Tag Archive: EMS-81 Loudspeakers

1. White Light Celebrates Alison Brooks Architects’ 21st at Somerset House

   27 June 2017 12:43 Comments Off on White Light Celebrates Alison Brooks Architects’ 21st at Somerset House

   Alison Brooks Architects are an architectural firm with an international reputation for design excellence in projects ranging from masterplanning to buildings for education and the arts. Last week they celebrated their 21^st birthday at Somerset House in Central London. To make it an unforgettable occasion, they approached White Light to provide the complete technical solutions.

   The celebration took place on Thursday 22^nd June and featured examples of Alison Brooks Architects’ renowned work on display. The day was split into two parts: an afternoon session where the public were able to attend and listen to a public talk given by Alison Brooks followed by the evening session which was a private party for clients, consultants and supporters of the practise. Steve Burnham, WL’s Project Manager, comments: “The main purpose of the event was to celebrate the work of the practice. With various examples of the company’s work being displayed within the space, we wanted the technical support to accentuate this”.

   The event took place in the Embankment Gallery of Somerset House. Steve comments: “We visited the space prior to the event and spoke with Alison Brooks Architects’ team regarding the feel of the event. It was decided that video would be a great way to showcase some of the incredible projects that the company has worked on over the past 21 years. With this in mind, projection would play a huge rule”.

   WL’s role was to provide the complete technical support, which included everything from the lighting, staging, rigging, video, audio and even the plinths on which a lot of exhibits would be displayed. Steve states: “The lighting design largely consisted of ETC Source Four Minis and ETC Mini Track. We wanted to use track lighting as this would allow us to position fixtures so that they highlighted certain pieces of work and, at the same time, remain fairly unobtrusive to the rest of the space. We also drew on Martin MAC Viper Profiles to present the Alison Brooks Architects logo as guests entered the space”.

   WL supplied the audio system which was used throughout the space. Steve adds: “Audio played a crucial role on the evening. Not only did we need to provide a soundscape which offered background noise throughout, but we also need a reliable PA system for the talks given by Alison Brooks Architects. To achieve this, we drew on our EM Acoustics EMS 81 Loudspeakers, LSP 500 Loudspeakers and Shure Wireless Mics – all of which were controlled via a QU-24 Digital Sound Desk.

   The most important technical aspect of the evening was projection, with the practice creating a video of their career highlights that they wanted to be somehow displayed within the space. WL found the perfect solution. Steve states: “To achieve maximum coverage, we drew on 13 Christie Projectors, of which we hold a fleet in stock. These allow us to achieve high quality projection yet can do so over a large canvas. The Embankment Gallery is actually perfect for projection as the interior consists of flat panels that sit within its curved architecture. What this meant is that we could project clearly the incredible past projects of Alison Brooks Architects yet do so holistically using the environment we were in”.

   The event was a huge success and allowed both the general public and invited guests to see and celebrate the work of Alison Brooks Architects.

   Ceri Edmunds, Designer at Alison Brooks Architects, comments: “This event was the absolutely perfect way to celebrate the company’s 21^st birthday. To have our work on display in such a fantastic location and elevated by reliable and creative production support was exactly what we hoped for. We’d like to thank everyone at WL for such a great job and making the occasion very special”.

   Photos courtesy of Ashley Bingham.

2. White Light Supports Rose Bruford Graduate Exhibition

   20 June 2017 15:32 Comments Off on White Light Supports Rose Bruford Graduate Exhibition

   

   One of the performances during the Graduate Exhibition.

   Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance is London’s International Drama School. Students from over 40 different countries study on the 15 different vocational and professional degree courses, with notable alumni including Gary Oldman, Hayley Squires and Tom Baker. Every year, the College hosts a Graduate Exhibition in order to give its graduating students a launchpad into the industry. Having worked with the College for over ten years now, White Light was called upon to provide the complete technical solutions.

   This year’s Graduate Exhibition was named Beginner’s Call and took place at the Ugly Duck in central London. The Head of Production was Anthony Sammut, the Production Manager was Toscane Luckett whilst Sam Jackson was the Technical Manager. Sam states: “My role on the exhibition was to work closely with Ollie Brennan (Technical Supervisor) and oversee the technical elements. This was one of most ambitious showcases we’ve ever held, with the upper two floors showcasing our technical students’ work and the ground floor being used for four performances in rep. We chose the Ugly Duck as it’s quite an open venue and would allow us to showcase all of the students’ work”.

   

   Sam had to create a technical infrastructure including a power and network system design that would not only work practically within that space but highlight the work on display. Sam comments: “We made several site visits down to the space to see how we could use it. It took us around six weeks of planning to finalise a design along with a kit list which we knew would be ideal for the exhibition. It was at this point we approached White Light”.

   Working closely with WL’s Senior Hire Co-Ordinator Dan Last, Sam drew on an extensive range of WL’s technical equipment. Sam states: “We approached WL as we knew they were an organisation who could offer the complete technical solutions. As the showcase is attended by industry professionals whom our students are hoping to impress, we need the standards to be as high as possible”.

   

   The students speak to industry professionals.

   
   For the lighting, WL supplied Chroma Q Color Force 72 LED Battens, Rainbow Scrollers, Selecon Fresnels, Minuette Fresnels, ETC Source Four Juniors and Coemar Silver Parlites. These were all programmed on an ETC Ion 1K Console. Sam adds: “It was important that we had enough lighting for the actual exhibition itself and that we could highlight the work on display. However, we also had to ensure that the lighting designers working on the performances on the ground floor had enough options to achieve their vision”.

   Sam also worked closely with Oscar Cotran, who was Head of Sound for the performances and drew on WL’s extensive audio inventory. Sam states: “We employed a Dante system which drew on EMS 51, 61 and 81 Loudspeakers, EMS 115 Sub Bass along with Shure Wireless Mics. This had a particular importance for the musical performances and it ensured that there was even audio coverage throughout the space”.

   WL also supplied the entire rigging system, which included Prolyte X30D and H30X trusses, along with Doughty Clamps, scaffold clamps and even sand bags!

   

   From left: Bryan Raven (WL), Sam Jackson (Technical Manager), Andy George (VAULT Festival) and Nick Hunt (Rose Bruford).

   Beginner’s Call ran from 14^th-17^th June and the work on display came from seventy-nine students graduating from seven courses. With the Ugly Duck being in constant use, this meant that Sam and the team had a limited time to prepare for the event – despite the vast amount of equipment involved. He states: “We literally had two days in which to build the infrastructure, set up the equipment, drape off the dressing rooms, install the emergency lights along with a thousand and one other things! That’s why it was so vital to plan beforehand and assure that we had drawn on the most reliable technology”.

   This marks another student showcase that WL has supported, having worked with Rose Bruford since 2004. Sam adds: “What was so great about WL is that they supplied all of the technical equipment. From the largest lighting fixtures to the cables to the speaker stands, they had absolutely everything we required. The service they provided was fantastic, the staff were extremely friendly and their equipment allowed our graduates to get the most out of their work”.

   Photos courtesy of Alec Brand, Ben Wilkin, Michael O’Reilly and Sam Jackson.