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Lighting

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Rental Management System (RMS), has become even faster and easier to use, and the new version of the software will be shown at the PLASA Show. With over 2000 users world-wide, RMS is a market leader in the supply of software for professional rental companies. The software is available in nine languages, including English, German, French and Spanish. New 'cut and paste' shortcuts allow users to easily move items from one job to another, or to convert a job into a (new) packaged item. The multi-sites option also has new features: from within a job, the user may see both the local stock-situation, as well as the situation at the available sites added together. With another mouse-click, all jobs (from the local or from a selection of sites) that hold an item in a given period, can be viewed. The crew-planner is a new module that allows for entering comprehensive labour details. Personnel may

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The Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU) has defeated the UK Government at the European Court of Justice over the UK’s implementation of the Working Time Directive. The UK’s Working Time Regulations 1998, which implements the Directive, entitles workers to a minimum of 20 days paid leave each year. But employees are not entitled to the leave until they have completed a qualifying period of 13 continuous weeks with the same employer. This means that many freelance and contract workers who work for less than 13 weeks have been denied a right to take paid leave.

BECTU launched a legal challenge to the UK legislation and on 26 June 2001 the European Court of Justice (ECJ) accepted the opinion of the Advocate General of the ECJ, which stated that national governments may not exclude groups of workers from the rights that the directive gives them.

City Theatrical - Banner - July 2025

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Fred Bentham’s Memorial Service took place yesterday at the Palladium Theatre in London. Over 100 colleagues, friends and family members attended the Memorial Service, which was a celebration of the life of the man who many regard to be the founding father of the lighting industry. Roger Fox introduced a number of tributes to Fred from colleagues in the industry. Francis Reid talked about Fred’s insight into the art of theatre and its technical requirements, whilst Brian Legge and Alan Luxford of Strand recalled their time at Strand with Fred and his early involvement with the ABTT. Bob Anderson spoke of Fred’s impact on lighting at the BBC during the 1950s and his work on the Riverside Studios, whilst John Watt paid tribute to the man he felt had played a large part in designing the equipment most in the lighting industry grew up with. Richard Pilbrow reminded the audi

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The opening of Bounce at the Roundhouse Theatre, by Nick Grace Management, brings a major international production of a highly-rated dance company’s work to London.

Lighting designer Patrick Woodroffe first visited the BouncE Streetdance Company in Sweden in 2000, with the troupe’s management and producers, to guage the potential for a major international production of the highly-rated company’s work. Woodroffe recalls: "We saw that we could translate what they were doing into something even more exciting. Les Brotherston became involved as designer and came up with this wonderful set design for the Roundhouse, on the understanding that Bounce would first do production rehearsals in Ealing, then a six-week run of the show in Sweden before moving to London."

Brotherston’s set has a wide central stage and two raised ‘satellite’ side stages

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Utopium Lighting designed and provided all of the lighting for the spectacular London launch party for Hollywood’s latest blockbuster, Pearl Harbour. Utopium’s team worked 16-hour shifts through the scorching bank holiday weekend at their Bristol offices preparing equipment prior to installation on a tight time-frame at the University of London Senate House. Over 240 lights were installed in little over eight hours into six themed areas and two reception areas, under the direction of the company’s MD Colin Bodenham who designed the whole show.

The building’s façade was spectacularly lit with lighting and custom projection of the Stars & Stripes theme, whilst the skyline was pierced by two authentic Second World War searchlights. Inside, art deco silk flames in each of the alcoves hid an assortment of lights washing the room in red, white and blue, with an array

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White Light and The Moving Light Company have been selected to supply the lighting equipment to the West End transfer of Trevor Nunn's acclaimed Royal National Theatre production of the classic musical My Fair Lady. The production, which stars Martine McCutcheon and Jonathan Pryce, opened at the National's Lyttelton Theatre in March to critical acclaim. It will return to its original West End home, the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, in July: the original production of the show held the record as the longest-running show at that theatre until its achievement was finally beaten by Miss Saigon, which also used lighting equipment from White Light.

The lighting for the new production of My Fair Lady is designed by David Hersey, making his return to musical theatre lighting after his 18-month sojourn sailing around the world. For the Drury Lane production, Hersey, his associate Jenny Kagan and pr

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For the first time, a comprehensive study of the effects of theatrical smoke has set absolute limits on the amount of smoke that can be used safely on stages.

The report, jointly commissioned by Actors’ Equity Association and the League of American Theatres and Producers, concluded that Actors are at risk when exposed to "elevated or peak levels of glycol smoke and mineral oil." However, it also noted that if exposure levels are kept below the limits established in the study, actors should "not suffer adverse impacts to their health or their vocal abilities."

Further details of the report will appear in the July issue of Lighting&Sound International, being mailed on July 15. If you would like to receive a copy of the magazine, e-mail news@plasa.org

Further information on the study can be found at

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Vari-Lite is lighting the way for rock-n-roll greats, Aerosmith, during the band's Just Push Play tour. Earlier this month, the band performed at the first of 50 US cities it will visit over a three-month period this summer before touring the rest of the world later this year and into 2002. The shows feature the use of the Virtuoso console. Lighting designer Jim Chapman is using 84 Vari*Lite luminaires combined with the control of the Virtuoso console, operated by lighting operator and programmer Benny Kirkham, to light the famous band. Chapman's rig includes 16 VL2416 wash luminaires, 14 VL2402 wash luminaires, 26 VL5Arc wash luminaires and 28 VL6C spot luminaires. "I like using a mixture of the old school type of lighting and the more current type of computer lighting," said Chapman. "Vari-Lite has always been the front-runner with computerized lights, and the VL2402 is

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Due to be launched at PLASA 2001, the innovative ChromaRange is a new state-of-the-art family of LED technology lighting fixtures designed and manufactured by Pulsar Light of Cambridge. Each fixture houses 80 powerful, high efficiency LEDs. These comprise of a mixture of Red, Green and Blue types to allow endless RGB colour mixing - making 16.7 million colours possible. The LEDs have a rated life of 25,000 hours at full power white, but this is greatly increased if the fixture is dimmed or producing coloured light as in normal use. The units can crossfade slowly from any colour to another or strobe if required, as they feature fast-response electronics. Alternative clip-in diffusers will be available for different beam angles and shapes allowing various effects to be achieved. The LED units boast a high light output, and the infinite colour palette ranging from pastels to deep intense hu

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The Moving Light Company has added Vari*Lites to its extensive hire stock. The latest additions are the VL2202 spot luminaire and VL2402 wash luminaire. Both based around the same case design, familiar from Vari*Lite's popular VL6B luminaire, the VL2202 and VL2402 both use a 700W short arc lamp to provide high light output. The VL2202 spotlight offers a wide zoom range, fixed and indexing/rotating gobos wheels and an interchangeable colour wheel, while the VL2402 washlight, one of the most talked about products at last year's LDI trade show, offers CMY colour mixing coupled with a highly controllable variable beam.

Both units have already been specified for the forthcoming UK tour of Miss Saigon by lighting designer David Hersey, where they will replace the VL2C spot luminaire and VL4 wash luminaire used on the original London production. The Moving Light Company will be supplying Miss

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This week Show Technology’s managing director Emmanuel Ziino made a major commitment to the rapidly growing area of architectural lighting by appointing Jonathan Ciddor as architectural products manager. Ciddor has been involved in the lighting business for over 30 years, the last 15 specializing in taking entertainment lighting to architectural and theming applications to create interesting lighting solutions. This wealth of knowledge will now be used to develop Show Technology’s position as one of the leaders in innovative architectural lighting in Australia.

Jonathan’s own experience on large scale architectural and theming projects is vast and he has worked on a wide range of projects. He is currently working on the permanent location of the Olympic Cauldron at Homebush Bay involving over 20 Clay Paky Goldenscans. The installation of this project is by Beyond Audi

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Thommy Hall who has joined California-based Mobolazer to manage the sales department. Hall is well known throughout the lighting industry and was previously in New York City as northeast region sales manager for High End Systems. He also spent two years in Hawaii as sales manager for Hawaii Stage and Lighting and was also lighting director of the highly acclaimed production of Ulalena at the Maui Myth and Magic Theater.

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A documentary team are planning to do a report on what they believe is Europe’s oldest working lightbulb. The star subject has reportedly been working perfectly well in the garage of a family based in Cetinje, Yugoslavia, since it was first installed in 1910.

However, the Yugoslavian bulb has some way to go before it catches up with a feisty old lightbulb still serving duty in a fire station in the US city of Livermore. The 4W bulb recently celebrated its centenary.

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During our time at the recent TiLE show at the Business Design Centre in Islington, we took time out to call in on Lighting Technology’s newly established office on the second levelof the Design Centre.

Dave Cartwright and Richard Reed, both on temporary secondment from the Group’s Park Royal HQ, were more than happy to show us round. The new base, which features both a sales office and showroom area, is championing the promotion of Lighting Technology Projects’ specialist architectural lighting products portfolio, which incorporates product lines from manufacturers around the world, including Color Kinetics, ETC Irideon, TIR LightPipe, Astralux, Derksen and Phoenix - as well as numerous other architectural lighting and control products. Graham White, recently recruited from Absolute Action, heads up the new office with Clive Tallent and Sarah Davis joining him from P

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PLASA 2001 sees Avolites also launch the Art2000-US 20 Amp digital dimmer, specifically designed for America.

The Full Mains Patching, virtually silent operation and 100% duty cycle, 20 Amp channels will satisfy America’s sharply growing demand for portable, high density touring dimming systems.The Avolites Art-2000 dimmer is an established and proven design, and the American system utilises the flexible Dimming or Mains Distribution modular design that has made the Avolites Art dimmer popular around the world.

The system features a Mains Patch with four sockets per dimmer channel (total 192) to 162 Patch Cords connected to 25 Socapex and 12 Stagepin outlets. All patch cords are numbered, colour coded and utilise the 32 Amp rated ‘Multi-lam’ contacts. Mains connection is via 5 wire Camloc inputs complete with Camloc loop outlets. The Rack system is supplied with Vol

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Just two years ago the PRG group of lighting companies added Midnight Design and the Spot Co to their UK operation. At the time PRG's stated aim was consolidation of the two companies with the recently-established UK branch of Production Arts, and at the same time to forge a working relationship with LSD in Birmingham. Indeed, well known lighting industry executive Alan Thomson was appointed specifically for that task, "and", he was happy to announce last week, "it's a task we've just completed. The final shipment of equipment from the inventory of Production Arts has already been unloaded into our facility here in Croydon."

The integration of these three well-regarded companies into one cohesive unit has produced many changes besides the amalgamation of resources and inventory. The combination of experience and know-how has allowed expansion into new markets, not l

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The heart of downtown Montreal is racing with excitement since the May 2001 opening of NewTown, a spectacular four-storey complex which includes a bar, restaurant, lounge, and terrace, and is owned by Quebec-born F1 driver Jacques Villeneuve and associates. NewTown is dream project which has taken several years to plan and build. From a huge demolition process to an outstanding rebirth, NewTown has become a modern structure while preserving its rich historical and architectural roots. The club on the bottom floor is where much of the action takes place, beneath 24 Titanium MiniMac profiles from Martin Professional, supplied by Canadian dealer Solotech. Lighting designer for the venue was Francois Roupignant, product specialist was Paul Pelletier

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The 2001-2 Learning On Screen Annual Production Awards were again a huge success, with a record 165 people attending the presentation dinner, promoted by the charity, The Society for Screen-Based Learning. Strand Lighting sponsored the Best Lighting Award - which this year went to Supernova for their training video, e.asywriter. The video is set inside a PC, and Supernova’s Vincent Thompson describes e.asywriter as encouraging the effective use of e-mail. According to Thompson: "Everyone needs to know how to use e-mail properly - just as they need telephone and business writing skills. We wanted to create a fun story that would make practical points about using email effectively. We came up with the idea of inventing an email control room - a mix of high-tech and old-fashioned post room, using Chromakey to show the user ‘looking in’. The lighting was instrumental i

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DHA Lighting is continuing its international expansion with the announcement of the appointment of Clearlight Shows Pty Ltd as its new Australian dealer for the DHA range of moving effects and image projectors. Clearlight Shows is one of the longest-established theatrical lighting hire companies in Australia, and its lighting equipment range includes everything from profiles, moving light systems and colour scrollers to smoke machines, special effects, disco lighting effects and drapes. The company has developed an excellent reputation in the Australian marketplace and is relied upon by corporations, major theatres, television stations and schools throughout the country. The appointment follows a meeting between the two companies at PLASA 2000, and together the two companies will be concentrating on the architectural market.

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Los Angeles-based DJ equipment supplier American DJ recently completed a major expansion at its newly-acquired distribution centre in Miami, Florida. Encompassing nearly 20,000sq.ft of warehouse space, the enlarged Florida facility will now service all ADJ dealers located east of the Mississippi, as well as the company's growing customer base in Central and South America.

Establishing a base in Miami will allow American DJ to provide Eastern dealers with faster turnaround on orders, while keeping shipping costs down, explained ADJ general manager Scott Davies. "Our company's success has been built on providing dealers with unsurpassed service and the most affordable prices on lighting and audio gear, and we want to be able to continue to deliver these things, even as our business grows," Davies commented.

Among the improvements made at the Florida facility was the installat

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Stagetec (UK) Ltd has recently won three major contracts covering a diverse selection of production industry areas. In the theatre market, the company is supplying and installing a complete new sound system at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford. The theatre 3D-modelled the auditorium to ensure optimum coverage and intelligibility, and were demonstrated several systems. They chose a Nexo system, supplied by Stagetec, consisting of eight PS15 mid/high speakers, four LS1200 sub-bass cabinets, plus three PS8 speakers for delays, all driven from Crown Macro-Tech amplifiers. The whole system is controlled via a Crown USM810 digital processor and three Sabine Graphi-Q digital programmable graphic EQs - the idea being to offer a quick, easy and very flexible system catering for the wide range of productions. Stagetec also supplied a Soundcraft K2 mixer, a range of outboard equipment and a Sennheise

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Irish lighting design and technical consultancy LDPS Ltd has moved into new offices in central Cork as part of an on-going expansion and recruitment programme. The new address and contact details are: LDPS Ltd, Studio Office 11, Fareham House, 26/27 MacCurtain St, Cork, Ireland. Tel: + 353 21 450 8162, fax: + 353 21 450 8168.

The LDPS team has also been strengthened with the appointment of Bertie Buckley as company administrator. Buckley previously worked as assistant to the director of Cork Opera House, and his experience and knowledge will be a great asset to LDPS. The recent move to the larger, centrally located premises is significant, and is designed to integrate all aspects of the growing LDPS team into one creative and administrative space.

LDPS was formed by Grant Collie (pictured) in 1998 to offer consultancy, lighting design and project management services and solutions to

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Vari-Lite Inc has announced that Bob Schacherl has joined the company as vice-president of sales and marketing. Schacherl will lead Vari-Lite's worldwide sales and marketing efforts for the new line of Vari*Lite luminaires and consoles. "We're excited to have Bob as part of the Vari-Lite team," said Clay Powers, president and chief operating officer at Vari-Lite. “Bob's knowledge and experience will be instrumental in helping us to achieve our goal of making Vari*Lite the preferred brand in automated lighting technology."

Schacherl joins Vari-Lite with over 20 years’ experience in the automated lighting and entertainment marketplace, and a successful track record in building effective worldwide sales organizations. He is a founder and former president of High End Systems, from which he resigned at the start of this year.

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Last November Selecon dealer Stage Electrics added 50 1200 High Performance Fresnels to its hire stock. To date the staff have been overwhelmed with the response to these popular luminaires which provide high light output, excellent beam control and are the perfect principal luminaire for the medium to large stage. The constant high demand for the units has prompted the decision to further boost the hire stocks by adding another 100 units this summer. Adding further spice to its hire stocks Stage Electrics has also introduced 40 new Selecon Acclaim Axial 18/34 Profile luminaires. Having been designed for applications requiring precise beam control, this versatile luminaire delivers for short or longer throws, pattern projection or accurate area illumination - fantastic for use within both the corporate and education markets.
  1. Clay Paky at Intel
  2. SPS Announces Record Profits
  3. LDI & Expolatina 2001
  4. Transtechnik Upgrade for Berne Stadttheater
  5. Theatrical London 2001
  6. Stagetec Install for DH Lawrence Theatre
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