Another new addition to this year's rig was the Vari-Lite VLX Wash. Together the luminaires blended seamlessly with the numerous Tungsten fixtures, providing the various productions with a plethora of LED associated advantages.
While the RAMA LED Fresnel luminaires took care of the warm and cool Front of House wash light two VLX Wash luminaires were installed as key light FOH with two additional luminaires providing back key light.
"Both the Selecon RAMA LED Fresnel and the Vari-Lite VLX Wash luminaires have beautiful dimming curves," says Owen Horton, theatre manager at C south. "They dim all the way down to zero without a bump at the bottom."
The RAMA LED Fresnel also has the advantage of requiring only a single channel of control, just like a regular tungsten Fresnel. Because of the high CRI of the 3000K LED engine, regular lighting gels, diffusers and frosts match exactly in the LED Fresnel against placing those filters in an older tungsten Fresnel. It therefore easily blends with the adjacent tungsten and LED beams to provide even illumination across the wide C south main theatre stage.
Not only that but crucially both the VLX Wash and the RAMA LED Fresnel help to minimise the heat output and power consumption of the venue as Horton explains, "The low power consumption of both these luminaires is vital for C south as the venue is ordinarily a church and available power is limited. The VLX Wash and the RAMA LED Fresnel draw just 120W each.
Richard Williamson, head of production at C venues, adds, "We've been working with Philips for four years now, and being able to try out the LED luminaires has been great. The benefit of having low power and low heat-generating LED luminaires is fantastic, especially in Fringe venues, which tend to be temporary theatres with limited power and ventilation. We already use a large number of the Selecon Acclaim range of Fresnel luminaires in our theatres and it's been brilliant integrating the new LED fixtures. We're very appreciative to Philips for all their help."
(Jim Evans)
