The giant arena thunders with the hooves of Australian horses as the performance starts, creating an electric atmosphere with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, as leading stunt riders and stockmen playing out the story of two rival cattle stations. On arrival, guests enter a traditional Outback Pub for a cool beverage, receive their own Stockman's hat which they wear whilst barracking for their cattle station. Alongside this, a traditional Australian BBQ is served while the action unfolds.
Production values are exceptionally high in this attraction. The Outback Spectacular show lighting was designed by John Rayment and is lit with over 300 assorted theatrical fixtures and 40 moving lights, and a PIGI large format projection system throws large still images onto the backdrop. Audio comprises a 12.1 surround sound system - close to a conventional concert system but strategically split for the special sound effects required.For lighting control, Warner Brothers selected the Avolites Diamond 4.
Tony Marshall, operations/production manager for the new venue, explains that the current production requires four DMX universes of lighting control, and that planning for future expansion was an all-important consideration. "Many of the consoles we initially looked at were limited to only four universes," he says. "The is D4 has eight - and is also expandable yet further."
Local back-up and support for the console was also a key requirement. Avolites Australian distributor Universal Lighting & Audio (ULA) is nearby, and so also are a selection of fully qualified technical staff from International Sound & Lighting (ISL) and Venutech Technologies - already under existing service contract arrangements - so the comprehensive support requirements could be met.
The show opened last month. Marshall says "The D4 is has been a pleasure for our operators to programme and operate. During the hectic pre-production period, time-saving features like updating cues made life a real breeze."
The Outback Spectacular's Senior lighting technician and chief programmer Clint Dulieu completed the majority of the programming.
(Lee Baldock)
