Originally opened as a cinema in 1930, the Yau Ma Tei Theatre screened films from a variety of genres until it closed in 1998. Nearly a decade later, the building was saved from being bulldozed when it was declared an architectural and cultural landmark. The government decided to revitalise the area, beginning conservation work to transform the former cinema into a performing arts venue that would become home to a Cantonese opera troupe.
During the renovation, power consumption in the theatre was a big concern. The aging building has limited electrical capacity, so the lighting system had to be green. The staff decided to install a hybrid rig of energy efficient conventional ETC luminaires and ETC LED fixtures, in order to reduce the amount of power necessary to run the lights. The rig includes dozens of Source Four luminaires, six Source Four PARNels, 30 Selador Desire D40 Vivid LED fixtures and 18 Source Four LEDs. The fixtures are controlled by an ETC Ion control desk with a Universal Fader Wing and a Net3 Radio Focus Remote (RFR). An ETC Sensor+ system provides power control.
The ETC LED fixtures serve another critical role at the theatre: they are used to highlight the intricacies of Cantonese opera. The Source Four LED units are used in various positions for on-stage lighting, bringing out the beauty of the costumes and makeup. "The Source Four LEDs give us sharp gobo focusing and colour rendering," explains Sunny Wong, the theatre's technical manager. The Selador Desire LED luminaires are used for brightly coloured washes and to illuminate scenery.
Wong adds, "The operation of the Desire luminaires is more user friendly than other LEDs on the market and their colour simulation is more accurate." The vibrant hues add to the drama of each performance.
(Jim Evans)
