UK - Over 300 guests and sponsors were entertained to a spectacular gala dinner at Birmingham's Hippodrome Theatre on Saturday 14 May 2011. The event raised £40,000 towards the one million pound refurbishment cost to improve the weight loading capacity of the Hippodrome's stage, which will enable the theatre to host bigger and heavier touring productions.

The event brought together the well established working partnership of prolific UK lighting designer Adrian Barnes and Matt Clutterham of specialist lighting and event service provider MattLX. All under the careful control of the Hippodrome's technical manager and former MattLX project manager, Barry Hope.

The Theatre was turned on its head with the audience seated on the stage immersed in the performance technology, whilst the spectacular evening's entertainment performed over and around them. Hosted by the glittering Christopher Biggins, with Panto star Paul Zerdin and the amazing aerialist Safia - the event saw the lighting team working again with Pantomime and Entertainment producer Qdos Entertainment, under the direction of Jonathan Kiley.

The set-up featured over 60Martin moving lights, Pixeline LEDs and 150 generic fixtures driven from a Wholehog console.

(Jim Evans)


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