Numerous manufacturers and service providers from the fields of stage lighting, trusses, rigging, lifting technology, curtain systems, show textiles and seating have already signed up to exhibit at Prolight + Sound. They include Alfa System sas, American Dancewear, Bu?hnenbau Schnakenberg, Bu?tec, ChainMaster Bu?hnentechnik, Chemtrol Divisio?n Teatro, Enforcer Pülz, ETC, Gerriets, Jelmez-art, Maquinas Iberica and Quinette Gallay.
"We noted the desire of the theatre sector to make presentations and get together at the same time and place as other parts of the event industry", says Prolight + Sound director Michael Biwer. "Now, we are taking account of this with the establishment of the Stagery product segment, which will give companies, retailers and professional users a good reason to take part in Prolight + Sound."
As part of the Stagery segment, Prolight + Sound is organising the Theatre and Film Colloquium, a special programme of lectures for the target group at which experienced speakers will offer valuable insights into theatre technology, stage settings, costume design, legal issues and safety aspects. The Theatre and Film Colloquium is one of the main lecture blocks of the Prolight + Sound Conference and is supported by important organisations from the sector including the Society of Theatre Costume Makers (Gesellschaft der Theaterkostümschaffenden e. V. - GTKos) and the Federation of Film Makers' Associations (Bundes-vereinigung der Filmschaffenden-Verbände e.V.).
Prolight + Sound has always aimed to bring companies from the sector together with specialist retailers and professional users. To ensure that visitors from the theatre sector can find relevant exhibitors quickly and easily, Messe Frankfurt is publishing a special Stagery Quickfinder brochure clearly listing important exhibition stands in the five exhibition halls. Additionally, all exhibitors from the theatre sector can be found without difficulty thanks to a special-interest filter in the online search engine.
Another aspect of the new Stagery segment is a VIP programme for theatre planners on the Thursday of the fair, 16 April 2015. Besides the broad spectrum of products and the multi-faceted lecture programme, registered visitors profit from a variety of benefits and special highlights.
The expansion of the target groups to include the theatre sector is also reflected by the alliance with Showtech, which will be incorporated into Prolight + Sound in 2015.
The other trade associations supporting Prolight + Sound are the German Theatre Technology Association (Deutsche Theatertechnische Gesellschaft - DTHG), the European Association of Event Centers (Europäischer Verband der Veranstaltungs-Centren - EVVC) and the Professional Lighting & Sound Association of Germany (Verband für Licht-, Ton- und Veranstaltungstechnik - VPLT).
(Jim Evans)
