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UK - Summer cocktails hosted by WiSE (Women in Stage Entertainment) went down a storm at the ABTT show. WiSE Industry sponsors were invited to dabble in cocktail design by inventing their own cocktails to raise money for industry charity, Light Relief.

The cocktail line up included: the Avolites Ruby Rum, Charcoalblue Cooler, White Light Wimms, Rosco Lux Sangria, Phillips Entertainment Blue Hawaii and the drink with no name from MA Lighting.

Whilst sampling the various concoctions on offer, WiSE sponsors, members, guests and the press had the chance to network, make new friends and give generously to charity. Ultimately the event raised a respectable £137 for Light Relief, all in the space of just a couple of hours.

Coral Cooper, industry veteran and Philips Vari-Lite trainer was cocktail coordinator extraordinaire and kept the

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Mandarin Musical - Mamma Mia! opened in a new Chinese version in Shanghai on Monday, marking the musical's 14th different language production. Producers say it marks the first time a major West End or Broadway musical has been translated into Mandarin for a Chinese audience. It is produced in China by United Asia Live Entertainment Co for China Arts And Entertainment Group by arrangement with Judy Craymer, Richard East and Bjorn Ulvaeus for Littlestar in association with Universal.

Craymer commented: "The challenges have been immense because what we're doing here is genuinely pioneering. There's virtually no infrastructure for commercial musical theatre in China, so finding the talent we needed - actors, technicians, stage crew and musicians - proved extremely difficult, locating a theatre to accommodate us took a long time and even translating the lyrics into a tona

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UK - Following on from previous successful courses, Avitas is hosting another seminar on temporary power systems for events on 3 August at White Light in London. The one day course focuses on how - and why - the IET Wiring regulations and BS 7909 apply to temporary events and delves a little into why they are relevant and more importantly how compliance is not necessarily difficult.

As well as looking at how to implement them correctly it also examples where current practice is not always best practice, showing where potential dangers exist in a typical event. It will also be of particular use to rental companies as the course gives the delegate a sound understanding of the importance of portable appliance testing.

The content is aimed at those with a reasonable appreciation of electrical systems and covers areas such as multiple sources of supply, RCDs, earthing and bonding,

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UK - PLASA Events has announced the first details of the PLASA 2011 Education and Learning Programme, which runs on all four days of PLASA 2011, at Earls Court in London from 11-14 September 2011.

Headlining the programme is the 2011 Gottelier Masterclass presented by last year's winner of the Gottelier Award and one of the best known designers in the industry, Fred Foster. The theme of his talk will be a huge draw since his title is A Call To Arms - We Must Protect the Quality of Light.

Says Foster, "Faced with the headlong rush towards 'energy efficient' lighting, we as an industry must join together to defend the quality of light. While we have a duty to make and use more efficient sources of light, we must also work to ensure that these sources provide the beautiful full spectrum of light." The Gottelier Masterclass will be presented on Monday 12 September

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UK - Live communications and production company DesignScene has expanded with the addition of Matthew Rickard to the project/production management team.

Rickard has a background in music, live performance and experientials and joins the west London based company mid-way through an exceptionally busy year. As a senior production manager, he will be heading up the production department and working closely with DesignScene's founder, creative director and show producer Attila Keskin, together with others in the company.

Keskin comments, "It is challenging to find people who are exactly the right fit. We wanted a knowledgeable production manager with great communication skills and hands-on technical and practical experience to compliment our multi-disciplined team, and Matt is a perfect match. Music is integral to most of our work, so his past experience with bands and DJs wi

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UK - Tait Technologies has appointed Carol Scott as chief operations officer for Europe.

Scott has an extensive track record in both the international and domestic touring markets and will utilise her proven management experience to integrate the European and North American operations to provide a seamless operation on both sides of the Atlantic, says the company.

"Tait are an extremely well respected brand known for their innovation and technology; I am very excited to have the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated professionals," says Scott. " We aim to continue and expand the delivery of first class stage sets and motion control technology to a global market."

(Jim Evans)

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UK - PLASA 2011 sees the announcement of a new presence in the global lighting industry, the multi-faceted Alderamin Group. The organisation is exhibiting at Stand 1-E32.

Specialising in the provision of comprehensive project solutions for the entertainment, leisure, architectural and retail lighting sectors, Alderamin Group comprises four key companies: Ptarmigan Integration, Artistic Licence Integration, Artistic Licence Engineering and Ten Thousand Things.

The Ptarmigan and Artistic Licence brands are already established in the industry. Now, their respective founders, Simon Fraser and Wayne Howell, have joined forces to create Alderamin Group, an organisation that promises to" reshape the lighting industry landscape".

"We believe we have a winning formula," says Howell. "Ptarmigan and Artistic Licence complement each other fantastically well, as

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Germany - Nexo's 45ºN-12 stage monitors have made their festival debut in Germany on the centre stage of one of the country's largest events - the new 'line monitors' were used by drummers on the main stage of Rock im Park, courtesy of rental company satis&fy AG Werne.

Together with its sister event, Rock am Ring (Rock at the Ring), Rock im Park (Rock in the Park) is one of the biggest music festivals in Germany. It takes place around Nuremberg in the south of Germany; headliners this year included Disturbed, System of a Down, Coldplay, Alter Bridge and Kings of Leon.

Rental company satis&fy AG Werne, specialists in live entertainment and tour support, worked extensively with Reinhard Steger, rental sales engineer from Nexo's German distributor audiovation, to test the new N-12 line monitors before offering them to the festival stage.

For a stereo drum-fill set, satis&fy us

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UK - Mojo Barriers helped ensure the safety of thousands of Foo Fighters' fans when the band performed two sell out concerts live at the Milton Keynes Bowl earlier this month. The shows took place at the open-air amphitheatre on 2 and 3 July, and were attended by over 45,000 fans each night.

Mojo Barriers' UK offices worked closely with the production and promoter SJM Concerts, to install a 600m barrier system. The configuration was one of Mojos' customary designs encompassing the B stage , thrust and primary barrier as one continuous system surrounded by a secondary line for both a safe zone and a 'golden circle'. Mojo also had a 200m bar barrier system on site for Central Catering. Mojo Barriers' supervisor Greg Johnson, oversaw the installation.

Kevin Thorborn, Mojo Barriers' UK manager, said, "Amidst a busy summer it is testament to our international logistics, suppor

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UK - After several years of successfully deploying its inventory of Yamaha M7CL and LS9digital mixing consoles on a wide variety of events, production company Subfrantic has recently made a major further investment in two PM5D-RHs and aDSP5D. Hardly were the new mixers out of their packaging than they were heading for a festival field.

Held in late June at Kings Hill, Kent - a mixed residential and business development ton what was formerly the RAF West Malling aerodrome - Music On The Hill was a family-friendly three-day festival, all proceeds of which went to two Kent-based children's charities, the Demelza Hospice Care for Children and The Children's Development Trust.

The live music was divided into a distinct theme on each day - classical/opera on the first, pop on the second and tribute/'heritage' acts on the third - which made it an ideal test for Subfrantic's la

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USA - Located in Mt. Crawford in west central Virginia, Southard Audio is a regional sound company that, during its 30-plus years in business, has made the move from local events to large arena-sized shows. Two major initiatives have powered this expansion: a long-term cooperative partnership with Richmond-based Soundworks, and a mutual reliance on Turbosound Flex Array loudspeakers.

"Our relationship with Turbosound goes back more than 20 years," notes founder and president Mike Southard. "When it was time to expand into a line array system, it was easy to see the benefits of the Flex Array. It's a great-sounding PA, very loud for its footprint, with easy and straightforward rigging - a perfect complement to our existing inventory."

That system was put to the test at a recent 11,000 seat show featuring Snoop Dogg at the Coliseum of West Virginia University

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International - There are just 10 days remaining to make your nomination for the 2011 Gottelier Award.

When the Nomination phase closes on Friday 29 July, the shortlist will be announced and voting - open to PLASA Members, as well as PLASA Show Exhibitors and Pre-Registered Visitors - will begin on Monday 1 August.

This prestigious award is presented each year during the PLASA Show to someone who has made "a significant and sustained contributions to the advancement of entertainment, presentation or installation technology - whether in audio, lighting, rigging, staging, or any other related field".

The Award was introduced in memory of Tony Gottelier, the highly respected lighting designer, product developer and industry commentator who passed away in 2006.

Previous Winners:

2007 - Tony Andrews | Funktion-One

2008 - John Stadius | DiGiCo / Soundtra

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Theatres at Risk - The Theatres Trust has called on local communities to fight to save theatre buildings which are at risk. Some 58 UK buildings are on the trust's 2011 'at risk' register, with the Brighton Astoria and London's Cochrane Theatre among those facing demolition. It said it hoped legislation, including the new Localism Bill, would empower groups and individuals to "take on the guardianship of theatres at risk".

Theatres in Wallsend, Alsager, Ayr and Glasgow were all recently demolished. The at risk register also features theatres threatened by neglect, local development, funding cuts and closure. The trust said this year's register highlighted the impact of austerity measures over the past year. It praised "the tireless efforts of community and campaign groups who are the guardian angels of many UK theatres". But it said there was still "a de

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USA - SHS Global, a production equipment brokerage agency, has been named the US representative of Theatrixx, a Montreal-based manufacturer of power distribution systems and the North/South American distributor of Visualed.

"We are excited to give SHS Global the opportunity to represent our brands in the US," said Theatrixx Technologies CEO Jacques Tessier. The representation includes the Visualed touring LED screens and X-Vision installation LED screens. It also includes Theatrixx' own brand of LED fixtures under the X-Focus line, along with Theatrixx power distribution systems.

This is SHS Global's first representation of new products. The privately-owned company - under the direction of president/founder Leigh-Anne Aiken and VP/CTO Jean Lariviere - has specialised in brokering pre-owned lighting and staging equipment since 2005, but is now branching out with audio

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USA / China - Strengthening the representation of its Elan, Niles, Xantech, and Aton brands throughout China and Taiwan, The AVC Group has announced the appointment of CAS Group, formerly Xantech China, to serve as its exclusive distributor in the region. The announcement was made by Mark Terry, president of The AVC Group, who said that CAS Group will now work closely with Claude Sabourin, international sales manager, Asia at The AVC Group.

"Cliff Wong and his team of proven professionals at the CAS Group have what it takes to bring our brands to the next level of success in China and the surrounding regions," Terry said. "They have the experience, relationships, and commitment necessary to strengthen our leadership position in this vitally important and growing market. Their prior success with Xantech speaks well for their future success with our other brands.&qu

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UK - Lighting&Sound International magazine is now available in app form - Get access to the latest digital edition as well as our huge archive with LSi-View!

Readers can download the free app from Apple's App Store and browse the magazine on their iPhone or iPad, wherever they are.

LSi-View not only allows you to flick through the latest digital edition of the magazine (as well as our archive of back issues), you are also able to download useful or favourite issues or articles for future reference.

To visit the App Store and download your free LSi-View app, simply click here.

(Claire Beeson)

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Sweden - Gröna Lund Amusement Park, located in Stockholm, has recently inaugurated two new rides, including the Blå Tåget.

The Blå Tåget ride already existed but has gone through a total makeover. This ride is a ghost train loaded with new chills, thrills and effects especially designed for visitors' enjoyment. The train passes through several chambers, each filled with skeletons, scarecrows, rats, wolves, fire, lightning, ghosts and more.

The setting inside the ride was designed by artist Magnus Sörman and the entrance to the ride was designed by Joakim Hansén. For the technical making of this scary adventure-ride, Kreativ Teknik was contacted by Gröna Lund. Kreativ Teknik, a Swedish-based company which mainly works with lighting, control systems and effects, selected Medialon to be part of the project.

Kreativ Teknik delivered a total solution including light

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Northern News - Scotland's oldest working theatre, the Theatre Royal in Dumfries built in 1792, has been saved from closure with support from the local charitable Holywood Trust. The trust has agreed in principle to make a "substantial contribution" towards work required to upgrade the theatre and make the building weather-tight. The Guild of Players, which has owned the 215-seat theatre since 1959, will also be able to purchase two adjacent properties.

Children's Favourite - Bristol Old Vic's production of Swallows and Amazons is to play in London's West End for a five-week Christmas run. Based on the classic children's novel by Arthur Ransome, the songs for the musical have been created by The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon. It will be directed by Bristol Old Vic's Tom Morris, co-director of the National Theatre's West End hit War Horse. The show wi

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UK - News of another interactive new feature area at PLASA 2011 has been announced. The Theatres Trust will return to PLASA 2011 with an expanded version of its innovative Ecovenue feature, the area that gives visitors the chance to see how 48 pioneering London theatres are putting sustainability into practice.

Located in Earls Court 2, the feature takes the form of a theatre-in-miniature, complete with 'auditorium', 'stage', 'backstage', 'foyer' and 'box office'. In each area The Theatres Trust will demonstrate proven sustainability techniques, as well as featuring technologies from PLASA 2011 exhibitors.

Tim Atkinson, theatre building services advisor to The Theatres Trust, comments, "The larger space means our stage will be able to accommodate a greater variety of presentations and events. Another key development is that, whereas last year we had only signed up half of

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UK - Budding sound engineer/producer Philip Cook is the second recipient of the Music Producers Guild Prize, which was launched last year to reward the most promising student to graduate from the LIPA (Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts) Sound Technology degree course.

The prize was presented by MPG chairman Steve Levine and MPG director Tony Platt during LIPA's annual graduation ceremony, which took place on 29 July. Also present was LIPA lead patron Sir Paul McCartney.

The aim of the Music Producers Guild Prize is to recognise the student who, in the opinion of his or her tutors, has shown the most exceptional talent, initiative, commitment and consideration to the art of music recording and production.

Jon Thornton, who heads LIPA's three year BA (Hons) Sound Technology course, says, "We chose Philip because he has shown enormous dedication, particularly during

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UK - Electrosonic has announced the promotion of Theresa Davis to account manager for corporate solutions. Davis joined Electrosonic in 2004 as sales support to the corporate solutions team. She has since worked in various roles in both corporate and service solutions.

Colin Lemmings, vice president of corporate solutions commented, "Theresa has been and continues to play an instrumental role in the success of the corporate solutions team. Having worked in both corporate and service solutions, Theresa has a thorough understanding of the business and has played a significant role in the success and growth of the small works business; she will now use this experience to further relationships with key clients across Europe".

Davis has been with Electrosonic for over six years working in various positions. Prior to joining Electrosonic, Davis worked as a senior financial

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UK - West London-based lighting rental company Colour Sound Experiment supplied site wide lighting, projection and AV for the Secret Garden Party festival - one of the UK's original 'boutique' style events, a celebration of music, arts, creativity and expressive fun. A cast of thousands is encouraged to engage with ideas and dreams for four days of imaginative freedom in a secret garden location in East Anglia near Huntingdon.

It was the first time that Colour Sound has worked for the event, and it was also the first outing for Colour Sound's new BT12 12 mm pitch LED screen, a new lightweight product that has been designed and manufactured exactly to their spec.

The investment is to cater for the growing demand for visual and scenic display surfaces that are becoming increasingly integrated into 'lighting designs'. For Secret Garden, a total of 210 panels of the BT12 screen wa

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Germany - Sound engineer Joerg Grünsfelder has been using a Midas PRO6 live audio system for the Dolby 5.1 surround sound show, Jud Süß in Worms, one of Germany's biggest theatrical productions. The show, which ran during June and July, attracted 2,000 people each night. All audio and video equipment including the PRO6 was provided by German rental company Medienpark Vision from Worms.

The outdoor production, staged in the shadows of Worms Cathedral, tells the tale of great friendship between a duke and his adviser Joseph Süß in a moving drama based on love, hatred, prejudice, betrayal and an unprecedented judicial scandal.

"I use Midas consoles primarily because of the sound and their phenomenal cross-fade option, which allows me to create simple global cross fades and also very complex fades by using unique cross-fade-groups," says Grünsfelder. "M

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The Netherlands - The first of Visual Productions' CueCores have left the Dutch factory to fulfill orders placed by distributors including those in Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the Netherlands and UK dealers and customers have been enjoying the new CueCore with installations in museums, a shopping mall and a themed swimming pool already having taken place.

In designing the CueCore Solid-State Control, Visual Productions addresses the issue of maintenance in installations.

The CueCore is a lighting controller for permanent installations in museums, themed venues, parks, architectural lighting projects, bars and clubs. The device is completely solid-state, with no moving parts; it is a secure and low-maintenance installation control solution with minimal power consumption.

The hardware connectivity includes 1024 DMX Out, 512 DMX In, MIDI, MTC, SMPTE Real-time

  1. Utopium Lighting adds Philips Selecon
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  6. The Week in Lighting & Sound
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