Tag Archive: Martin MAC Viper Profiles

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 is Hopelessly Devoted to Grease UK Tour

   14 June 2017 08:07 Comments Off on White Light is Hopelessly Devoted to Grease UK Tour

   Since opening on Broadway in 1972 and being turned into a smash-hit movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, Grease has cemented its place in musical history. The original high school musical has played to millions across the world and features songs that have now become all-time classics. The unforgettable show is now back for a brand-new UK tour. Following its work on previous West End and touring runs of the show, WL has been called upon to supply the lighting equipment.

   This current production of Grease stars Tom Parker (The Wanted) as Danny Zuko, alongside Danielle Hope as Sandy and Darren Day as the Teen Angel. The show is being lit by Mark Henderson and the Associate Lighting Designer is Stuart Porter. Stuart comments: “I have worked on Grease since it was at the Piccadilly Theatre back in 2007. Mark has actually worked on it since it was at the Dominion Theatre back in 1993! As a result we both a strong connection to the piece.”

   One of Stuart’s main roles was to work alongside Mark in order to create a rig that would be tourable. Stuart adds: “Mark has lit this show so many times now so is aware of the feel and what he wants to achieve in certain sections. As the content never changes, our role with the lighting is to upgrade the previous set up and update it with the very latest equipment.”

   This upgrade included removing the previous scrollers and completely replacing these with Philips SL Par155 Zooms. Stuart comments: “We wanted to upgrade the rig to LED for both the look of the show and the benefits of reduced heat and energy. The PAR155 Zooms were recommended by WL’s Technical Director Dave Isherwood and they have been a fantastic addition. They have made the show look slightly brighter and given it a vibrant feel.”

   Alongside this, the LX team removed a previous bar of tungsten fixtures and replaced these with the Vari*Lite 1000 TS. Stuart states: “The Vari*Lites are ideal for this show as they still retain that tungsten feel and are fairly weighty fixtures for a conventional rig. However they can be focused remotely which has been hugely beneficial on a show like this.”

   Other fixtures on the rig include Martin Aura LEDs, Martin MAC Viper Washes and Martin MAC Viper Profiles. There were also Unique 2.1 Haze Machines and Jem Glaciator X-Stream Smoke Machines, while the show was programmed on an ETC Eos 4K console by Nick Simmons.

   Stuart comments: “We were very conscious that this was a touring rig and, as such, we had to keep it as streamlined as possible. Therefore we ensured that we drew on fixtures that we knew could deliver powerful results yet didn’t require vast quantities in order to do so.”

   

   The tour began in Manchester back in March. It will continue to travel the UK for the rest of the year, concluding at Brighton Theatre Royal where it will spend the Christmas season.

   Stuart adds: “It’s always a pleasure working on Grease as it really is a timeless show. We’ve been particularly lucky on this tour as we’ve worked with a brilliant team including Production Electrician Neil Anthony, Head of Touring Staff Andy Christie along with countless others. It’s also been great working with WL again who we have always used when lighting Grease and with whom we have a strong working relationship.”

   Images courtesy of Paul Coltas.