The Netherlands - The HOFtheater, a prominent cultural venue in the Dutch town of Raalte, has taken a major step towards the future by investing in LED lighting technology from Elation. The investment, facilitated through Elation’s Dutch distributor, Rolight, has elevated the theatre’s creative capabilities, and opened up new possibilities for both artists and technicians.
After an extensive search to find lighting that met their high standards for quality, versatility, and energy efficiency, the HOFtheater selected a combination of 24 Elation KL Profile FC ellipsoidals, 16 Fuze Profile moving heads, and 24 KL PAR FC. The new fixtures are now providing high-quality overhead, front, and backlighting for performances, offering a substantial upgrade from the theatre’s previous conventional halogen fixtures, some of which dated back to 1965!
Hans Blokpoel, head technician at the HOFtheater, who has worked at the venue for over 30 years, explained the benefits of the new system: “The more we use it, the more we see the possibilities. The lights are quiet, user-friendly, and the output is outstanding. We no longer need to change colour filters or purchase new lens tubes, and the reduced power consumption is a huge cost-saving. We’re thrilled with the results.”
The transition to LED was an obvious choice for the theatre, especially considering the growing difficulty of sourcing replacement parts for the old halogen system. After securing funding for the upgrade, the theatre turned to Rolight and Elation for a solution that would meet their specific needs as a small theatre with a relatively low ceiling.
The HOFtheater hosts a wide variety of events, including plays, live music, stand-up comedy, and school performances. With a seating capacity of 300, it’s crucial that the lighting system be flexible enough to adapt to different event needs while maintaining high-quality, uniform lighting. The KL Profile FC, KL PAR FC, and Fuze Profile fixtures deliver just that, offering advanced colour control and dynamic lighting effects.
The lighting installation was completed in August 2024 with the first events using the new lighting taking place in September. The HOFtheater technicians, along with the many volunteers who support the theatre, are enthusiastically looking to the future. This investment promises not only an improvement in the quality of the shows, but also offers new creative freedom for artists and technicians.
“The new lights have elevated the quality of our productions and we are very happy with it,” Blokpoel concluded.
