fine dining under a canopy of natural light during the day and a high-energy nightclub at night. The 54th Social establishment by Impresario Hospitality, headed by Riyaaz Amlani, Bellandur Social is inspired by nature and aims to create the feeling of a “garden city” within its walls.

Designed to accommodate 1,500 patrons across three floors, Bellandur Social needed high-quality, powerful audio across multiple zones, including a DJ area at fron

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25 October 2024

Ukraine - The Jam Factory is a new contemporary art centre and a collaborative community event space, set in a reimagined Neo-Gothic former distillery and one time jam factory in picturesque Lviv, the largest city in western Ukraine.

All technical elements – lighting, sound, video, trussing, cable infrastructure, automation and the control systems – for the main auditorium and performance area were supplied by Dnipro-based Sound House, one of Robe’s Ukrainian distributors, with Robe LEDWash 300s and ParFect 150s on the lighting rig.

Sound House won the tender and undertook the technical design, specification, installation, commissioning and delivery of all Jam Factory’s technical production components.

The Jam Factory project started in 2015 when the then derelict building was acquired by the organisation of cultural entrepreneur, Har

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25 October 2024

USA - Lighting designer Whitney Hoversten is shaping the visual spectacle of Bruno Mars’ shows using Elation Proteus series lighting. From his eight-year residency at Park MGM in Las Vegas to selling out stadiums worldwide, Hoversten has employed the IP-rated Proteus lighting to enhance and complement the global superstar’s performances.

This year began with seven sold-out shows at the Tokyo Dome in Japan, followed by performances in Mexico, Asia, the grand opening of LA’s new Intuit Dome, and regular dates at his Las Vegas residency. He played in Brazil this fall with a record-setting number of shows and will wrap up the year back in Vegas.

Hoversten has been along for the ride for nearly eight years and his position has evolved. Today, he wears many hats including production designer and describes this year’s journey as less of a tour and m