Robe rocks TPi Awards 2017
- Details
Robe used the opportunity of being in front of the entire industry to launch a brand new lighting fixture - the pixelPATT - featuring seven 30W RGBW LED multi-chips, one in the centre surrounded by a ring of six, housed in a super-slim and lightweight brushed metal frame - which extends Robe’s PATT range of elegant retro-styled light sources.
20 x pixelPATTs graced a spectacular lighting rig designed by Nathan Wan, together with other new fixtures including the Spiider LED wash beam and the Spikie, and favourites like Pointe, ColorStrobe and DL7 range profiles and fresnels.
The starting point for the lighting design was the shape of the screen / set created by FIX8Group.
A large V-shaped truss was at the centre of his idea, and this zig-zagged across the room maximising the headroom and the lateral space which was 40 metres wide, adding an architectural look and context that pulled the 1450 guests into the action with the lighting.
To get some height variation, 16 of the 20 x PixelPATTs were hung on drop arms off these V trusses, with another four flanking the stage each side on floor stands. The distinctive flower like shape was great eye and camera candy, and they became the signature look of this year’s show.
Another new piece of Robe technology was the Halo pixel ring, of which there were 42 in total fitted onto the front of Robe PARFect 100s. Twelve on a front truss pointed into the audience, complimented by the other 28 hung on the two runs of the central V truss, also on drop arms.
The workhorse lights where 54 x Spiiders. Forty-two Pointes were also deployed on the trusses, used for all the effects and sharp gobo work to compliment the Spiiders.
Plenty of effects lights joined the party. Sixty Spikies – a small, super-fast LED WashBeam – were deployed – 18 for the stage, nine on a truss above and nine in a line upstage on the floor - for dramatic aerial beam work. The balance were on the main V truss where they were ideal for whizzy room effects.
The 20 ColorStrobes were rigged on the over stage trusses and the side V truss spans, bringing high-impact and razzmatazz to the visual picture.
Last but by no means least was the all-important key lighting, and for this Robe’s DL7S and DL7F LED luminaires – positioned on the front truss - were chosen.
All this was controlled by an Avolites Arena console running the main moving and effects lights and a Tiger Touch II for all the keys and camera lighting.
Nathan and FOH team – comprising assistant LD Kieran Hancox and lighting director Andy Webb - worked closely on site with Evolution’s house lighting suppliers Hawthorn and their project managers Tom Ring and Paul Bird who were “fantastic” says Nathan.
Kieran, a Professions Production Skills student and finalist from Guildford School of Acting, operated the main console for the show with Andy taking care of the keys and camera lights.
Robe again sponsored the ‘Favourite Lighting Rental Company’ Award, which was presented by CEO Josef Valchar and won for the fourth consecutive year by Neg Earth Lights.
Other winners of the night included Fredrik Jönsson (Lighting Designer of the Year), Rob Sinclair (Set Designer of the Year), Ola Melzig (Production Manager of the Year) and Oli Metcalfe (Des Fallon Video Visionary Award), while the Royal Albert Hall won the ‘Favourite Venue’ category. Entec director and head of lighting Noreen O’Riordan won a well-deserved ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award for services to the industry.
(Jim Evans)
