Over 50 of Ayrton's MagicPanel-R units are used to create a wall on the central stage, where their versatility makes them ideal as audience blinders as well as using their continuous double rotation and effects capabilities to create a myriad of visual feasts. Routledge first spied the Ayrton MagicBlade-R fixtures at PLASA last year where they were a major feature on the Ambersphere stand. Over 100 of these are put through their paces on the show.
"The MagicBlades are not just another flashy effects tool," says Routledge. "They really provide something very new for a designer to exploit. On this show I've been able to use them as a light curtain, to mimic video content and to make optimum use of their spectacular continuous rotation feature. They work very hard here and have proved to be a really reliable fixture."
The Clay Paky Mythos is at the top of Routledge's spec list. One hundred and twenty units are given the opportunity to display their wares. "On a stage of this size, the Mythos' ability to maintain its sharpness all the way along its beam is a designer's gift. Despite the rig being 18m in height, I can still create beautiful texture on the stage, providing real theatricality to the show with the same fixtures that can really do the punchy pop stuff as well." Another 60units of Sharpy Washes make up the rest of the Clay Paky luminaires providing seamless wash and colour.
There is one Robert Juliat Lancelot 4000W HTI for each of the band, while the four Robert Juliat Victor 1800W MSR followspots are used for the many other performers who occupy this vast stage space.
Routledge is touring with three grandMA2 consoles: one test, one back-up and one live. By using MA Lighting's VPU software package he is able to seamlessly conjoin the lighting and the video. "The fact that our desk knows where all the lighting is in 3D and being able to direct video to all parts of the rig without having to merge multiple strands of information is all down to the MA 3D visualisation platform. It turns what could be a really complex operation into something straightforward and efficient."
Routledge praises the support he's received from Ambersphere Solutions. "Ambersphere really got behind us on this. Working hand-in-hand with our rental supplier, Neg Earth. This is a huge rig by anyone's standards and much of it was delivered direct to site because the units were so new, particularly the Ayrton MagicPanel-R, MagicBlade-R and the Mythos."
As Ambersphere Solutions, sales director, Philip Norfolk remarks, "It's really rewarding to be working so closely with the designer during the creative process and right through to the post delivery support of such a prestigious tour. The entire Ambersphere team at one time or another has been involved with this project, whether that has been the admin, logistics, support or service stage. Tim's faith in our ability to support him means a great deal to us and Neg Earth's commitment to continually invest in cutting edge equipment is what enables extraordinary events like this to happen."
For more information on Take That's latest tour, see the July issue of LSi - OUT SOON!.
(Jim Evans)
