UK - Tower Productions of Edinburgh has opened an hire facility just South of Oxford at Watlington to better serve an ever increasing client list in the South and Midlands. Offering a full dry hire service of; lighting, dimming, control, rigging, mains distribution, and event heating equipment, hires can be delivered at very cost effective rates, or may be collected from the warehouse just off the M40 and only an hour from North London.

Tim Shaw of Tower Productions said: "The company aim to offer the slightly less usual items like; single phase Prostar motors (run 11 from one 13a socket) and rated keder clamps for tent rigging, white minuettes and birdies, 240v exterior birdies, exterior par cans etc."

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

USA - Britney's hotly anticipated Onyx Hotel tour in support of her album In The Zone is currently taking America by storm. A three-month international trek, the tour kicked off in early March in San Diego and has so far proved to be a storming success.

Britney's show features an extravagant set based around the theory of the mysterious Onyx stone. The theme of the show is a hotel on the edge of reality - the Onyx hotel - that Ms. Spears checks into. A magical "wonderland of the subconscious" where, according to a creepy character that plays the M.C, your ''darkest side'' can be explored, with ''titillation'' guaranteed.

Stage Technologies, in conjunction with Ocean State Rigging and The Rigging Partnership, helped create the scenic wow factor for the show, with Stage Technologies providing an automation system to fly Ms Spears backwards and forwards over the

USA - A new company has been formed to chronicle, produce and distribute a shared history of production touring from the perspective of industry professionals. Roadcases, founded by Paul Dexter and Larry McNeny, is in its early stages of development, beginning with a website along with a new idea for a cable television series and a future book.

Dexter has been writing steadily in American industry magazines since early 2000. "I wrote an article early on called 'Is there Life After Rock'n'Roll Touring?'" says Dexter. "After touring, going out into the real world with rock'n'roll attitude was a huge shock. I need freakin' therapy now and I've discovered that I'm not the only one."

McNeny and Dexter met on Ozzy Osbourne's 'Diary of a Madman' Tour in 1981-82. McNeny was the tour manager, as he had been for the BeeGees and Eric Clapton, and Dexter was Ozzy's l

Decima's distributed product lines include Look Solutions' range of tiny smoke machines and Le Maitre's more heavy duty models; also represented were hoists from Verlinde and rigging hardware from Doughty Engineering, as well as ETC Europe and Transtechnik Lichtsysteme. New from ETC was the CEM+ (Control Electronics Module) which, the company says, takes dimming to a whole new level. Designed to connect directly to the ETCNet2 Ethernet system, the CEM+ equips the dimmer rack with an Ethernet control signal input that is fully configurable with a range of patching and priority programming capabilities. ETC also showed its new RRFU (Radio Remote Focus Unit), which joins the RFU (cabled Remote Focus Unit) and WRFU (Wireless Remote Focus Unit) in the company's range of hand-held tools.

Another SIB exhibitor quietly enjoying significant growth is Dutch company Highlite International, which now produces a huge range of lighting, audio and trussing products. Company owner Huub de la Haije told me that since the company was founded in the early 90s, it has doubled its turnover every two years. Highlite has always manufactured its products in China, and has more than 10 years' worth of relationships with Chinese manufacturing interests under it belt. Consequently it is somewhat ahead of the game now that everyone's eyes turn are turning eastwards.

UK - For performing arts professionals and students based in Scotland, it's a long trek to trade shows in the Midlands and south to see the latest products and talk to equipment manufacturers. So this year the Department of Technical and Production Arts at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (RSAMD) added a Sponsors Trade Show to run alongside its annual graduate exhibition. Spearheaded by Ros Maddison and David Ripley (RSAMD's head of Technical and Production Arts and production manager respectively), the combined event was held on 24-25 March.

The show fulfilled three functions: to give the Academy's sponsors something in return, by bringing their products out 'to the market' and providing a forum to informally talk direct to the students; to give the students the opportunity to talk to the companies, to discuss products, working practices, work placements and employ

UAE - The Middle East is an exciting market for lighting, sound, AV and systems integration providers. For example, the UAE is slated to invest $28billion in new architecturally-driven projects over the next five years. Across the Middle East region, research has indicated that the sound and lighting industry will be worth $2billion per year within five years.

This huge level of investment aims to open up massive new income streams to these previously oil-dependent states, with tourism and leisure on the grandest of scales being the big earner of the future. All good news for suppliers and installers of entertainment, presentation and communication systems.

Against this background, IIR Exhibitions has put the Pro Audio & Light Middle East - PALME - exhibition firmly on the international trade show calendar after just two events. This year's show, which took place in February,

UK - The Coliseum, home to the English National Opera, was in the final stages of its £41m refurbishment when I visited in early February. Having experienced hideous delays resulting in both the cancellation of Nixon in China and the advertised first night of Rheingold, ENO tentatively opened its doors on 27 February with the first part of Wagner's pioneering tetralogy, The Ring Cycle. Whilst the opening show received mixed reviews the interior itself procured gasps of admiration from FOH staff and punters alike.

Originally a variety house designed by the renowned architect Frank Matcham, the Coliseum has been home to the English National Opera since 1968. This restoration is the first major programme of repair since it opened in 1904: the venue has undergone several face-lifts in the past, some of which have eradicated many of the theatre's beautiful original features.

Respo

UK - Experienced industry executive, Garry Broadbent, has been confirmed as the new MD of CRS Ltd and Powerent. Broadbent will take the reigns at two of the Longville Group's specialist equipment rental companies after a complete restructure by the new board which was appointed at the end of last year. CRS is one of the country's leading climate control hire specialists and Powerent provides power and generator solutions.

Broadbent was one of the original founders of CRS in 1995 and moved with the company, becoming sales director, when the Longville Group acquired it in 1999. Broadbent not only has a background in sales but also mechanical engineering, which is crucial in what is a technical, installation and solution driven market.

Broadbent said: "The restructure at Longville has created a great opportunity for our businesses to focus on their own unique strengths and c

Ireland - On 19 February, Pink, the bad girl of pop, made a dramatic entrance onto the stage at the Point Theatre Dublin as she was lowered smoothly to the stage in a rusty steel bird cage (pictured right). Pink opened her show with the hit song There You Go, telling the 8,000 strong crowd that the evening was to be an 'illusion of music'. . .

Brilliant Stages were approached by production manager Rich Barr to work on the Mark Fisher design for the European leg of Pink's world tour. The company supplied two 'smart' hoists - to lower the cage to the stage - preferred for their ability to ramp up and down from a soft start to produce a smooth descent. The set pieces include two exaggerated speaker stacks mounted to an upstage raised walkway, accessed via two open-tread aluminium staircases on stage left and right.

The 64 speaker cones, constructed from fibreglass, are up to 3ft

Germany / International - The current Metallica world tour kicked off at the Fillmore in San Francisco on 18 May, 2003, and the celebrated heavy metal band has been touring the globe - from America to Europe, Japan and Australia - with only a few short breaks and occasional days off ever since. The final curtain will fall on the 10 October, 2004, in the HSBC Center in Buffalo, New York.

The lifting gear used for this epic has been provided by ChainMaster of Eilenburg, Germany, and plays a pivotal role at the end of the show, when the precise lifting and lowering of trusses, accompanied by dramatic sound and pyrotechnic effects, is used to simulate the collapse of the entire grid. The Metallica production involves the use of 30 VarioLifts (22 x 500 kg, 8 x 250kg) among other hoists, and two computer systems supplied by Show Distribution, the North American ChainMaster distributor

Germany - The Fun Company, a new Germany-based venture aimed at bringing new show control solutoions to the market, launched its E.GO show control system at the recent Frankfurt ProLight&Sound exhibition. The E.GO system offers control of lights, video and sound in professional theatrical or event environments, and follows a fully modular concept which allows the user to add and combine any number of modules to one console.

In addition, each module can work as a stand-alone unit, so it can function as a full desk on its own. There are three modules available, each being tailored towards a specific use: the Designer module for direct access, the Performer for playing back complex shows and the Fader module for flexible device mixing.

Technologies such as the easy to use ColorTarget and the ShowDrive make the E.GO show control system one of the most versatile and easy to use s

UK - Drapes and rigging specialist Blackout has appointed Ken Nock as senior project manager, to work closely with managing director Steve Tuck and existing project managers, Chris Brain and Kevin Monks to deliver creative solutions to Blackout's expanding global client base.

With over 30 years' experience handling complex large-scale rigging projects across corporate and entertainment sectors, he brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the Blackout team. Well known for his work with Unusual Rigging in the nineties, Nock was before that Head of Rigging at the NEC and has a prestigious history in project safety management. His most significant and lasting impact has been felt in the area of rigging safety at large venues, not least getting a proper, movable rigging grid into Wembley Arena.

In his new position he will lead Blackout's growth in exhibitions and corporate events

UK - Summit Steel has designed, co-ordinated and installed a versatile rigging scheme for Cliff Richard's current month-long run at the Royal Albert Hall. In addition to the usual production rigging requirements for a large V-Dosc PA and four lighting trusses, this also allows for the straightforward staging of a variety of other shows during the 'dark' slots in Cliff's standard two days on and one off schedule.

The diverse selection of 'other' shows include a tribute to Ronnie Lane, an Islamic Relief event and shows for Classic FM and 19 Management as well as a gala dinner. The Cliff Richard run continues Summit MD Jon Bray's long standing association with the artist, and his production team, which stretches back over 20 years to 1982, and includes the galvanising Cliff 40th Anniversary Tour, staged in-the-round at the same venue in 1998.

This year sees him renew his acquaint

UK - Stage specialists Stage Technologies has seen a marked increase in its exports to America in recent years, with high profile projects including the Lyric Opera House Chicago and the Marion Oliver McCaw Hall, the latest additions to their already impressive client list. It is with their American clientele in mind that Stage Technologies have recently become a UL-listed company, now authorized to produce UL-approved electrical control panels.

John Hastie, sales and marketing director for Stage Technologies, commented: "UL is a universally recognized standard and it provides our growing global client base with an instant assurance that Stage Technologies conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety."

(Lee Baldock)

Italy - Proel S.p.A. has recently reached a strategic commercial agreement with Litec Srl. In just two years, Proel's Lighting division has gained strong results in both turnover and export, in addition to its already positive performance in the domestic market. Litec is a leading trussing company, finding innovative solutions in the field of aluminium structures.

Fabrizio Sorbi, Proel chairman, said: "This agreement will allow both companies to develop several strategic activities. Litec means research and development, design and skilled mechanical planning. We will research advanced solutions for a new range of products, thus enabling us to meet the different needs of the market and to be closer to our customers in terms of pre-sales and after-sales services."

Giuliano Luvisotto, Litec general manager, commented: "We consider this agreement interesting and ext

USA - Kurt Kern, long-time TMB sales representative, has relocated to Cleveland to join Vincent Lighting Systems. TMB's East Coast sales manager, Brian Dowd, said: "Kurt has been a great asset and friend to us all. We respect the devotion to his family that prompted this move. The growth of our New York office over the past few years would not have been possible without Kurt's knowledge, talent and hard work. Paul Vincent and everyone at Vincent Lighting are very fortunate. Meanwhile, we now have to deal with our worst nightmare: a customer who knows our deepest, darkest secrets!"

"Who can blame Kurt for moving to a town with such an awesome football team?" said TMB's sales manager, Tommy Stephenson, famous follower of lost causes, adding: "Paul, did you get a chance to look at my resumé yet?"

"These have been great years," comments Ke

UK - The exciting new season planned at the English National Opera, the first in the restored Coliseum, left the ENO's technical and production department looking for a new solution to allow them to update their flying system. With a technically ambitious season ahead, the system needed to enable them to stage some of the company's largest shows to date, such as their current production of Phyllida Lloyd's Ring Cycle.

The ENO approached Stage Technologies for a solution with the view to purchasing a Nomad control console and renting 36 Big Tow winches. This would allow them to move very heavy loads quickly and safely, including a two-tonne suspension bridge, which is part of the set for Rhinegold, and allows them to stage some complicated and impressive effects for forth coming productions such as Valkyrie and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The well-pub

UK - The brief was to retain the original architectural vision of wood floors in the studio of London's Jerwood Space and yet provide a suitable dance surface for a range of dance disciplines. Housed in a converted Victorian school in London's Southwark district, the Jerwood Space was created to help dance and theatre professionals by providing the best rehearsal space at a price appropriate to their means.

As director Richard Lee explained: "Our four main studios were equipped with pine sprung floors but the differing demands of theatre and dance companies, as well as public events, meant these had to be protected with a practical roll-out floor - practical but unattractive and requiring frequent taping."

The solution proved to be Harlequin Fiesta, a floor originally developed to stand up to the rigours of percussive dance, while Fiesta's oak-strip patterned hard su

UK - Le Mark Group has introduced one of the world's most extensively-used gaffer tapes to its range. Pro-Gaffer from Pro Tapes & Specialities replaces Scapa 3101 as Le Mark's heavy-duty all-weather tape.

Pro-Gaffer is one of the best vinyl coated cloths available and is used by leading movie technicians and engineers worldwide. The advantages over Scapa 3101 are that the range offers 20 standard colours plus a superior matt surface thus reducing light reflection. Vinyl coated cloth tapes offer advanced performance in both high and low temperature applications and a high adhesive weight ensures a strong hold for extreme conditions such as 'off shore location-filming' and extreme rigging and fixing. Pro-Gaffer now companions Permacel P665 within the ever-growing Le Mark waterproof cloth based specialist tape range.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

International - The June 2004 issue of Lighting&Sound International magazine (published 9 June 2004) will feature a Technical Focus on the new Working at Height Regulations. PLASA's Health & Safety consultant, Ron Bonner, has been delivering a seminar to the industry on the subject of the new regulations, including at the PALME exhibition in Dubai in February, and at this week's A.C. Lighting North trade show in Leeds. He comments: "This legislation is being forced on our industry - and a number of others - very soon. As so much of the work in entertainment technology is carried out at height, I believe it is vital that professionals working in this industry have an understanding of what is in store for them."

The Technical Focus article will also go on to provide a round-up of chain hoist motors and their control systems. The review will examine standards and safety,

UK - Star Events Group has hired out its first Star Orbit stage since buying the range of stages earlier this year. The stage, hired to the Rockingham Racetrack over the May bank holiday, also marked the first of the venue's summer series 'Days of Thunder' shows. 20,000 visitors enjoyed an exciting day's racing before being entertained by Freefaller, D'Side and V, with Blue closing the evening.

Since opening the UK's first purpose-built motor racing circuit in May 2001, with grandstand seating and modern facilities for visitors' comfort, Rockingham has encouraged family audiences to visit the state-of-the art venue by adding funfairs and pop concerts to the racing days.

Rockingham's Jeff Carter commented: "Last year we hosted several successful concerts with Star Mobile and this year we have bought in Star Orbit with their dome-shaped stage, which looks great and the arti

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