Tag Archive: Lighting Installation

1. White Light Supplies LED Lighting Packages to ATG Venues

   30 May 2019 14:47 Leave a Comment

   

   White Light has recently supplied brand-new LED lighting packages to two ATG venues: Aylesbury Waterside and the Grand Opera House York.

   With its heritage in theatre lighting, WL has formed an unparalleled reputation for supplying venues across the world with the very latest lighting technology. Therefore when Stuart Graham, Head of Technical Operations at Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG), was looking to begin an LED upgrade at the group’s venues, he approached the technical solutions specialist. WL’s Business Development Manager Jonathan Haynes comments: “Stuart got in touch saying that ATG wanted to implement an LED upgrade and had chosen two theatres as a starting point: Aylesbury Waterside and Grand Opera House York. The organisation wanted to upgrade its offering to support its diverse range of productions, as well as reduce the energy consumption of the house equipment in order to make the rig as green as possible”.

   WL was asked to put together an LED upgrade package. This meant substituting the tungsten rig with LED, replacing the overhead and cyc lighting. WL worked closely with the Stuart Graham and the technical managers in each venue to ensure they created a package that would fulfil both theatres’ needs. Jonathan explains: “We worked with Jacob Edmonds, Technical Manager at the Waterside, and Mark Waters, Technical Manager at the Grand Opera House. The initial brief was for us to come up with a lighting solution, choosing fixtures and products that we felt would offer the most flexibility, but at the same time provide longevity; as well ensuring that they remained ‘theatrical’. The equipment would need to support a diverse programme of entertainment ranging from, dance, music, comedy and musicals – all of which rely on the in house kit from both respective venues”.

   

   WL then carried out a demo for ATG at its Studio15 facility, presenting a range of options within five main categories: cyc battens, profiles, fresnels, pars and moving lights. Once the selection had been honed down, WL arranged follow up demos in each venue to see how the fixtures fared in the environment they were destined for. It was eventually decided that the High End SolaFrame 1000 would be the flagship of the new rig. ATG opted for the High CRI version which offers a much more refined quality of light and a CRI of 90+, as well as 16,000 lumen output. It is jam packed with features including 12-40 deg zoom, fully framing shutters, rotating and fixed gobo wheels, animation as well as CMY colour mixing; whilst at the same time being super quiet and weighing just 32KG. Jonathan explains: “Seeing the SolaFrame in-situ, it became clear that this was the perfect fixture for both Aylesbury and York. They are extremely versatile and will ultimately be the workhorse for the rig. They also have a five year warranty which is obviously a huge bonus”.

   In addition, WL also supplied 48 x ETC ColorSource Par, 42 x ETC ColorSource Spot (complete with a mix of profile and fresnel lenses), 32 x ROBE LedBeam 150s, 8 x High End Shapeshifters and 11 x Chroma Q ColorForce II RGBA cyc fixtures, as well as all the ancillary cabling and rigging across both venues.

   Alongside supplying the equipment, WL offered a three day training package for each venue. Jonathan explains: “We wanted the teams in both venues to feel confident using the new equipment, for both operation and maintenance yet also from a design and programming perspective. The perfect solution for this was offering a training course that would instil this confidence and ensure the in-house staff were familiar with day-to-day maintenance and operation; something that will prove extremely beneficial in the long run”.

   

   The fixtures have now been fitted in both venues and have immediately been used on a host of shows.

   Stuart Graham adds: “It was important for us to find the right company which could offer us industry-recognised products and the full back-up and support required for such a large-scale transition from tungsten to LED. We were also particularly impressed by WL’s willingness to provide in-depth training which will prove invaluable for our staff”.

   Jonathan concludes: “We are delighted that ATG chose WL to deliver this project for them, and the feedback so far has been incredibly positive. As a company, we work hard with our clients to come up with a tailor-made solution and are fortunate to have strong working relationships with some of the industry’s leading brands. For WL, service and after sales support are key. ETC and High End offer some of the longest warranty periods on their fixtures and all brands are represented and supported in the UK. It is fantastic to work so closely with ATG, a global leader in live entertainment which operate over 50 venues worldwide as they continue improving and modernising lighting systems across their venues”.

   Photos courtesy of Mark Waters and Simon Drake Photography.

2. White Light Makes the Sunrise at Coventry Cathedral

   11 March 2019 14:23 Leave a Comment

   

   White Light was recently asked to supply the lighting and rigging solutions for Sunrise: an immersive lighting project set within the Coventry Cathedral ruins to commemorate events from the Second World War.

   Over the night of 14th – 15th of November 1940, Coventry Cathedral was reduced to ruins following an enemy bombing. The morning after, the Dean stood in the destruction and declared the city seek reconciliation; an attitude which has since defined Coventry’s ability to triumph in the face of adversity. This was celebrated by Sunrise; a project which saw the Cathedral Ruins transformed by NEON and Musicity into an ethereal dream-like landscape depicting a Sunrise.

   Mark Nixon, Director at NEON, comments: “NEON were commissioned to come up with the concept and design of the lighting installation of Sunrise. As the main theme was rebirth in the face of darkness, we felt that the metaphor of an actual sunrise would best represent this idea. It would also fit well with the launch which took place on New Year’s Eve and would begin the run up to 2020 in which Coventry will become the UK’s City of Culture”.

   NEON took overall responsibility for the artistic experience and approached Musicity to deliver the bespoke soundtrack alongside WL to deliver the bespoke lighting installation. Mark explains: “The artistic brief called for a lighting concept that would allow visitors (either new or old) to engage in the Cathedral via a fresh perspective”.

   NEON approached WL where Mark worked closely with WL’s Creative Producer Richard Stirzaker. Richard comments: “Speaking with Mark, he had a very specific brief which had to be fulfilled in a very specific space. As visitors entered the Cathedral, they needed to be paved in waves of light which created that feeling of moving from night to day. The equipment we supplied also had to work holistically with the bespoke soundscape”.

   WL invited Mark and his team down to its London base to test a range of equipment. Mark explains: “After some discussion and experimentation, we realised that the SGM P5s LED Floods would be the most suitable lighting fixture. 10 rows of 4 x P5s were used in combination with smoke machines to create an atmosphere in which the lighting could be physically experienced. As the Sunrise space measured 14.5m wide, 44m long and 5m high, we drew on Prolyte H30V trusses to create a gantry type structure across the ruins”.

   

   Sunrise ran from 31^st December 2018 until 13^th January 2019. The launch on New Year’s Eve was accompanied by a live performance of Sunrise Sonata.

   Photos courtesy of Gary Jones Photography.

3. White Light on The Deck at the National Theatre

   22 October 2018 11:48 Leave a Comment

   

   The National Theatre is one of the world’s most iconic theatres, with its various stages having hosted some of the biggest names in theatrical history. Alongside its numerous productions, the venue is also frequently used as an events space; due to both its fantastic location and unique spaces. One of these is the recently re-opened rooftop venue The Deck. The space offers uninterrupted panoramic views across the Thames, providing a stunning backdrop for any occasion. With a reputation for supplying the technical solutions in event spaces across the UK, White Light was called upon to provide the lighting equipment for The Deck.

   Prior to The Deck being opened, the National Theatre had a temporary events space venue that was initially planned to only be open for five years. Due to its overwhelming popularity, the National Theatre decided to make it a permanent fixture and appointed Lighting Resources Manager Paul Hornsby to oversee the lighting specifications. Speaking about the lighting requirements for the space, Paul comments: “My role was to specify all of the lighting infrastructure and equipment in order to meet the requirements of the range of the events that take place in The Deck; whether it’s a conference, a sit down dinner or a wedding disco”. To achieve this, Paul worked closely with his Lighting Resources Team and Lighting Control Team, led by Dan Murfin.

   Together they looked at a range of the latest lighting and control equipment currently available on the market and, reflecting the existing control systems that are already in place at the National Theatre, decided to keep with the ETC Paradigm controlling the whole system. Paul explains: “This system triggers 8 universes of ETC Mosaic of which there are various day, night and disco lighting timeline states already pre-programmed for use. That said, in regards to choosing the actual lighting fixtures for The Deck, this was a process of visiting a number of trade shows to find equipment that was compact, yet bright and quiet which would fulfil our needs in The Deck. Everything needed to be as multi functioning as possible with the ability to change colour quickly at the touch of a button in order to satisfy client needs in The Deck”.

   Once they had a list of equipment, the team came down to WL’s state-of-the-art Studio15 where WL had created a truss rigged at the same height of The Deck. The truss then allowed Paul and his team to evaluate what worked best on its own and together with other fixtures. Paul explains: “After the demonstration, we decided on a mixture of Martin MAC Aura XBs, Clay Paky Axcor Spot 300s, Ayrton MAGICDOT-SXs and Ayrton COSMOPIX-Rs. These all serve different purposes from colour washes to podium lighting and table highlights, depending on the event configuration. The main houselight fixture of the space is the Chroma Q Inspire which provides an even wash over the whole space from warm to cold whites, pastel shades and saturated colours. On the exterior of the building, we opted for the new Martin Quad Graze fitting to highlight the glass sides of the building in a stunning array of colour”.

   The technology supplied by WL will be used to elevate the existing space as well as have the ability to quickly change the look of The Deck with light levels and colour to suit any client’s needs. The high-tech system is controlled via a Paradigm touchscreen which is operated by the Hospitality and Events Team, allowing them to trigger pre-programmed states or take control of any fixture and change the live colour to suit the event.

   The Deck has now officially re-opened and has already facilitated a range of events. Paul concludes: “Ensuring the space was equipped with the correct lighting equipment was very much a collaborative affair; with myself, Dan, Huw, Clara, Chris from the NT along with Tom McGuire from ETC. We were also very grateful to WL, in particular Jonathan Haynes and Ally DeCourcy, for their support and guidance throughout”.

   Photos courtesy of James Bellorini.

4. White Light Oversees Technical Install at Gunnersbury House

   20 July 2018 09:33 Leave a Comment

   

   Once a residence of the Rothschild family, Gunnersbury Park House sits within Gunnersbury Park, West London. Now run by the Gunnersbury Estate (2026) Community Interest Company, the building recently underwent a multi-million pound refurbishment programme which not only restored the building back to its former glory but also saw it house a brand new museum and state rooms suitable for weddings and conferences. Following its work in other historic buildings, White Light was approached by Ealing Council to introduce a lighting, audio and AV solution to facilitate both the event spaces and museum.

   The project was overseen by WL’s Business Development Manager Jason Larcombe. He comments: “Our approach was to introduce a highly-flexible network throughout the principle rooms, meaning that the space could function as a museum during the day and then be used for events during the evening. We worked closely with the architect to understand what was possible within each space and also worked with the venue managers to understand their requirements, and tune the design to the potential needs of event planners. We suggested implementing an infrastructure in which 80% of event resources were accessible on site”.

   WL provided the complete package of lighting, audio and video; ensuring each element worked holistically. Jason explains: “Being an historic building, we needed to minimise the intervention of technology, meaning it had to be discrete, carefully coloured and sympathetically aligned. As part of the lighting scheme, we worked alongside Studio Due to create custom fittings that could be mounted within the floor and fit within the building’s existing architecture; with these fixtures needing approval from the architect and heritage advisers. By integrating these fixtures, we removed the need to deploy any uplighters, thus making the venue quick and easy to set up for events once the museum closes for the day. GDS Pro One-Cell MR16 fittings were selected to provide accent to some of the decorative ceiling features and interpretation panels, chosen due to their size and high colour rendering.  We also installed large quantities of RGBW LED tape to reveal ceiling and decorative architectural features, which bring the spaces to life by day and night. All of the lighting fixtures can be controlled independently via the Crestron system”.

   WL also oversaw the installation of a brand-new audio system. Jason explains: “The system has been designed to facilitate daytime museum use while simultaneously offer a wealth of possibilities for clients using the event spaces.  The technology includes Yamaha VXS5W Speakers which are all controlled via an MRX7D Processor. This allows the event rooms to operate without the need for technicians to be present as the sound is automixed.  The audio is run via a Dante network and the easy-to-use control system means clients have complete control of all audio aspects, from background music to microphone volume”.

   All of the technical elements installed by WL are controlled via a Crestron DM system. Jason explains: “We’ve used the Crestron system on other similar installations and found it to be extremely reliable and user friendly. With Gunnersbury in particular, the system means all technical aspects can be controlled via one control point. Using an iPad, the Events team at Gunnersbury are able to walk around the space and show clients numerous possibilities with complete ease”.

   The planning for the installation took six months with the actual installation taking five weeks. The on-site team for WL included Project Managers Phil Nicolaou and Lucy O’Brien along with System Designers Ian Davies and Dominic Caviggia.

   Jane Coughlan, Head of FM Performance at Events at Ealing Council, comments: “With an historic venue, it’s about finding that careful balance between respecting and maintaining the integrity of the fabric of a building whilst simultaneously acknowledging the facilities required for a successful events space. Knowing WL has a vast wealth of experience of working in listed buildings, we were confident that we could rely on them to deliver cutting edge technology within the confines of the curatorial restrictions. As a result, we now have an AV system that not only enhances the architectural beauty of the key features in the House but also has the ability to meet the exacting standards that clients demand of a venue”.

    

5. White Light Enrols LED Technology into UCLan

   15 May 2018 10:25 Leave a Comment

   The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) is one of the UK’s largest universities with a student and staff community approaching 38,000. It became the first UK modern Higher Education institution to appear in the QS World University Rankings and has over 400 undergraduate courses. The campus also has a range of state-of-the-facilities to accommodate its students learning. White Light recently sold UCLan a range of the latest lighting equipment for its numerous performing art spaces.

   WL worked closed with Stephen Cooke, who is the Technical Manager for UCLan’s four performance spaces, along with several dance, television, radio and recording studios. He explains: “The main driver behind the purchase was environmental sustainability and the need to replace ageing lighting stock. UCLan has implemented an Environmental Management System which ensures legal compliance with UK and European environmental legislation. Last July, we began a project to evaluate the feasibility of using LED lighting technology and our research we carried out revealed an impressive range of products which suited our needs and which gave a power demand saving of around 80% when compared with our existing lighting fixture stock. Cost savings associated with room cooling and ventilation caused by the thermal gain associated with conventional halogen theatre lanterns were also a factor”.

   It was during this time that Stephen first approached WL to assist with the purchasing of new equipment. He comments: “WL provided an invaluable service and Jonathan Haynes and the team were attentive and knowledgeable and went the extra mile to provide supplier visits from not only WL themselves but also ROBE, Aytron and Chauvet to us here in Preston. This element of our research provided us with essential hands on experience with equipment in the environment where it was going to be used and gave us confidence to make the right decisions when it came to making the purchase”.

   This first phase of purchases included equipment for UCLan’s TV Studio, a Dance Studio and their main theatre venue: St Peter’s Arts Centre, which is a converted church. Stephen explains: “The Greenbank TV Studio supports BA (Hons) Broadcast Journalism Students and provides a commercial standard TV News production environment to develop and hone their broadcast skills. This long standing, highly respected course has seen many student graduate and puruse successful careers with the major British broadcast companies. We drew on Arri and ETC fixtures to completely replace all existing halogen based lighting”.

   WL supplied the main Dance Studio with a range of ROBE and ETC products to populate the existing grid. Stephen explains: “The Dance Studio supports the  BA(Hons) course in Dance Performance and Teaching and an MA course in Somatic Dance so there is a strong need to create a specific ambience through light; something which these fixtures allow”.

   St Peter’s Arts Centre, UCLan’s main production venue, has also benefited from replacement LED moving light fixtures from Robe and Ayrton. Stephen states: “The Arts Centre is a highly versatile production venue capable of staging productions in a conventional proscenium style, in the round, or in a thrust stage format. It also hosts fashion shows and live music events so requires the versatile light stock that WL was able to supply”.

   With the installation now complete in the television studio, and almost complete in the other spaces, there has been an immediate notable difference. Stephen explains: “We have already noticed a difference in the quality of light output within the TV Studio and the ability to change the colour temperature of the fixtures is so advantageous when balancing LED screens in shot with skin tones on presenters. Safe to say our technical team are very happy!”.

   This project marks another example of WL supplying drama schools and universities across the UK with the very latest lighting technology, having recently provided Guildhall School of Music and Drama with a brand new rig of ETC Lustr Series 2 LED fixtures, Royal Northern College of Music with new VL1000LED and Chauvet Maverick moving lights, and new EOS family consoles to RADA.

   Jonathan comments: “As a company, we are able to work closely with educational institutions, listen to their needs and provide them with guidance and recommendation, with the added benefit of being able to supply all the latest technology from world renowned manufacturers in lighting, audio and video. The investment made at UCLan in this new kit will undoubtedly help the students over the course of their studies, opening their eyes to what they will expect to see once they go out into the wider world, as well as fulfil the university’s environmental aims”.

   Stephen adds: “I have worked with WL over a number of years now and have always found the service  professional, knowledgeable, prompt, obliging and friendly. Mix this with their competitive pricing of products and you have a company I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone needing a technical theatre solution”.

   Photos courtesy of UCLan.

6. White Light Illuminates the Capital for London Lumiere Festival 2018

   5 February 2018 14:36 Comments Off on White Light Illuminates the Capital for London Lumiere Festival 2018

   The Lumiere Festival sees famous landmarks across London brought to life with innovative lighting displays. It recently returned to London for the second time following the success of the first edition in January 2016. Following its work on the previous Festival, White Light was called upon to provide its services once again for the free outdoor light festival in 2018.

   The London Lumiere Festival showcases the capital’s spectacular and iconic architecture and streets, through the vision and work of UK and international artists. In 2016, it attracted an estimated 1.3 million visits over four nights. The year’s edition had an expanded footprint extending north to south, from Kings Cross, through Fitzrovia, Mayfair, and London’s West End, to Trafalgar Square, Westminster, Victoria, South Bank and Waterloo.

   Following the success of 2016’s Festival, along with WL’s extensive experience in lighting some of London’s most iconic buildings, the company was once again called upon by Unusual Services on behalf of Artichoke (arts charity and the UK’s leading producer of art in the public realm) to support this world-class festival.

   WL provided lighting equipment and technical support to 11 projects across London.  The 11 individual installations were overseen by WL’s Senior Account Manager Dominic Yates and WL’s Senior Project Manager Martin Strods.

   Dominic comments: “We worked on the previous Lumiere Festival and were called upon to do so once again this year. This is largely due to our experience of working in a number of the iconic London venues where the Festival took place, along with our strong working relationship with the client and other suppliers involved”.

   The WL team spent two weeks at the company’s extensive pre-rig space in Wimbledon in order to prepare the equipment. Following this, the team moved into Central London where the on-site installation took six days.

   The installations that WL worked on included ‘Waterlicht’ at Kings Cross, by Dutch artist and innovator Daan Roosegaarde.  ‘Waterlicht’ was inspired by people’s changing relationship to water and the risk faced if action is not taken to tackle global warming and rising sea levels. In Grosvenor Square. the public enjoyed interacting with ‘Northern Lights’ by Swedish Artist Aleksandra Stratimirovic. This was a dynamic light-art piece inspired by the enthralling experience of the Aurora Borealis.

   To bring each project to life, WL drew on a range of equipment including SGM P5 LED Floods, Elation Six Par 200s, ETC Source Fours, cabling and mains distribution infrastructure.

   Dominic concludes: “This year’s Lumiere Festival was the most ambitious yet and it was fantastic to play a role in bringing some of London’s most recognisable landmarks to life using the very latest lighting technology”.

   Photos courtesy of Caroline Banks, Matthew Andrews and Mishmash Media. 

7. White Light Oversees Installation at Yehudi Menuhin School

   23 January 2018 15:03 Comments Off on White Light Oversees Installation at Yehudi Menuhin School

   Founded in 1963 by legendary violinist Yehudi Menuhin, The Yehudi Menuhin School is a specialist music school based in Surrey. Its purpose is to provide an environment and tuition for musically gifted children from all over the world to develop their musical potential. Part of the facilities include The Menuhin Hall which is frequently used for live performances. The School recently decided to upgrade the chandelier lighting within the Hall and approached White Light to deliver the installation.

   The project was overseen by WL’s Installation Project Manager Stuart Bourne. He comments: “We have a great relationship with The Yehudi Menuhin School and installed their original chandeliers over ten years ago. That said, technology has advanced so rapidly in recent years that the School were looking to upgrade to a more robust solution”.

   WL installed the original chandeliers based on Anne Minors Performance Consultancy’s design and once again collaborated with Anne Minors over the Dialux images prior to this latest installation. As part of the initial planning stages, Stuart and WL’s Business Development Manager Antony Vine made a site visit to the School to assess the space. Stuart comments: “Due to the acoustic requirements of the Hall, the ceiling is extremely high. What this meant was the chandeliers were hung roughly 12m in the air. The DMX and power were run through this cable and we wanted to create a system where we didn’t need to re-cable”.

   To achieve this, WL specified a brand-new ArchPro Wireless GDS lighting system. This would be driven via a wireless transmitter that would sit near the control room and communicate to a driver installed in each chandelier. Stuart explains: “On each chandelier, there were originally eight fluorescent uplighters installed. These were each replaced with a GDS Pro One-Cell Small Yoke. The Yokes are compact and feature robust single cell enclosures, ideally suited for short/medium throw illumination”.

   Alongside this, WL installed GDS Pro Four-Cell Round Downlighters as part of the chandeliers. These are a compact Four-Cell enclosure ideally suited for medium to long throw applications. Partnered with the Four-Cell for coverage over the stage and balcony areas are the GDS Pro One-Cell Large Yoke. For The Menuhin Hall, they were used specifically to light up the seating areas and offer full coverage.

   All of this was controlled via a TX1 Wireless Transmitter. The TX1 takes a standard DMX signal and wirelessly transmits intensity data to each ArcSystem fitting. It provides a reliable control mechanism which minimises installation time and cost. Sarah Hill and Steve Turner from the WL Technical Service team had the task of programming and commissioning the GDS system to integrate with the current ETC Lighting Control Desk. This included dedicated control of the down lighters which was an important factor for the Hall.

   WL also installed emergency lighting fittings which integrated with the new GDS lighting system. This consisted of four LED Twinspot IP65 Units. The Units each feature two LED lamp heads with independent horizontal and vertical adjustability and are designed to only activate when there is a loss of mains power.

   Prior to the installation, WL spent two months pre-planning and obtaining the various fixtures required. The team of six then spent a week on site installing the new set-up.

   

   The WL Team (from L – R): Paul Watson, John Woodcock, George Woodcock and Stuart Bourne.

   The installation is now complete and the Hall has already been used for a range of student performances.

   Stuart comments: “Our work at The Yehudi Menuhin School marks another example of what our Installations Team can offer to venues of all sizes, each with specific requirements. As a company, we are able to draw on the very latest technology along with expert staff to ensure that we offer a full-proof solution; as we did once again on this occasion”.

   Alice Benzing, Manager at The Menuhin Hall, states: “The entire WL team was friendly, efficient and professional throughout this installation. The new LEDs provide even coverage and are fully dimmable. It’s given the Hall a new lease of life, and visitors have commented on how beautiful it looks now when lit. We can’t thank WL enough!”.

   Brian Fifield, Technical Manager at The Menuhin Hall, adds: “The Menuhin Hall new LED houselights is the project that has been the most welcome to me as the Technical Manager. The WL team has done an amazing job – the new lights have given the auditorium that freshly-built look all over again”.

   Please visit: https://www.menuhinschool.co.uk/

8. White Light Goes Top of the Class at Italia Conti

   7 November 2017 11:29 Comments Off on White Light Goes Top of the Class at Italia Conti

   

   Italia Conti is the leading performing arts college institution in Great Britain. Founded in 1911, it has since became a global leader in delivering a wide range of disciplines, with many of its graduates becoming household names. The college’s extremely high standards need to be reflected not only in its teachings but also its facilities. As a result, it recently decided to upgrade its Avondale Theatre space and approached WL to provide a range of new fixtures.

   The Production and Stage Manager at Italia Conti is Amy Stevenson. She comments: “My role at the college is to work on the numerous productions across the academy; whether it’s a large-scale musical to a small studio drama. I also deal with the maintenance of our two in-house theatres, including the Avondale which seats 150 and is a great, versatile space. That said, it hadn’t been upgraded in a very long time and was struggling to keep up with the higher demands of the shows we were producing”.

   Not only that but the lack of upgrade also proved to be extremely costly. Amy adds: “Due to the equipment we had being inadequate for the productions we were working on, this meant we were constantly hiring in equipment for each show; whether it was a desk, dimmers or moving lights. We reached the point where we knew we needed a more permanent arrangement as we knew the shows would simply continue to grow in ambition”.

   As a result, Amy approached WL having worked with them before. She comments: “I had numerous discussions with our in-house lighting designer to discuss what we needed within the space. I then spoke to WL’s Business Development Manager Jonathan Haynes who offered his advice as to what fixtures he believed would fulfil our needs as well as fall within out budget”.

   

   WL’s Business Development Manager Jonathan Haynes.

   Jonathan explains: “I met with Amy to discuss her requirements for the new lighting system, and worked on a proposal to offer the most flexibility and value for money. I suggested the ETC ColorSource range as a high end yet affordable solution and we loaned some to Amy and the team to see how they responded within the space. We also suggested an electrical inspection to ensure that the theatre was completely safe prior to us providing any new fixtures”.

   Following the electrical inspection, WL supplied brand-new distribution boards along with a new dimming system and hot power racks. They also supplied a range of ETC ColorSource Pars along with an ETC Ion console. Amy states: “We decided to invest in the ColorSource Pars after Jonathan demonstrated them and we were impressed by their output. Similarly, we decided to purchase the ETC Ion as we know this is industry standard; which is exactly what we want for our students”.

   WL has now supplied the equipment and the space has been utilised for numerous end-of-year productions. Amy states: “The new fixtures have made an incredible difference; especially as we’re no longer limited to 200 cues for one show! The equipment has made the productions run much smoother and more efficiently, not to mention losing the lengths of socapex running from the desk to the dimmers has allowed for tidier cable runs. We are delighted with the new set-up and are extremely grateful to WL for being so helpful throughout”.

   Jonathan adds: “A lot of colleges, such as Italia Conti, are training the next generation of theatre professionals so it’s important they have the latest technology; both for those on stage and behind-the-scenes. We have vast experience of working with organisations of all sizes, whether it’s Rose Bruford, Latymer Upper School or Kingston University. In each instance, we were able to work closely with the client to provide a solution bespoke to their needs; just as we’ve done on this occasion”.

   Photos courtesy of Italia Conti.

9. White Light Reflects on Guggenheim Bilbao 20th Anniversary

   24 October 2017 09:43 Comments Off on White Light Reflects on Guggenheim Bilbao 20th Anniversary

   Last week, the iconic Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao was transformed into an impressive public artistic intervention. Created by Tony Award-winning artists 59 Productions, the Museum saw its distinctive titanium curves and soaring glass atrium used as a vast canvas which was project-mapped for an audience of more than 300,000 spectators over four nights. With a reputation for providing bespoke technical solutions within unique locations, White Light was called upon to supply the lighting, rigging and power distribution, along with the project management and crew.

   The lighting designer for the project was Benjamin Pearcy and his design, in-hand with director, Leo Warner, was inspired by the Museum’s rich history alongside Frank Gehry’s visionary design. The projections transformed his architectural masterwork by bringing it to life in an unmissable iridescent celebration of the people and city of Bilbao. The 20-minute animated artwork set to an original score by Nick Powell traced two decades of history and creativity in Bilbao.

   The project was overseen by WL for Senior Account Manager Dominic Yates, whereas the on-site team was led by WL’s Senior Project Manager Martin Strods who had a team of six supporting him. The WL team flew out to Spain where they spent five days building the technical set up.

   As part of their technical support, WL supplied 3 x custom-designed Prolyte H30V Truss Towers which housed the projectors on the opposite side of the river; all of which were then projected directly onto the Museum. Dominic adds: “With a project like this, it required a lot of intricate planning. We had to ensure that the projectors were in precise positions in order to encapsulate the shape of the building and ensure that the projection design was fully brought to life”.

   Alongside this, WL also supplied 30 x Clay Paky Sharpy Spots with outdoor domes, 14 x Philips VarLite 3500 Washes, 9 x SGM G-Spots, 7 x Clay Paky Mythos, 80 x Elation SixPars along with 12 x SGM P5 Floods. All of this was controlled via a Grand MA2 Fullsize and Lite Control System.

   James Roxburgh, Production Manager at 59 Productions, comments: “We are extremely proud to have conceived and delivered a project as ambitious as Reflections. We were able to transform the iconic Guggenheim Museum and share this moment of celebration with huge audiences in Bilbao as well as across the world. We wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without WL and really appreciate their brilliant efforts throughout the build right through to final delivery”.

   Dominic comments: “This was a hugely ambitious project that saw us working with an iconic venue. Collaborating closely with 59 Productions, we were able to create something that looked stunning and received global recognition”.

   Photos by Justin Sutcliffe.