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13 December 2024

UK - The £100k Funding Campaign for 2030 Outdoor Event Sector’s Climate Transition Plan has hit 75%. Wide support from across the sector has secured production of the Show Must Go On Sector Transition Plan, which will set ambitious climate plans for 2030 for the festival and live outdoor events industry.

Chris Johnson, Vision: 2025 chair, states: “The working group is delighted by the widespread support from an industry struggling against the economic backdrop in 2024. This is an acknowledgement that now is the time to show leadership and ambition in taking action, meeting the urgent challenge of climate breakdown, and coming together as an industry to chart a clear path.”

Vision:2025 is working with the AIF and other industry organisations to raise the final 25% to reach the £100k target. The remaining funds will underpin the promot

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13 December 2024

UK - After another year of ‘inspiring and groundbreaking entries’, the ABTT’s Stephen Joseph Committee faced a challenge in selecting the 2024 Award winner, which honours innovative and inclusive theatre excellence.

Named in tribute to leading post-war British theatre pioneer and founding ABTT member, the Stephen Joseph Award celebrates the bold ways in which theatre practitioners push boundaries in using theatre space and forging close, creative connections between performers and audiences.

After a lively and passionate discussion about the submissions, the judging panel reached a unanimous decision: the 2024 ABTT Stephen Joseph Award goes to Frozen Light, a Norwich-based company that is revolutionising multi-sensory theatre for audiences with profound and multiple learning disabilities.

Presented at the ABTT Christmas Party, Bob Milli

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13 December 2024

Italy - The organisers of Afterlife invited fans to embark on “a captivating sensory journey and unique immersive experience” when promoting their show at the Snai Hippodrome in San Siro, Milan.

The one-day techno event delivered a multi-sensory mix of music and visuals that enveloped fans in a transformative blend of sensations.

Afterlife’s creator Tale of Us performed at the event and was joined by a line-up that featured Mind Against, Massano and Olympe as well as two performances alternating on stage by Anyma introducing Genesys, and Mrak introducing We Don't Follow. These DJ sets captivated with the telling of intimate and visionary travel stories of the musicians behind the decks.

Supporting the DJ performances and endowing them with even greater mind-expanding power was an audio and visual prod

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13 December 2024

USA - Elation capped off a successful 2024 LDI Show by winning the Product Innovation Award for Paragon, the company’s new flagship series of intelligent lights for entertainment.

Toby Velazquez, ADJ Group global CEO, comments: “We would like to take this moment to commend the incredible efforts of our engineering and R&D teams, along with everyone involved in the development of what we believe is the finest moving head series Elation has ever produced. The creation of Paragon stands as a testament to their dedication, technical brilliance, and unwavering commitment to excellence.”

At the centre of Elation’s Experience Tomorrow booth, Paragon captivated attendees throughout the show and featured in the company’s crowd-pleasing hourly light show.

“From the very beginning, this project was guided by a singular focus: to

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12 December 2024

UK - This year, at the ABTT Members' Christmas Party on Friday 6 December, the Association of British Theatre Technicians, with the support of ETC and LW Theatres, honoured four of its members by awarding them Honorary Membership and Fellowship for their extraordinary work.

ABTT co-chairs Mig Burgess and David Evans kicked off the afternoon at the Gillian Lynne Theatre, welcoming the crowd and sharing the exciting news that this year, more members than ever would be celebrated. The Awards began by announcing that there were “two exceptional individuals whose contributions to the Association have been nothing short of extraordinary. This prestigious recognition of Honorary Membership is reserved only for those who have truly excelled in advancing the ABTT’s charitable goals – and these two individuals have certainly done just that.”

The first

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12 December 2024

Japan - Kadokawa Daiei Studio Co, a video and film production studio based in Tokyo, has unveiled its new facility, No.C Stage. This virtual production studio now features Brompton 4K Tessera SX40 LED processors and Tessera XD 10G distribution units powering Sony Crystal LED VERONA, marking a significant investment in advanced LED display technology.

These enhancements are designed to elevate the studio’s capabilities in in-camera visual effects (VFX), enabling the creation of immersive, high-quality virtual environments for films, commercials, and other creative projects.

Kadokawa Daiei Studio, part of the Kadakawa Group, has consistently been at the forefront of innovation, blending cutting-edge technology with traditional art production expertise. The studio is set to install a Sony Crystal LED Verona LED wall, measuring 15m wide by five metres

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11 December 2024

UK - After another successful year of ideas being entered, the ABTT Virtual Ideas Platform had the tough job of choosing a winner for the 2024 Idea of the Year Award.

Set up as collaboration between the ABTT and Guildhall School of Music & Drama, the Virtual Ideas Platform serves as an informal introduction service between independent creative innovators and commercial developers behind the sectors’ leading brands, products and services.

Following a stimulating debate about the submissions, the judging panel came to the unanimous decision to present the ABTT Virtual Ideas Platform 2024 Award to Steve Macluskie, lecturer at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and Toby Cass, third year production technology and management student for their innovative product Beam Strap which is a lightweight beam clamp derivative, designed to take the hassle and

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11 December 2024

UK - Lady Gaga can always be counted on to set a singularly flamboyant fashion bar. The singer certainly didn’t disappoint when she appeared with co-star Joaquin Phoenix at the London premiere of the Warner Bros. film Joker: Folie à Deux.

Wearing a scarlet satin faille Celine gown paired with a matching bold-shouldered bolero jacket, accented by a 20-karat Tiffany brooch and sporting crystal tear drop jewellery under her right eye, the singer-actress captured widespread media attention for her appearance.

While the media focused on the star’s impressive fashion statement, the team at Milton Keynes-based Impact Productions Services (IPS) were impressed by how vivid the images displayed on the Chauvet Professional REM 3IP panels they installed looked in the press coverage of the event.

IPS used the bright, 3.9mm pitch video panels

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11 December 2024

UK - The Rose Theatre Kingston, the largest producing theatre in south-west London, has become the first performing arts venue in the UK to install Martin’s MAC Viper XIP, adding 30 fixtures to its house rig and replacing the theatre’s previous MAC Encores as its principal moving-head fixture.

Emma Sayers, head of lighting & stage at the theatre, first encountered the MAC Viper XIP at a private demonstration at the 2023 PLASA Show. After a direct comparison with the older MAC Encores, she was impressed by the superior performance of the new fixtures. “The colours are so much more saturated, and it does pastel colours nicely too. And because you can do the high contrast colours and the subtle colours it works for what we do here,” Emma says. "It was ticking all of the boxes."

The fixture's ability to handle both bold, high-contrast colours

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10 December 2024

UK - Taking place at The Vaults beneath Waterloo Station, Rhythm and Ruse offered theatregoers an immersive night of magic, music and revelry. Harkening back to the prohibition era, the show took place in a ‘Speakeasy’ and allowed audiences to experience astounding close-up illusions from mere inches away, live music from a four-piece jazz band, a secret society of magicians devised by immersive theatre experts as well as food and drink across the evening.

The show featured a lighting design by up-and-coming designer Skylar Turnbull Hurd, with this being her first time lighting a show of this scale and with a full LX team. With its reputation for both supporting young lighting designers, as well as supplying immersive theatrical productions, White Light (WL), a d&b solutions company, was called upon to provide the show’s lighting fixtures.

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10 December 2024

UK - The Last Dinner Party is a British indie rock band formed in 2021 and fronted by lead singer Abigail Morris. Promoting their new album, Prelude to Ecstasy, the band has just completed a two-month UK and EU tour with a theatrical set, and lighting design by award-winning LD, Ed Warren.

Key to Warren’s design were Ayrton Rivale Profiles and Kyalami laser-sourced spots, compact units which fit well into the touring rig. Warren used seven Rivale Profile and 12 Kyalami on the stage floor behind the band and 27 Rivale Profile and 24 Kyalami spread across three overhead trusses.

“For our spots we needed something with a nice wide zoom and smooth colour mixing as the main spots of the show,” says Warren. “The Rivale Profiles met these criteria very well. We used the floor spots to backlight the band and predominantly Abi, the lead singe

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10 December 2024

Ukraine - The Anniversary Concert of Onuka, accompanied by the renowned Naoni Orchestra, took place at the majestic October Palace in Kyiv, celebrating a decade of Oouka's career.

Astra Wash19Pix fixtures by Prolights, supplied by Complex-V, were utilised, delivering lighting that highlighted the orchestra and created a dynamic visual experience. Compactly positioned among the orchestra, the fixtures seamlessly enhanced the ambiance of the event. Additionally, the outer pixel ring of the Astra Wash19Pix was used to craft dramatic visuals that perfectly blended with the structure and rhythm of the show.

The lighting design was led by the creative duo Vasilii Tonkonog and David Vasilenko, while the production was expertly managed by Franz Audio. Together, their collaboration brought an immersive and visually stunning environment to life, complementing

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10 December 2024

UK - Sarner International has announced its appointment by East Staffordshire Borough Council to lead the initial visitor experience design stages for the ambitious Brewery Heritage & Social History Experience in Burton-upon-Trent.

This new immersive visitor attraction aims to celebrate Burton-upon-Trent’s pivotal role in brewing history and revitalise its standing as the home of IPA. Blending advanced technology, engaging storytelling, and interactive elements, the experience will reveal the art and science of brewing beer while highlighting Burton’s historical role as a global leader in beer production and the social fabric that shaped the town.

Through a sensory journey into Burton’s brewing heritage, visitors are introduced to the concept of Burton’s naturally mineral-rich water and immersed in the tale of the ‘waters of life’. Th

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10 December 2024

UK - Avolites has announced the release of Prism Early Access, the latest edition of its popular media software. Prism Early Access (E.A.) edition can be downloaded for free via the Avolites website and becomes operational when used in conjunction with an AVOKey. The full Prism ONE paid licence release is currently scheduled for Spring 2025, when the Early Access edition of Prism will be superseded.

Prism is a specialised software application developed by Avolites, principally for lighting designers, tailored for media playback and designed specifically for the live events and entertainment industry. Prism (E.A.) edition introduces multiple banks and layers that can be controlled via Prism's UI and/or via Avolites lighting control application Titan which utilises the Synergy layer control.

Prism is composed of two parts – the server and the UI. The

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09 December 2024

Hungary - Lightware Visual Engineering has detailed its comprehensive Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) approach. These efforts reflect the company's dedication to integrating sustainability into all aspects of its operations.

Lightware has acknowledged the impact of its activities on the environment, society, and the economy and is committed to embedding sustainability into its business strategy. The company emphasises that the values embodied in its products and services are the foundation of its success.

To ensure the longevity of its products, Lightware has implemented comprehensive testing protocols, robust engineering processes, and ongoing after-sales services such as technical support. A guideline highlights how sustainability aspects are integrated into product design, addressing factors like energy efficiency, IT security, accessi

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09 December 2024

USA - Country music group Midland has taken to the road for the Get Lucky Tour with a lighting system provided by long-time vendor, Bandit Lites. The Grammy-nominated group (comprised of Mark Wystrach, Jess Carson and Cam Duddy) recently released their fourth studio album Barely Blue to critical acclaim.

“It’s a whole new tour, whole new look, whole new set, whole new lighting setup and stage plot,” Carson told a Rio Rancho reporter. “It’s just fun to rebuild the set list and the whole, kind of, live experience when you have a new album. You can kind of integrate that into it, but it’s going to be the same Midland energy and entertainment, so it’ll be a fun night of honkey-tonkin’.”

Inspired by the retro rigs seen on various tours, Cam Duddy (bassist for Midland and creative director) sought a PAR can look. Working

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09 December 2024

USA - As part of Elation’s Experience Tomorrow campaign at LDI 2024, Elation is introducing a new immersive digital campaign experience at www.elation.global. The interactive experience showcases the company’s product series and technologies, including the new Paragon and Rebel series, through interactive storytelling and dynamic product demonstrations.

Framed as a gateway to new creative realms, the digital experience offers an immersive exploration of the future of lighting design featuring Elation product series, including Obsidian Control Systems and Magmatic atmospheric effects.

Complementing Elation’s in-person presence at Booth #2224, the digital campaign experience underscores Elation’s LDI theme of discovery, inviting lighting professionals to

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09 December 2024

USA - ChamSys is introducing three new products that have been engineered to put more choices directly in the hands of lighting professionals. Debuting at the company’s LDI Booth #1653, the ChamSys MagicQ Compact Wing and GeNetix TouchScene are loaded with features that ‘take flexibility to new heights, helping users excel in a variety of settings’.

A simple, portable solution, the MagicQ Compact Wing offers 20 playbacks – 10 fader and 10 executor. Each section can page through multiple playbacks via its own Next and Previous page buttons. All the playbacks feature a large full-colour display with the legends located directly above each playback. The 10 playback Faders feature Flash, Go and Select (via its Touch display), while the 10 space-saving Executor playbacks employ a Select and Execute button for each playback.

Adding to its impressiv

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06 December 2024

UK - Production Futures’ next On Tour event will take place at the Roundhouse, London, on Tuesday 4 March 2025.

The free-of-charge event will promote employability, transferable skills, diversity, free training and networking, and will present paid work opportunities to newcomers across the live event and broadcast production industry.

Visitors to the show will enjoy a packed schedule, which includes special guests, talks and panels, while industry workshops will offer young visitors the chance to engage in a wide range of activities, from preparing to be job-ready with industry-oriented CVs, to hands-on exploration of lighting programming, CAD, audio engineering, as well as getting under the skin of music production, virtual production and event production planning.

Hannah Eakins, CEO at Production Futures comments: “We’re abs

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06 December 2024

The Netherlands - Next Venue recently completed an impressive lighting installation in the entrance hall of the Midden Nederland Hallen in Barneveld, welcoming every visitor with an ambience perfectly suited to the ongoing event.

While the venue is currently hosting the acclaimed 40-45 musical, which attracts large numbers of visitors every weekend, the setup is a permanent enhancement to its multifunctional spaces, ensuring a seamless blend of ambience and functionality.

The venue's entrance greenhouse, formerly part of Floriade 2022, is now a 6,000 m² foyer with a blend of natural light, elegant fixtures, and energy-efficient solutions. The installation includes 100 Infinity Raccoon Junior P7/4 fixtures, each fitted with a 40° filter, strategically mounted in the trusswork of the glass atrium. These high-performance fixtures provide exce

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06 December 2024

Romania - Cuget Liber Media Group has unveiled the newly renovated Club SNC in Constanța, transforming a historic building into a modern venue for media, cultural, and professional events. Now home to the Cuget Liber daily and online newspaper, Sursa de Sănătate (Source of Wellness), and Antena 3 Constanța TV channel, the venue has become a hub that combines modern functionality with advanced technology.

To meet the high standards of this space, Prolights, in partnership with its Romanian distributor SC ARA Events Solutions, delivered a lighting system tailored to Club SNC's needs. Audiovision, the project integrator, ensured flawless installation and performance of the system, which includes EclProfile FWVWBK, EclFresnel VWBK, LumiPar 12UQPro, Jet Wash19, and Jet Hybrid200.

This lighting system supports a variety of ac

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06 December 2024

USA - Robe’s award-winning iBolt – a bright moving light fixture billed as ‘the first real replacement for conventional high powered xenon searchlights’ – has been approved by authorities for use in the USA and is now available for the North American market.

iBolt utilises a potent laser light source, and is action-packed with Robe innovation as the result of six new patented solutions protecting this technology and ensuring safe operation. The luminaire can produce ‘jaw-dropping, glamorous, high-impact beams and effects for any spectacular, event and occasion – both indoors and outdoors’.

iBolts play a major role in Robe’s Fifth Dimension live expo performance concept and presentation staged at LDI 2024.

The iBolt’s LSW-5 white laser phosphor light source produces potent beams of light for optimum performance and

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06 December 2024

USA - Making its world premiere at LDI, Claypaky’s Ultimo Hybrid combines a high IP66 rating and extended lamp life in a compact, lightweight fixture packed with innovative features.

Offering impressive brightness, a wide zoom range, and a versatile effects engine, it allows lighting designers to push creative boundaries and craft remarkable visual experiences. Powered by an advanced 550W short-arc lamp, Ultimo Hybrid offers an impressive 19,000-lumen output and a lifespan of up to 4,000 hours, providing reliable performance across countless shows while reducing replacement and energy costs, making it the go-to solution for low-maintenance applications.

Its motorised linear zoom smoothly delivers precise coverage in both projection modes, from tightly focused beams to evenly collimated spots. Despite its compact size, the fixture boasts a 160mm (6.

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06 December 2024

USA - Elation is unveiling the Paragon Series at LDI 2024 in Las Vegas. The series delivers ‘powerful, precision lighting that combines state-of-the-art innovation and robust weatherproof rating with an authentic understanding of designers' creative aspirations’.

Visitors to Booth #2224 will be transported to a retro-futuristic spaceport lounge, a gateway to lighting’s next frontier, where Elation’s latest innovations, including the Paragon series, will be on full display. This immersive booth balances technology with mid-century aesthetics, setting the stage for a journey through lighting’s next era.

Combining multiple fixture roles in a single, adaptable design, Paragon offers flexibility without compromise and has already generated anticipation across the lighting community. LDI attendees will be the first to see it in action and have th