Tag Archive: ETC Ion 1K Console

1. White Light Joins Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras at V&A Museum

   18 January 2018 09:42 Comments Off on White Light Joins Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras at V&A Museum

   The three Monteverdi ensembles – The Monteverdi Choir, English Baroque Soloists and Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique – are a leading force on the international music scene. World-class musicians from across the globe come together to share the distinct vision of Founder and Artistic Director Sir John Eliot Gardiner in ground-breaking projects. Last year, the Choir and Orchestras embarked on an international tour across Europe and the US. This culminated in a final concert at the V & A Museum’s Raphael Gallery and White Light provided the technical support.

   The final concert was overseen by the Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras production personnel, who comments: “This concluding concert was the only London date for the Monteverdi 450 Tour so we wanted to make it an unforgettable occasion. It was also a celebration of 50 years since Sir John Eliot Gardiner first conducted at the V&A with his newly formed Monteverdi Choir to mark the Venetian master’s 400^th anniversary in 1967”.

   As an approved supplier to the V&A Museum, WL was approved to provide the production support. WL’s Project Manager Phil Gladman comments: “Our role on the evening was to provide the lighting, PA system, rigging and staging for the concert. We also worked closely with the lighting designer Rick Fisher to ensure we brought his creative vision to life”.

   The evening offered a fully immersive event in which guests entered the Museum and walked around the various spaces enjoying seemingly impromptu performances from the Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra performers. WL was responsible for lighting each one. Phil explains: “These promenade performances around the museum were almost like pop-up shows. Along with uplighters, we also drew on guerrilla lighting to ensure each performer had complete coverage in their various positions”.

   The promenade ‘pop-up’ performances were part of the build up to the final performance of the evening within the Raphael Gallery, which was a complete sell out. WL had to provide the complete staging for the Choir and Orchestras. Phil states: “In the Raphael, we supplied a 9 x 8m deep stage on which the performances could take place. The stage needed to be vast in order to fit all of the musicians on and literally took up half of the room. We had to arrive at 8am the previous morning simply to store it all. On the show day itself, we arrived at 6am and it took three hours to construct”.

   

   Across the evening, WL drew on CORE Lighting ColourPoints for uplighting along with Chroma-Q Color Force 72 Battens. The company also supplied ETC Source 4 Profiles and Elation SixPARS; all of which were controlled via an ETC Ion 1K Console. WL also supplied the audio reinforcement, which included EMS121 Loudspeakers and an A&H QU-24 sound-desk.

   The sell-out event was a huge success and had more than 400 people in attendance in the Raphael Gallery, with even more following the pop-up events around the museum.

   Phil adds: “It was fantastic to work in a venue such as the V&A and turn it into an immersive environment. From the bespoke lighting to the custom-made staging, this project showcased the wide range of production support we’re able to offer our clients”.

   The team at Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras stated: “We were delighted with the service we received from WL and for all their help in making the final Monteverdi concert an unforgettable evening”.

   Photos courtesy of Grace Ko and T Max Productions.

    

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.

3. White Light Gets a Bite of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show

   16 February 2017 09:42 Comments Off on White Light Gets a Bite of The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show

   The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle has delighted generations of readers since it was first published in 1969, selling more than 43 million copies worldwide. Now the timeless classic is making its way off the page and onto the stage in a critically-acclaimed production which brings together Carle’s legendary stories through the use of puppetry. Currently embarking on a tour across the UK, White Light has been called upon to provide the lighting equipment.

   Produced by MEI Theatrical Ltd, The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been adapted by Jonathan Rockefeller and consists of four classic Carle stories: The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse, Mister Seahorse, The Very Lonely Firefly and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Ros Spiers-King, Dream Manager at MEI, comments: “The Very Hungry Caterpillar is a brilliant show that manages to encapsulate the magic of Carle’s novels and bring this alive from the page. Many of our young audience have heard the books being read but have never seen what these would like look animated; which is exactly what the show provides”.

   The books are re-imagined through the use of more than 75 puppets and a hard-working cast of four. Ros adds: “As this is a children’s show, it is extremely busy with lots happening at a very rapid rate. Alongside the cast and props, we rely heavily on the lighting to help push the story forward”.

   As a result, working with David Goldstein’s original lighting design, Ros and Technical Manager Tom Boucher approached WL to supply them with equipment suitable for the show. Ros states: “The set is actually entirely white which can potentially be a nightmare when lighting! However, as Eric Carle’s books and stories are so colourful, we wanted to use the lights to capture this”.

   WL supplied the production with Martin MAC Aura LEDs, ETC Source Four Zooms and an ETC Ion 1K Console. WL also provided a series of gobos to help create the polka dots that are synonymous with The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

   Ros comments: “As the show is visiting over 50 venues, we had to choose a selection of lights that were both specific yet adaptable. The venues we visit vary enormously in size, from large regional theatres to intimate town halls. Thankfully, the kit supplied by WL meant we had a wide range of options that could bring the show to life regardless of the location”.

   The tour marks the latest chapter of the production which first embarked on a tour last year before having a limited run at the Ambassadors Theatre in London’s West End; both of which were supplied by WL. The show is currently playing at the Newbury Corn Exchange and will visit the Atkinson Theatre in Southport later this week. Over the next few months, it will tour venues all across the country. For more information and to buy tickets, please visit: www.hungrycaterpillarshow.com

   Ros adds: “We are really proud of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the incredible cast and crew and the impact the show is having on young audiences. We are also extremely grateful to WL, especially Senior Hire Co-ordinator Dan Last, for providing such brilliant service and going out of their way to ensure our needs were always met”.

   Photos courtesy of Pamela Raith and Ros Spiers-King.

    

4. White Light Gets the Gaslight for New Theatre Tour

   19 January 2017 10:08 Comments Off on White Light Gets the Gaslight for New Theatre Tour

   Now considered to be a theatrical classic, Patrick Hamilton’s Gaslight is currently being revived for a UK tour. The Victorian thriller opened last week at Birmingham’s New Alexandra Theatre and is now visiting venues across the UK. As one of the leading lighting suppliers to UK touring theatre, White Light was called upon to provide the lighting equipment for this production.

   This latest revival of Gaslight stars Kara Tointon (Pygmalion, Mr Selfridge, Eastenders) and the lighting designer is the award-winning Howard Hudson. Howard comments: “Somewhat fittingly for this particular show, the actual gaslight used throughout plays an important role in the overall narrative; largely as it signals the movements of the main character as he journeys to the various spaces throughout the play. The conceit is that, as he turns up the gaslight to move around, the other lighting within the space dims. Therefore, achieving that genuine feel of gaslighting was vital for the piece”.

   Howard experimented with various palettes to ensure that what he picked perfectly captured this feel. He comments: “When you actually see a gas lamp in operation, you’ll notice they emit a grey, almost dullish green glow. Therefore, we decided to use a colour palette with a slightly green tint”.

   Alongside creating this gaslighting effect, Howard had to create a rig that was suitable for touring. To do this, he drew on a range of predominantly LED equipment taken from WL’s extensive inventory. This included ETC Source 4 Series 2 Lustrs, ETC Revolutions, a host of ETC Source Fours and an ETC Ion 1K Console.

   Howard states: “The rig mostly consists of the Series 2 Lustrs, supplemented by Revolutions which allow a steeper overhead shot in restricted positions; offering vital flexibility in what can often be extremely tight spaces. The Lustrs were also able to do very subtle colour shifts throughout the play which you just wouldn’t be able to achieve with any other conventional unit. There are some strobed moments in the production which these were also hugely helpful with, being able to focus and colour the look of certain sections”.

   As with any touring production, Howard not only had to create a tourable rig but also ensure that this worked alongside a tourable set. He comments: “The set designer David Woodhead designed a space with a flown ceiling piece so one of the biggest challenges was having to cross light the space in order to sculpt the company, but also contain the light to such a degree that the cast weren’t in competition with the scenery in what is a very confined space. That said, we addressed this several times in our pre-production meetings, meaning that when the set came, it was nicely broken down and suitably smoky”.

   Gaslight has now opened and already received four and five star reviews from The Telegraph, The Times and WhatsOnStage to name but a few. The play is currently playing at the Aylesbury Waterside Theatre before visiting Woking’s New Victoria Theatre (23 – 28 Jan), York’s Grand Opera House (30 Jan – 4 Feb), Brighton’s Theatre Royal (6 – 11 Feb) and Richmond Theatre (6 – 11 March).

   Howard comments: “I am really pleased with what we’ve managed to achieve on this show and how we’ve used contemporary equipment to create a very Victorian feel. I was lucky enough to work with a fantastic Production Electrician in Stu Meech and an equally brilliant Programmer in Vic Brennan. I also want to thank WL for their support and providing such great equipment”.

   Photos courtesy of Manuel Harlan.