Rigging / Staging

Triple E

Details: 14 March 2016

Track systems specialist Triple E, exhibiting at ABTT for the 21st time, announced the successful launch of its 3Way curtain track system. The product scooped the coveted Engineering and Rigging Product of the Year award at the annual gala dinner - its fourth ABTT award to date. Also on display was a Harley Davidson to promote the charity ride across the USA that David Edelstein recently participated in to raise funds for the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids charity. "ABTT this year was the best yet," said MD David Edelstein. "The quality of the attendees was a league above previous years, which underlines the growing value of ABTT as a vital showcase for our industry." Triple E also used the show to make the announcement of J&C Joel's appointment as the principal UK distributor of its product line.

Stage Electrics

Details: 14 March 2016

Stage Electrics showed new products from Prolyte, Apollo and Teclumen, plus its own brand, Encore. The company reported a good response to Prolyte's trussing, staging and chain hoist ranges after its appointment as distributor earlier this year. Apollo's colour scrollers are also a new product to Stage LX, as is the wingnut spanner, which incorporates a handy bottle opener and is new to its own Encore range. It's designed to be used on 10, 12, 17, and 19mm wingnuts.

Hoffend

Details: 14 March 2016

A European first at ABTT was the Vortek rigging system - a theatrical system designed and manufactured by Hoffend in the USA and represented in the UK by Slingco. The hub of every Vortek system is a patented brake, designed specifically for theatre applications. This continuously applied, variable-load, back-up brake is claimed to eliminate overspeed brake and 'shock-load' problems and operates independently of any electrical or drive-train system. It also features overload and underload protection, and is capable of operating multiple battens, controlling up to 250 Vortek units as a system.

Hawthorn Theatrical

Details: 14 March 2016

Having recently opened its own WYSIWYG design studio, Hawthorn took exhibition space for the first time this year to raise awareness of its Hire, Sales and Installation teams and to give staff the opportunity to meet the people they talk to on the phone. Hawthorn was started nearly 20 years ago by MD Martin Hawthorn, hiring equipment out of his garage, and has now grown into an international company with over 85,000sq.ft of warehouse space in Old Dalby, near to Melton Mowbray.The company has also announced further Hawthorn@Home open day dates - including on 2 September Generic Lighting, featuring product representation from Selecon, ETC, Thomas, ADB and Strand, and on 7 October Flash, Bang and Feedback - a demonstration of pyro by Le Maitre plus radio mics from Sennheiser, Sony and Trantec. More details from the website.

AVW Controls

Details: 14 March 2016

AVW Controls was highlighting the latest software upgrade for its Impressario stage automation control system, currently in use with Billy Elliot: The Musical at the Victoria Palace Theatre and The Far Pavilions at the Shaftesbury Theatre. The latest version of the Impressario offers control of up to 255 pieces of scenery and rigging simultaneously.

Maltbury

Details: 14 March 2016

Maltbury was promoting the recent sales of its Metrodeck staging systems to 'physical theatre' group DV8, and to Lancing College in Sussex. The company offers a wide range of portable, modular staging systems, as well as seating, trussing and crowd control barriers.

British Harlequin

Details: 14 March 2016

British Harlequin highlighted recent projects including the new Copenhagen Opera House, the French National Dance Centre (CND) in Paris and Jazz at the Lincoln Center in New York. Harlequin manufactures a range of floorings for the performing arts from portable, rollout floors to cushioned, heavy duty permanent floors, plus permanent and touring sprung floor systems.

Summit Steel

Details: 14 March 2016

Summit Steel was at ABTT for the first time, intending to raise its profile within the theatre industry. In addition to its range of truss, hoists, ground supports and rigging hardware, Summit highlighted its Kinesys Vari-speed System which provides accurate, highly controllable movement combined with high capacity lifting. Further features include its Vector control software for the Elevation 1+ controller which allows variable speed running and full positional control.

Lift-Turn-Move (LTM)

Details: 14 March 2016

LTM showed the Equipchaine electromechanical chain-lifting device, specifically designed for theatrical applications. Installed in over 130 theatres and multi-purpose spaces, it fits easily into existing structures. This, say LTM, allows service spaces and backstage areas to be freed up from large lifting machinery. Also on show, for more demanding applications, was Ibex's Programmable Hoist Controller Plus, with enhanced control panel and integrated Ethernet port. Up to 10 controllers can be linked together, enabling control of up to 240 hoists; PCs can also be connected for status display and remote control functions.

Nationwide Access for Trent Bridge

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Powered access hire company Nationwide Access supplied four telescopic access platforms to support floodlights illuminating the NatWest Series one-day international cricket match at Trent Bridge last month. Each of the four truck-mounted Bronto Skylift machines were fitted with special brackets carrying 15 lamps rated at 6kW each. The Brontos' 44m maximum lift height enabled lighting contractor Musco Lighting, specialists in permanent lighting installations for sports facilities, to obtain the optimum floodlight coverage over the Trent Bridge ground.

Allan Burgess, manager of Musco's mobile services division, says Nationwide Access regularly supplies the company's access hire requirement. The four boom lifts used at Trent Bridge supplemented four lighting towers which are owned and operated by Musco. "We have four cranes but eight sets of lamps and we used all eight se

White Light

Details: 14 March 2016

White Light made two announcements - firstly its appointment as a Prolyte distributor and secondly as exclusive Arri Theatre Lighting distributor in the UK. Products on show included the Arri Studio Theatre 1k and 2k fresnels, while moving lights included the new tungsten Alpha Wash Halo washlight from Clay Paky. Also highlighted were followspots from Robert Juliat, DMX distribution products from ELC, colour scrollers from Rainbow and smoke and haze machines from Look Solutions.

Serious stage in the lake

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Serious Stages have constructed performance platforms and roofs in some interesting and challenging places in their time - including the Sahara Desert, snow-capped Alpine mountains, on floating barges in Belfast Harbour (for BBC Live) and most recently, in the middle of a 5ft deep lake for Birmingham's World War 2 Commemoration Victory Fireworks event at Canon's Hill Park.

The event and entertainment were staged by Birmingham City Council, ending in spectacular style with a massive firework finale. They wanted the stage in this specific position so when fireworks went up at the rear of the structure, the effects would have an ethereal and magical quality as they shimmered in the dark, reflecting back on the lake's glassy surface, giving the audience a visual double-take.

The Serious crew was led by Leo Barcala, and liaised closely with the Council's project manager

Activity for Scottish Youth Theatre

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Activity Floors have been installed in the Scottish Youth Theatre's new home in Glasgow.

The floors - one with a maple surface and five with black Harlequin Cascade surfaces - are in the redevelopment and conversion of the Old Sheriff Court located at the heart of Glasgow's Merchant City.

The Scottish Youth Theatre is Scotland's national theatre company 'for and by' young people. The Old Sheriff Court has been designed to provide the Scottish Youth Theatre with a wide range of facilities including five large rehearsal spaces, a fully equipped studio theatre and dance studio.

(Sarah Rushton-Read)

Arena Structures at G8 Summit

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Arena Structures has supplied the temporary structures accommodating the media at this summers G8 Summit. Whilst the most Worlds powerful politicians tried to agree on future global policies in Perth's luxurious Gleneagles Hotel in July, the summits producers, Jack Morton Worldwide, created considerable additional amenities for the event.

Jack Morton Worldwide contracted Arena Structures to supply the temporary media facilities to house the 2,500 reporters covering the event within the secure 'ring of steel' protecting the G8 from protesters. The wide range of structures included Arena's proprietary TFS structure incorporating a mezzanine that bristled with screens and I.T. technology, whilst a separate two storey media restaurant and separate briefing rooms for each country, from where broadcasters communicated the conferences proceedings to TV companies worldwide.

Jack

Blackout in the round with Sixth Sense UK

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Drapes and rigging specialist Blackout was recently appointed by London-based events and communications agency Sixth Sense UK to design and supply the production rigging for a multi-media presentation for Unilever UK Foods. Sixth Sense's producer, Sarah Donegan and production manager, Cliff Zenker, along with their appointed set designer, Steve Hicks of Parallel Notion, interpreted Unilever's brief to design a one-day event that would reiterate the vision for the business and generate a feeling of passion and inspiration.

Staged in The Brighton Centre, the Sixth Sense team adhered to Unilever UK Foods corporate guidelines and conveyed Unilever's messages in a celebratory, informative and entertaining way to 650 members of staff from Crawley and factory sites across the UK. The presentation environment was set in the round, which promoted audience interaction and afforded cl

The Lodestar motor turns 50 at PLASA this year.

PLASA celebration for Lift Turn Move

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Lifting, and rigging sales specialists Lift-Turn-Move (LTM) will celebrate their first birthday at PLASA 2005, with a special First Birthday cake on the stand and a press event to kick off the exhibition for LTM at 10.30am on Sunday. LTM was launched last year by a collection of experienced industry individuals to offer a no-nonsense approach to "anything that moves" in the professional entertainment and leisure industries.

John Jones is joined by co-directors David King and Dave Ward with a hand-picked team - all of whom will be at PLASA on Sunday. LTM's tightly focused operation is concentrating on making life simple, friendly, efficient and cost-effective for their clients. Says Jones: "People can call up and speak directly to the person they need to and place their orders or arrange a demo quickly and easily!" He adds that it's great to be working in

Millennium Stadium gets Blackout treatment

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Drapes and rigging specialist Blackout was appointed by The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff to design and install a revolutionary arena system, which has enhanced its main bowl's potential as a multifunctional and versatile indoor venue.

The system features as part of £1 million joint venture between the Millennium Commission, caterers, Letheby and Christopher, the Welsh Tourist Board and the Millennium Stadium, to expand on the original design of the stadium. It allows the main bowl to be divided into four possible staging configurations, accommodating events for audiences between 12,000 and 46,000. As the first arena system of its kind in Europe, Blackout's team headed by MD Steve Tuck and project manager Ken Nock collaborated with The Millennium Stadium's Chief Executive, Paul Sergeant, from the outset.

The innovative system comprises three key parts: an 18m by 1

Prolyte at PLASA

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Prolyte will exhibit in a new setting at this year's PLASA Show (11-14 September, London). Set against a theatrical and welcoming background, Prolyte will present a range of its old and new products.

The Prolyft C-One hoist is fully compliant to the strict BGV-C1 regulations, including controllers, and will be available in three types, ranging from 250 to 1000kg. All C-One hoists will have the same standard features as the regular Prolyft Performance range, but will be fitted with the special BGV-C1 options, such as double brake system, dual limit switches with LED indication,electronic under- and overload protection (including slack chain detection) and a design factor of 10:1.

Prolyte has developed a hybrid coupler (CCS6-610), an innovative product for the 30 and 40 series truss. The hybrid coupler is a combination of metal, encapsulated in synthetic material. The coupl

Elmhurst chooses Harlequin for new school

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - When Elmhurst School for Dance made their move to new purpose-built premises in Birmingham, they once again turned to Harlequin for their dance floors. The new facilities were fitted out as standard with wood floors and needed Harlequin Cascade to achieve the right performance surface. Working to a tight schedule during the summer break, Elmhurst moved the 140 miles north from its home in Camberley, Surrey to the University area of Birmingham. Not content with a move to the Midlands, the construction of a brand new school on a green-field site and the rigours of an unforgiving construction programme, principal John McNamara gave himself the task of persuading parents and staff of the necessity of this move. The wisdom of the decision is clear when you consider that Elmhurst is now close to the Birmingham Royal Ballet, to which it acts as a 'feeder' school.

One aspect of the

Total Solution for Madrid bullring

Details: 14 March 2016

Spain - Nacho Acha-Orbea from Entertainment Equipment Supplies based in San Sebastian has recently delivered an outdoor roof system and two stages to Kulteperalia based in Madrid. The system is being used in the city's bull ring in Madrid to allow the venue to become a multipurpose facility.

The roof system is 19 by 16m, with PA wings both sides measuring 9 by 7m. The roof is flown at 14m trim on 15m high towers. The main roof grid is designed to support 12 tonnes and each PA wing 7 tonnes. The Arena Deck stage is variable in height from 1.55 to 2m and the stage is rated at 8kN/m2. The stage area is also equipped with side and back walls made from the same silver outside and black inside PVC polyester fabric as the roof cover.

Kultuperalia intends to stage a variety of events from flamenco to opera. In addition to this equipment, Total Solutions Group has been contracted to pr

Le Mark shows Setwear at PLASA

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - The Le Mark Group will be showing the US-manufactured SetWear range of A&E work clothing. Billy Davila from SetWear Inc in California will be on the Le Mark stand at the Show, ready to offer advice on the right Setwear item to make your working life safer and more comfortable, say Le Mark.

Michael Erpenbeck from Light Equip Köln, Germany will also join Le Mark, for all SetWear Distribution enquiries from main land Europe and Scandinavia.

This SetWear product range offers accessories for many areas of the entertainment industry, say Le Mark - riggers, electricians, fly men, stage technicians, gaffers, cameraman, makeup artists and pyrotechnicians will all find something to make their job easier. A daily prize draw will also be held on the stand, so remember to leave your business card.

Le Mark - and SetWear - can be found on stand F12.

(Lee Baldock)

New identity for Stage One Creative Services

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Stage One Creative Services, one of Europe's top scenic suppliers, has unveiled a new identity, including a new logo and a new website. "We are at the forefront of a creative, design-led and innovative industry and the new identity and website far better reflect the position of Stage One in the industry," said Simon Wood, the company's sales and marketing director.

Stage One, which provided services and expertise for the 2004 Olympic Games opening ceremony, and whose clients include Sainsbury's, O2, British Airways and Marks & Spencer, says it will continue to provide the originality, skill and expertise that the company has become renowned for, to make sure that any live event - no matter the size - runs smoothly. As well as scenery manufacture, the company provides complementary services including its motion control system Q Motion and Hangar Staging. Wood says:

Kinesys to launch K2 control

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Automation specialists Kinesys is launching its new control solution, K2 at PLASA 2005. This new product, says Kinesys, combines the best aspects of existing programming methodologies with some stunning new concepts - in a system "unrivalled for ease of use and programming power".

K2 has 3D support inbuilt at its very core. The programming and playback environments display real moving objects as realistic graphical representations. These are positioned in a 3D space in the correct proportions and relations to the stage, set and other items as well as other moving objects.

All these graphical items can be created in industry standard CAD packages and imported directly into K2. Programming then becomes very simple, with manipulation of the moving objects as straightforward as click-and-drag.

Cues can be simulated and rehearsed in full 3D before being run for rea

Mojo's BLMS (Barrier Load Monitor System).

Mojo Barriers to launch BLMS

Details: 14 March 2016

UK - Mojo Barriers will launch its Mojo BLMS (Barrier Load Monitor System) at PLASA 2005. The BLMS is a new system designed to measure the pressure applied to a section of barrier by a crowd at an event and represents a significant step forwards in health and safety of crowds attending live events, claims Mojo.

The system has been in field trails for over a year and has been identified as a useful tool to predict and control audience situations before they get to a dangerous state. It comprises an innovative system of pressure sensors, built in to the load bearing arms of the barriers, linked via ethernet to an Apple computer. The whole system is totally unobtrusive to personnel working in the pit and has been carefully designed to be practical in a concert or festival environment, adds Mojo.

(Jim Evans)

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