UK - Theatres Trust has unveiled details of its 2022 conference. The event will take place under the banner of Theatres Fit for the Future and be held on 11 October (Tuesday) at Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London. Theatres Fit for the Future will explore what the new post-COVID ‘normal’ looks like and what this means for the way theatres are designed, adapted and operated. The conference will bring together a mix of speakers and case studies, alongside opportunities for discussion and sharing of best practice. Sessions will feature theatres that are exploring new business models to ensure they not only survive but thrive in this new environment, looking at how they are generating new income streams and finding different ways to engage with their audiences and communities, and developing partnership approaches to increase resilience and impact. A
USA - The Meyer Sound stand at InfoComm in Las Vegas pulled steady crowds throughout the show. “This was our first major trade show presence since early 2020 and it was a great feeling to welcome back all the dealers, customers, and associates we’ve known over the years,” says director of global marketing, Tim Boot. “When the live event industry suffered setbacks during COVID, the installation market remained surprisingly strong for us, and we were happy to show our appreciation with hospitality through the show.” Making its major trade show debut at InfoComm was Meyer Sound’s new Panther large-format linear line array loudspeaker. A major focus at InfoComm was Meyer Sound’s exclusive IntelligentDC technology, which uniquely combines the installation advantages of low voltage distributed systems with a level of performance possible only with self-p
UK - Digital Stages, five dynamic digital events celebrating Chichester Festival Theatre (CFT) across the decades, will be released over CFT’s birthday week in July for audiences across the globe. The events range from VR tours and online performances to a new virtual game created by CFT’s community companies for adults with learning disabilities. In Visionary Stages, actors Sir Derek Jacobi and John Simm, author and playwright Kate Mosse and designer Joanna Scotcher join CFT artistic director Daniel Evans and the artistic director of the Stratford Festival Theatre in Ontario Antoni Cimolino, for a virtual meet-up using modern technology to recreate Chichester’s 1962 stage. During lockdown, the Festival Theatre auditorium was scanned by the specialist company Preevue with LiDAR technology, enabling them to recreate the 1962 stage using plans, photog
UK - PLASA Show is returning to West London from 4-6 September, and those wishing to attend can now register via the event's website. Taking place at Olympia London’s Grand Hall, the entertainment technology tradeshow promises to deliver some of the latest technology, product demos, and delve into key industry issues. There will also be four showfloor theatres running over 60 sessions on a range of topics across the three days. The event will provide plenty of opportunities for networking with leading companies from audio, AV, lighting, rigging and staging, each one showcasing popular products and new releases. Some of the brands returning this year include Robe, Ambersphere, ETC, AC-ET, Adam Hall, L-Acoustics, Sennheiser, Chauvet Professional, Leisuretec, Highlite, Polar and
UK - As part of the build up to next year’s event, Showlight will exhibit at ABTT for a chance to meet with future delegates, exhibitors, sponsors and speakers face-to-face. The ABTT Show takes place at Alexandra Palace on 22-23 June and for the first time since 2019. Showlight will be on stand E32, which is situated close to the Education Alley, the Associations Area, and the refreshment area. Showlight is the only international event organised for lighting professionals by lighting professionals and runs over four days, with the next event to be held on 20-23 May 2023. The quadrennial event focuses around presentations delivered by lighting designers from all disciplines, and offers an opportunity to network at a range of social events, workshops and dinners, plus the Grand Conference Dinner. Showlight 2023 will see around 25 exhibitors join the occasion, w
USA - The DALI Alliance is set to present two showcase seminars at LightFair 2022, a trade show and conference for architectural and commercial lighting taking place at the Las Vegas Convention Centre on 21-23 June. The seminars will focus on two hot topics within the lighting control arena - smart lighting with D4i-enabled luminaires, and the benefits of the Zhaga-D4i ecosystem - delivered by eminent experts in the field. The DALI Alliance will also be present on Booth 2371 at the exhibition, from where it will set out how this open, global consortium of lighting companies is helping to grow the market for lighting-control solutions based on DALI-2 and D4i. On 22 June at 11:00-12:00, the DALI Alliance will deliver a seminar on smart lighting with D4i-enabled luminaires, exploring energy reporting, asset management, predictive maintenance and more. Experienced
UK - Void Acoustics enjoyed a busy ISE trade show and reports a positive response to the new Cyclone 4 – the latest compact, versatile addition to the Cyclone speaker series. “Our expectations for ISE have most definitely been exceeded,” says Josh Pearce, EMEA sales manager for Void Acoustics. “We had designed an open and welcoming stand for us to re-connect with many of our existing customers – both from Europe and from further afield. And there was a constant stream of global customers and potential new customers coming onto the stand from as far afield as Mongolia, Israel, India, Central America and Africa. As well as the UK and all the main European countries. It was fantastic to be able to greet our global family and to see so many people face-to-face for the first time in a long while.” The Void team reported constantly high footfall onto the stand
France - The 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival is, for the first time, hosting a virtual production space powered by disguise - marking a new milestone in virtual production’s expansion into the European film and television industry. Film and television group Film Soho, is partnering up with virtual production innovators disguise, ROE Visual, global video solutions provider CVP and content studio ZOAN to showcase a virtual production stage in the garden of the Grand Hotel in Cannes - hosting many of Cannes Festival’s A-list participants. Visitors will step into a virtual production volume, powered by disguise and will become fully immersed into rich environments such as expansive city scapes and lush Icelandic country scenes - all designed in Unreal Engine and Notch. Visitors can drop by the space during the festival to receive demonstrations of the techno
UK - The Roadie Games will take place alongside this year’s Kartfest, charity Backup has announced. Described as a “fun-filled addition” to the main event, the Roadie Games will include tests of strength, endurance and industry skills such as a Socapex Tug of War, Radio Mic Challenge, Followspot Small Bore competition, and Lamp and Spoon race. The Games will run alongside the annual industry karting day with drivers and non-drivers encouraged to enter. New entrants specifically for this event are also welcome. Teams, companies and sponsors are invited to register their interest in taking part at kartfest@backuptech.com
UK - At PLASA Focus Leeds, Prolight Concepts Group unveiled a new distribution partnership with Lucenti. On show from the Belgian lighting manufacturer were the Blackwave pixel bar series and Vinci DMX-addressable festoon lamps. Blackwave is a IP66-rated series of pixel-mappable bars controllable by Art-Net or sACN. The fixtures have a 120° viewing angle and a black front cover, with clear, frosted, rounded or square covers also available. The system is configured by using one controller for up to 64 bars arranged in groups of eight (1m bar) or 16 (0.5m bar). The strips are easy to link via the Blackwave combined power and data cables, and benefit from automatic patching, configuration and a bi-directional feedback and monitoring using the www.klstr.tech technology. The 1m and 0.5m bars are designed to be used in demanding environments like stages, clubs and on
UK - During last week’s PLASA Focus Leeds, Entec UVC SafeClean presented its research on creating COVID-free environments and busted some of the myths surrounding pathogen eradication. Entec UVC SafeClean specialises in environmental germicidal disinfection, effective against COVID-19 variants as well as all other viruses. During the seminar at the Bury Theatre, Entec Group chairman Nick Pendleton presented scientific research on creating COVID-safe environments. He opened up by asking the audience several questions relating to their own personal COVID experience, and some 80% stated they expected COVID disruptions to continue, and almost as many said they had been involved in an event affected by COVID. “I was very surprised to receive such a strong view that the risk and problem had not gone away,” reflects Pendleton. Aided by a portable Goldensea UVAIR 216 ul
UK - ETC will be heading to Leeds for the return of PLASA Focus on 10 -11 May with new products to showcase - Eos Apex, Source Four LED Series 3 and fos/4 - on stand N-C06. The 2022 edition of PLASA Focus Leeds, a key industry tradeshow for entertainment technology in the North of England, takes place in the Royal Armouries Museum and will host a variety of industries including live events, entertainment and installation. ETC looks forward to meeting with visitors and customers in-person at the show - which returns after three years - and presenting new product releases. ETC’s next generation of lighting control Eos Apex will make its UK debut at PLASA Focus Leeds this year. The new console offers industry-leading lighting control hardware, powerful, award-winning software and programming surfaces which are suitable for top-level control for the most advanced prod
UK - City Theatrical will demo its latest technologies on stand N-C04 at PLASA Focus Leeds 2022 at the Royal Armouries Museum. Live demos will include the Multiverse wireless DMX/RDM 2.4GHz system, including PLASA Award for Innovation winner Multiverse Transmitter 2.4GHz, the Multiverse Studio Kit for film and video, RadioScan Spectrum Analyser, and DMXcat Multi Function Test Tool, as well as QolorFLEX 5-in-1 and HiQ High CRI LED Tape, QolorFLEX Multiverse wireless DMX/RDM Dimmers, and other City Theatrical unique lighting accessories. In addition to its special commendation in the 2019 PLASA Awards for Innovation, the Multiverse wireless DMX/RDM system was recognised as the winner of the Live Design Award for Best Debuting Product at the 2018 and 2019 LDI Shows in the USA, for the ability of the Multiverse Transmitter 2.4GHz to broadcast up to 10 universes of DMX data
USA - Behind the Scenes has announced that rock‘n’roll photographer and author Neal Preston is returning to The NAMM Show this June in Anaheim. He will be signing his newest book Queen: The Neal Preston Photographs and speak about his experiences photographing the band over two decades. Produced in collaboration with Queen, the book features over 200 images and is a ride through their years on the road together. It is the first time Preston and Queen have collated this work in one volume. Glimpses of life backstage, live performances, post-performance highs and lows, and outtakes - many of which have never been seen before - are accompanied by memories and anecdotes from Neal with forwards by Queen guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor. Preston’s book Exhilarated & Exhausted and posters, including his famous images of Freddie Mercury, Rob
UK - The 12th edition of PLASA Focus Leeds will open its doors from 10-11 May at the Royal Armouries Museum, bringing live entertainment technology to the north of England and reconnecting industry professionals from across the live events sector. More than 150 brands from the audio, AV, lighting, rigging and staging sectors will showcase their technologies – including never-before-seen products - and promote their services across two show halls. Also returning is the free seminar programme, which will run throughout both days. PLASA MD, Peter Heath, comments: “We are so delighted to see the return of PLASA Focus Leeds after two long years away. I’m sure there will be a huge buzz across the two show halls, with much catching up to do. And the programme will see industry leaders share strategies and solutions for the 2022 landscape of live events and entertainme
UK - Entec UVC Safe Clean will host a seminar entitled Future-proofing events in a post COVID world at the upcoming PLASA Focus Leeds tradeshow, taking place at the Royal Armouries on 10-11 May. During the seminar, a panel of application and scientific experts, including medical adviser, Dr. David Lawrence and Adrian King, lecturer on medical innovation, will set out practical ways of safeguarding events from the financial and health costs of illness and cancellations. Moderating this lively discussion will be Entec chairman, Nick Pendleton. Explaining the seminar’s underlying message, Pendleton says: “Theatres, rehearsal and production facilities, sports industries and all forms of event and entertainment promotion have come to recognise that whilst masks may partially reduce transmission of virus from affected individuals, manual cleaning and chemical spra
Europe - Robe returned to major live exhibition shows with a new live production, Cuete & The Beast, created exclusively for the Prolight+Sound 2022 expo and presented last week in Frankfurt. Robe made a very strong statement with the show, offering a new booth design as well as launching five new products and showcasing five others seen for the first time at a major trade show. Robe’s CEO Josef Valchar comments: “Given the last two years with the pandemic, we didn’t have any specific expectations for Prolight this year, however the response has been extremely positive with a very busy booth every day that’s been a good hub for communication and generating great vibes.” He noted that Robe’s live show was crafted specifically to illustrate how the different types of fixtures can be utilised, showing the product functionality and why they h
Europe - Prolight + Sound 2022 attracted 20,000 visitors from 93 countries, according to the organisers. After a break of two years, the Frankfurt event brought together companies and professionals from all segments of the industry. Wolfgang Marzin, president and chief executive officer of Messe Frankfurt, reflects: “By all pulling together, we have achieved something that, at the beginning of the year, many people thought would be impossible: the companies and associations of the event and media technology sector joined forces with us to show once again how much life and positive energy is to be found in this industry.” “We are delighted we have succeeded with Prolight + Sound in triggering this important restart and that we can once again all come together with no restrictions. Both exhibitors and visitors were hungry for spontaneous meetings,” adds Linda Res
Spain - At Integrated Systems Europe (ISE), LED processor manufacturer, Brompton Technology, will be demonstrating the rapid advancements it has made in LED processing technology since its last appearance at the show in 2019. Brompton’s newly designed stand will include an LED screen dedicated to High Dynamic Range (HDR) and accurate colour reproduction, a centrally positioned LED display demonstrating the company’s latest software developments, along with a product display area and private meeting space. With the increasing uptake of Virtual Production by multiple sectors of the industry including product launches, and corporate and live streamed events, the features in Brompton’s Tessera software, which offer an ever-increasing level of control, including a wide gamut of colour and image controls that allow users to correct and optimise the image on the screen
Germany - Prolight + Sound in Frankfurt opens today, returning after a two-year break due to the pandemic. It is also the first event of this year at Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre. Around 400 companies from more than 30 countries are taking part. The trade fair is rounded off by a programme covering issues such as the roadmap for event operations that are both safe and as derestricted as possible, the increasing shortage of skilled workers and the responsible use of natural resources. “Prolight + Sound 2022 represents a milestone after months of hard challenges” says Wolfgang Marzin, president and chief executive officer, Messe Frankfurt. “For us as a fair and exhibition company, the tasks faced over the last two years have bonded us even more closely together with the professionals of the event industry. Just as our halls had to remain unused for long per
USA - Avnu Alliance recently hosted an international plugfest in Boston, MA. Avnu members came together and tested their respective silicon platforms and products together. Tests included new additions to the TSN ‘toolbox’ such as the recent revision to 802.1AS (IEEE 802.1AS-2020). Learnings and results are informing further development of Avnu test plans. The plugfest included four Avnu member silicon companies: Analog Devices, Intel, NXP Semiconductor, and Texas Instruments. Also present were companies with end devices using TSN, including professional AV companies Adamson Systems Engineering, L-Acoustics, and Meyer Sound, as well as test equipment supplier Keysight. Members were able to connect their platforms and devices in different configurations following a plan that was structured prior to the event to ensure optimum coverage and use of the time. The mix o
Germany - TMB will reveal details of its new distribution centre in Riga, Latvia and introduce a selection of new products at Prolight+Sound in Frankfurt. “We have opened a TMB location in Europe in direct response to the expanded demand for TMB products throughout the region,” says Tim Obermann, TMB Europe’s sales manager. “The solid reputation of TMB brands, along with TMB’s constant innovation and recognition of the needs of our customers, makes for an exciting future. Our goal is to make TMB’s products and services easily accessible to all our customers and friends around the world.” Premiering at the show will be TMB’s new ProPlex BuckBoost Drive System. This system’s patent-pending technology completely overcomes the cable length challenges of low voltage LED lighting, especially LED “neons” and tapes. It allows centralized and remote (up
Germany - Obsidian Control Systems is returning to the Prolight + Sound show and invites designers, programmers and operators to Hall 12.1, Stand C49 to sample a host of new releases that includes several new lighting control products under the Onyx lighting control platform. Visitors will have a chance to demo the new NX1, a portable yet full-featured lighting console that offers the complete Onyx experience in an ultra-compact package. The NX1 offers a slate of professional features and is built from the latest in industrial components. A compact, motorized fader wing, the NX P, as well as a small USB-powered control surface for Onyx, the NX K will also be on display. The latest developments in the Onyx platform will make their debut at the show, from powerful NDI video input connectivity to new fixture parameter configuration options. New devices in Obsidian
Germany - Wireless LED lighting specialist Astera’s product focus will be on the new Astera technology launched last year - the award-winning PixelBrick, the AX9 PowerPAR and AX2 PixelBar - plus the NYX Bulb which is suitable for shows, sets and installations. The massively popular and omnipresent flagship Titan Tube family of products will also be on the stand. Additionally, the new Astera HydraPanel will be previewed. Under wraps until the show, this ‘pixel panel’ product offers an extensive range of features not found elsewhere in its small, powerful package, complete with wireless and wired DMX options, plus many beam-shaping modifiers. PixelBrick offers flexibility and multi-functional light source with the power of Astera’s Titan LED engine coupled with the practicality of its popular AX3 LightDrop product, all in a completely new and fully adaptable hou
